MOTORBIKES: Racing ace Andy Reid pays special visit to Whiteabbey Primary School

Jordanstown racer Andy Reid made a return to his old classroom at Whiteabbey Primary School this week and despite it being a decade since his last visit, he was almost more excited returning, than the classroom full of P7 pupils who anticipated his arrival.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Oct 2015, 12:20 BST
Jordanstown racer Andy Reid at his old school, Whiteabbey Primary with principal, Peter Wright. Also pictured are P7 pupils Arianna Vance, Lara Bryans, Max Wylie, Lowell Finlay and Lucy McKnight. INLT 43-915-CONJordanstown racer Andy Reid at his old school, Whiteabbey Primary with principal, Peter Wright. Also pictured are P7 pupils Arianna Vance, Lara Bryans, Max Wylie, Lowell Finlay and Lucy McKnight. INLT 43-915-CON
Jordanstown racer Andy Reid at his old school, Whiteabbey Primary with principal, Peter Wright. Also pictured are P7 pupils Arianna Vance, Lara Bryans, Max Wylie, Lowell Finlay and Lucy McKnight. INLT 43-915-CON

The 21-year-old has been fully focused on ‘giving a little bit back’ to the local community since he was forced on the sidelines through injury at Oulton Park in September.

He has attended both his former schools, (BRA is the other) which has included some motivational public speaking appearances to pupils of various ages, and while it has been unchartered territory – he’s loved every minute of it.

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Presenting Whiteabbey Primary School with the ‘Andy Reid Sporting Moment of the Year’ perpetual trophy, he said: “It’s pretty cool to be able to present a trophy that will be given out in my name every year at a place where I have so many fond memories.

“It’s been 10 years since I’ve been there, so to be able to talk to the P7 pupils in my old classroom was quite special.

“I just can’t believe how small everything looks as when I was there as a 10-year-old, everything looked so big!” joked Reid, who is due have the cast removed from his left wrist, after breaking his radius and ulna in the Oulton Park incident last month.

“Come Dine with Me and Deal or No Deal has kept me sane this past few weeks,” he said joked.

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“I’ve enjoyed all the PR work recently and meeting the P7 kids was a lot of fun and some of the questions they asked were very funny. Now it’s almost time to get the cast off my wrist and get back in the gym for a hard winter of training.”

Having competed with the TTC Yamaha squad this year in the British Supersport Championship, Andy would be keen to continue and earmark a full on title assault next season.

But with his contract being held by SMR’s Shaun Muir who runs the Milwaukee Yamaha British Superbike team, Andy said: “I’m simply sitting tight in good faith that Shaun will look after me next season.”

Reid attended the final round of this season’s British Superbike and Supersport Championships at Brands Hatch in Kent at the weekend.