THE winner’s enclosure at Chepstow Racecourse was the appropriate backdrop when two great trophies made a rare trip to the Wye Valley last week.

The Six Nations Trophy and the Triple Crown are on a tour of Wales following the Principality’s Grand Slam victory in rugby’s Six Nations tournament.

The trophies were taken to Chepstow Racecourse, courtesy of the Newport Gwent Dragons, who are a partner of the racecourse.

Staff at the course were able to lift the silver-plated Six Nations trophy and solid silver Triple Crown platter, wearing gloves.

The racecourse’s business relationship manager, Kevin Hire, said staff from both sides of the border were impressed by the silverware.

He said: “It was nice to see staff with it who are English as well as Welsh because, at the end of the day with rugby, the rivalries are there, but we are still in it together.

“It was nice to have a photo with my colleague who is a staunch England supporter but there is such great history. We had a bet on the England-Wales game, so I had the £10.”

Catering manager Tom Reynolds is originally from Wolverhampton and plays rugby for the Wednesbury club in the Midlands.

Mr Hire added: “We are building a very close working relationship with other sporting venues as we have the same type of challenges and see the same sort of opportunites.

“We are starting to work very closely with the Dragons in particular.

“And we are looking to do a Dragons race day here.

“We are also looking to promote an opportunity to get reduced tickets to go and watch the Drangons for our annual members and visitors.

“I’ve been impressed by the Dragons they have a platform they are looking to develop to be a strong region.

“It is the same with us. We have been here since 1926 and we are very proud of what Chepstow Racecourse has done.

“We have to look to the future and looking to the future means working closley with our local region of which we are very proud.”