Category: Club News

This coming Wednesday 20th June sets the date for our 6th Annual Charity Grasstrack in the ground directly in front of the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch.

The venue is shaping up very well at present, and all systems are go for this years charity grasstrack. The club puts a lot of man hours and preparation into these grasstrack every year and this year is no different. Preparation work has been going on in the background since the start of 2012 but the biggest workload is going on at present with track setting up, facilities layout and many other areas to organise for the event to run as smoothly.

Photo taken of track beginning to take shape at present:

Previously stated from the regulations on our entry form we had asked all solo competitors to use the back gate to the hotel via Spa Road, Ballynahinch. This will not be the case anymore. We would ask all solo competitors to use the main front entrance to the hotel grounds as previous years. Sidecar and Quad competitors are to use the field entrance to the track as previous years. Also as per previous years, we will have a parc ferme setup for all competitors, after signing-on and scruiteering has taken place bikes will be placed in the parc ferme, which is beside the starting area, until the racing has been completed on the night.

There will be FREE spectator parking in the grounds of Ballynahinch United Football Club at the Millbridge, Ballynahinch. It is only a short walk across the road and into the brilliant track side spectator area, which will allow fans the opportunity to get up close to the racing action.

The Millbrook Lodge will have hot food available for purchase on the night outside the restaurant doors at the side of the hotel. Also after the racing has finished, the club will hold a short prize giving up in the bar at the hotel, please show your support and call in for ‘half an hours craic’ and to collect any prizes won on the night.

 

The only place to be this coming Wednesday evening is the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch for our Charity Grasstrack!

 

Wednesday 20th June 2012 is the date for our 6th Annual Charity Grasstrack at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch. Over the last six years we have raised over £35,000 for a number of various charities close to the hearts of our club members and their families. This year is no different, as we have choosen two charities once again, The Reece Burrows Cerebral Palsy Fund and Cash for Kids in promotion with Cool FM.

Below is a few paragraphs to give everyone a brief insight into each of these very worthwhile charities that will benefit from our event.

Reece Burrows and his twin brother Seth were born on 31st May 2010, 4 weeks early.  However at 3 weeks old they contracted a virus which left them fighting for their lives.  Reece was affected the worst out of the two boys and ended up in Peadiatric Intensive Care Unit for a week and a further 2 weeks in the RVHSC Belfast.  This was to be the first of many hospital stays for Reece. As a result of the virus Reece has been left severely brain damaged and among other things has cerebral palsy, he has severe visual impairment and he is tube fed for 22 hours a day into his small intestine as his stomach function has failed.

For all of Reeces problems he is a very happy and in his own way, affectionate child, who most of the time is in his own wee world. Development wise he is still at early baby stage in most aspects of his life, but we no longer live our lives in advance as you never no what might happen, which not only impacts Reece but his twin and older brother too. We also no longer live by Reece’s diagnosis and just take each day as we find it, he has proved doctors wrong before with his progress. Therefore anything that we can do to help stimulate and help him achieve these goals we will do so to the best of our ability.

 

Cash for Kids is the official charity of Downtown Radio and Cool FM. Our mission is to raise money for the thousands of disadvantaged children inNorthern Irelandwho are need our support. Funds raised will be distributed and directly benefit children and young people aged 0-17, with a focus on alleviating disability, combating illness, improving quality of life as well as encouraging personal development and aspirational fulfillment. Cash for Kids welcomes grant applications from a variety of projects and appeals in Northern Ireland.

Cash for Kids also supports other children’s charities throughout Northern Ireland and has donated substantial funds to charities including the NI Children’s Hospice, NSPCC’s ChildLine,Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and Clic Sargent. For more information on how Cash for Kids helps; please click here

 

The wheels have already been very much set in motion for this years event and months of planning is coming together well. As with previous years, we will not only have the grasstrack racing to look forward to. We will have displays of classic cars and motorcyles, along with custom trucks. Face painting and possibility a bouncy castle will also be on hand to keep the kids enterained.

We have the usual Grade A, Grade B and Grade C solo classes (entries will be limited to 60 Grade C competitors, first come first served basis) There will also be classes on the night for Quad, Sidecar and the addition of an Evo class to our racing programme. This year we are asking ALL solo competitors if they could enter the paddock parking at the rear of the hotel via the Spa Road entrance which will be clearly signposted on the night. (A map will be uploaded in the coming weeks before the event)

Entry Forms for this event are now available to download; please click here

Photo © Richard Scott

After what can only be described as ‘testing conditions’ at Seaforde Moto Parc on Mayday/Mud-day Monday 7th May past, the club we like to thank all those that helped to get the day over.

