The Manx Motor Cycle Club, organisers of the Manx Grand Prix and the Classic TT, both integral parts of the Festival of Motorcycling have appointed two new Deputy Clerks of Course for this year’s races which take place between 16th & 29th August.

Ruth Costain and Lizzie Kinvig are familiar figures around the Manx Grand Prix Race Office and Control Tower, as well as around the Paddock area.

Both can also be found heavily involved at Jurby Autodrome and officiating at events held on the Billown Course in the south of the Island, which is home to the Southern 100 International Road Races.

Between them the two ladies share over 30-years experience of road racing both on and off the Isle of Man, in various positions advancing as they gained knowledge of running and organising road races.

Ruth commenced her ‘road racing career’, Marshalling – being made a Deputy Sector Marshal in Kirk Michael in 2006 before becoming a Controller in the Control Tower at the Grandstand two years later.

Lizzie became involved assisting in the Manx Grand Prix Race Office in 2003 and later was asked to join the ‘team’ who are responsible for ensuring the ‘rider information’ provided for competitors pit-crew, family and friends is kept up to date. Being invited to get involved with the Race Control people in the Tower a couple of years later.

She is also Vice Chairperson for the Andreas Racing Association and a C of C at Jurby, where many of the local riders nurture their racing skills before moving onto the Manx Grand Prix.

Both Lizzie and Ruth also hold senior positions at road races off the Island; Lizzie as Deputy C of C at the prestigious Cookstown 100 National Road Races in Northern Ireland and a Clerk of the Course at the popular races organised by the Aintree MCRC held at Aintree, the circuit being inside the famous Grand National Course.

Ruth also holds a similar position for the Preston & District MCC at their meetings run at the Three Sisters Race Circuit.


Clerk of the Course, Phil Taubman said of the appointments:

'I am delighted to have both Lizzie and Ruth completing my team in the Control Tower. Both have proved themselves to be knowledgeable, responsible and efficient in their previous positions at the top of the
tower in the Grandstand.

‘It is also good to have some ‘younger people’ becoming involved in the organisation of the Manx Grand Prix and other road races, thus ensuring its future for many years to come.

‘I wish them well in their new roles and I am sure they will continue to be a valuable asset to the organisation of the Manx Grand Prix.’

Both Ruth and Lizzie are grateful to the MMCC for offering them the opportunity to take on the roles of Deputy Clerk of the Course.

Having females in these roles is something new for the Club, although Ruth became the first female to be elected as a Director of the Manx Motor Cycle Club in 2008 creating a little piece of ‘Manx’ history!

Phil Taubman continued;

‘Out of the nine people controlling the races in the Tower, six of them are female – look out boys – Pink Power is coming!’

Peter Cain, the other Deputy Clerk of the Course has been based at the Start / Finish since 2000 and continues in his role, responsible for that area, liaising with his colleagues in the Control Tower.

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