Oil spill brings premature end to Sunflower meeting

The oil spill, coupled to the fact that the weather had turned particularly nasty, left the club with no alternative but to abandon the meeting.

There were 3 races completed on Friday however. Edeney man Paul Gartland took what for him was a rare short circuit win when he finished almost 4 seconds ahead of Phil McGrath in the Superbike/Supersport Cup race. Phil, from Donaghcloney near Banbridge, was able to make a break on the close fought dice for the final podium spot. After 8 laps of racing, English visitor, Gavin Lupton riding a Suzuki for local man Seamus Dobbin, finished just .2 of a second ahead of Declan Madden.

Kevin Keyes, fresh from his Red Bull Rookies try out in Spain, was the easy winner of the GP125 Newcomers race. He had little problem dealing with Donegal lad Richard Kerr, who was riding for Antrim man Bob Wylie. They were the only two finishers in the GP125 race.

Run concurrently, Lee Bradshaw ran out as a narrow winner of the 125 Production race. He just managed to hold off a challenge from 250 Kawasaki mounted Jay McCrum. Young McCrum set a new lap record for the class, trimming 3.7 seconds off the old record, which had been held by fourth finisher Aaron Wright.

Next up was the the non qualifiers event. It gave Strangford man Trevor Matthewson a convincing win. He was almost 8 seconds ahead of John Byrne, the Wexford man comfortably in front of Darren O’Rourke.

The final race of Friday afternoon was the combined 250/Pre Injection event. In the GP250 class, Ronan Shanahan had no equals, finishing over 51 seconds ahead of Brian Mateer. The only other 250 finisher was Michael McKerr. James Kelly, another man better known as a road racer, had a win in the Pre Injection class. The Co. Cavan man was pushed hard by John Horgan, but Kelly managed to hold on to win by half a second.

The first race on Saturday morning, on a damp track, was the Superbike/Supersport Cup class. It went to Chris Wright, whose son Aaron races in the 250 Production class. Probably one of the next experienced riders in racing today, Paul Cranston, finished in second place, only .3 of a second adrift. Declan Madden was a further .2 back.

Gearlink Kawasaki riders Alistair Seeley and Luke Hedger pretty much had things their own way in the Supersport 600 race. The win went to Seeley, who was well ahead of his team mate at the line. Timmy Elwood was only .2 back at the line. Sadly however, Elwoods bike had gone off song towards the end of the race, and started to spew out oil. The racing was held up until marshals had performed a massive clean up. With the track cleared heavy rain started, and that coupled with high winds made life treacherous for the riders in the parade laps.

A course inspection followed and racing was abandoned soon afterwards - a sad end for what had promised to be a great days sport.

SLEMISH CUP TRIAL

Ballymena rider William Dickey ran out as the winner of the Slemish Cup last Saturday.

A round of the Michelin/Mid Antrim clubs championship William was never headed as he ended his first lap two marks ahead of a tie between Stuart McClurg and Robert McCrory. Dropping just 8 marks on each of the final two laps, the local man ran out as the winner, on 30 penalties. McClurg was second on 36 and McCrory third on 45.

It was almost the same story in the C Grade as well, where the leader at the end of the opening lap took the win at the end of the day. This time Matt Millar led on 6 marks, while Banbridge man Philip Hanlon and Josh Caldwell tied on 7. Millar took the win on 13, while Caldwells bad second lap dropped him out of contention. Hanlon was second on 15 and Josh third with the loss of 28 overall.

Stephen Cromie kept a completely clean sheet during the day, to win Grade C, while Robbie Jennings and Mark Crothers had to be separated by a tie breaker for the lower places. With 34 cleans to 30, second went to Jennings.

In the Youth categories, Alex Lennox was the winner of the A class and Andrew Dunlop the B.

MID ANTRIM AWARDS NIGHT

This Saturday night the Mid Antrim club are holding their awards evening in the Clough Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club. The evening gets under way at about 8.30pm.

Roy Adams.