Spot on, for me it was similar to attending a metal concert, it's not mainstream, gets zero media coverage but you're all there to watch you're "secret" thing... while everybody else is watching Taylor Swift (Football)

It’s that yearly experience of knowing where you’ll be on that weekend, with like minded people, enjoying it all again. The riders mingling with the crowd beforehand… and feeling proud of the fact that only in our sport would this happen , down to earth lads. ( the riders)

That's probably it in a nutshell - and I don't think the promoters did enough to try to retain those people (I'm one of them) - and, without them, the event became unviable

Typical you moaning about something to do with Poole 

Not for the organisers, who lost significant sums of money

Agreed others have also discovered that the hard way as often it can be a big gamble leaving it late especially when you then bring the riders into the equation who may well be less than willing to ride.