Newport Nocturne organiser Mick Jeggo today toasted the success of the 2010 event – before announcing it would be his last.

Mr Jeggo, who organises the floodlit cycle race with his son Nick, said he would be taking a back seat for the next event, which is provisionally scheduled for 2012.

This year’s Nocturne was held in front of more than 15,000 people in Newport town centre on Saturday night.

It featured a past masters race, a special time trial and the main Newport Nocturne race itself.

But Mr Jeggo, 70, said after the event that he felt the time was right to retire.

He said: “I think this will be last one now. I know Nick has plenty of ideas and we will keep it going and I’ll still help out where I can.

Delighted

“But I’m getting a bit too old for it, this is the 26th race in total I have organised and it’s nice to go out on a high.”

He said he was delighted with the success of this year’s Nocturne.

He said: “I’m really pleased with how it went. We have always judged the success of the race by the number of people who come and so to get a record crowd was superb.

“We get so much help beforehand from the likes of Newport Town Council and Newport Regeneration Partnership and we get plenty of help on the day from lots of organisations. It really is a town event and it’s become synonymous with Newport.”

Margaret Taylor, 70, from Lilleshall, said she really enjoyed the evening.

She said: “I come to every one and we wouldn’t miss it. To have something like this on our doorstep is fantastic.

Meanwhile Don Bough and Trevor Humphreys had made the trip from Stafford to the race.

Mr Bough said: “It’s good to see it back after three years. It’s an excellent night. We’re keen cyclists and we always come to the Nocturne.”

By Alex James