After a quite good week’s weather leading up to Mayday, most of us awoke on Monday morning to the sound of rain. We can prepare everything for a days racing down to the very last detail, but unfortunately Mother Nature and the weather is an element we do not have any control over, and it played havoc with Mayday’s race.

The conditions were very tough on everyone involved, from riders to flag marshals. The club would like to take this opportunity once again to thank everyone involved, all the sponsors, Roy Neill; the race commentator, MRA timekeepers, press, competitors, spectators, officials, but especially on this very wet day we would like to thank the flag marshals and first aid personnel who braved the harsh weather conditions to allow us to run the two blocks of racing that we did. If we have forgotten anyone we apologise, and but thank everyone who helped make the day run.

On the day we were able to run two out of the three blocks of racing, and even with the extreme conditions it produced some great action on the track throughout the grades. Top 3 winners from each grade were as follows on the day:

* Expert MX1 – 1^st David Gorman, 2^nd Gary Gibson, 3^rd Robert Hamilton

* Expert MX2 – 1^st Graeme Irwin, 2^nd Michael McCammond, 3^rd Ryan Adair

* Semi-Expert MX1 – 1^st Donal Teague, 2^nd Clifford Bailey, 3^rd Gareth Knox

* Semi-Expert MX2 – 1^st Jordan McClelland, 2^nd Stuart Fee, 3^rd Ben Mottram

* Clubman MX1 – 1^st Scott Leaney, 2^nd Colm McMullan, 3^rd Paul Atkinson

* Clubman MX2 – 1^st Steven White, 2^nd Paul Henderson, 3^rd Ian Moore

For full results from mylaps, please click here.

Photo © Colin Mcilhagger

Are next event will be the 3^rd Round of the Quad/Sidecar/Veteran/Under 21 Ulster Championship on Saturday 2^nd June 2012 at Seaforde Moto Parc. Entry forms are available to download here.

Seaforde Moto Parc is the venue for the 2nd Round of 2012 Ulster Motocross Championship on Mayday Monday 7th May 2012.

The competition will be fierce this coming Monday as all the big names in local motocross are out to do battle for the lead in the points stake, and also a chance to grab some excellent prize money thanks to all our sponsors.

As some of you may know, the track is running in reverse order for selected races this year, check out the gallery on our club website to see photos of the updated layout. [Click here]

If you haven’t been to Seaforde Moto Parc before why not come along and watch the action. It is sure to be fast and furious.

See you all on Mayday Monday.

The Mourne Motorcycle Club will host the second round of the 2012 Ulster Open Motocross Championship at clubman Norman Green’s Seaforde Moto Parc, on Monday, May 7th.

The day’s racing at the popular Seaforde track will be interesting for the riders and great viewing for spectators, as the riders will race the track in the opposite direction from normal. Due to the continued generous sponsorship, the riders will also be competing for a total prize fund of over £3000 compared to the usual £2070, which will be shared between the top six finishers in the championship races.

Along with the motocross action the Ballynahinch Lions will be holding a retiring collection on the day for their chosen charities for 2012.

Coming into May Day, after the first round of the championship at Desertmartin, Comber’s Wayne Garrett is leading the MX1 Expert class and the MX2 Expert class is led by Graeme Irwin from Ballyclare. The two championship leaders will be trying to stake their claim for the honours against the top local riders, which will include Newtownards man Gordon Crockard, who currently lies in fourth in the MX1 Expert class.

This year the Mourne club is holding the event with support from B.L.R.C. Landrover Specialists, Saintfield Livestock Market, Brent Dorman John Deere Engineer, Carmedic Saintfield, Brennans Service Station and The Stick Restaurant, McKibbins Motors, Noel Cochrane Car Sales and Spares, Frenchies Mace, Clough, Bore-a-hole, Kane Trailers in Ballynahinch and Watson’s Flowerstop in Ballynahinch.

On the day the bikes will be out on the track from 9.30am. Entry to the event will cost £5 for adults, while children go free and car parking is also free.

Photo © Pat O’Hare

(Left to Right): Back Row: Ballynahinch Lions Club Vice-President; Richard Scott – Mourne Club members/Riders; Terry McCann, Chris Eccles, Matthew King – Sponsors; Mark & Donna Cochrane – Patsy Toman; local councillor – Sponsor; Richard Watt – Rider; Gordon Crockard, Newtownards – Mourne MCC Chairman; John Bassett.

Front Row: Ballynahinch Lions Club Member; Peter Hughes – Rider; Wayne Garrett, Comber – Sponsor; Stephen Watson – Rider; Josh Brookes.

 

The Mourne Motorcycle Club held their first cross-country motocross event of 2012 in Crossgar on Saturday, January 7.

The event was a fun-day, rather than a race, and the 81 competitors had the chance to ride for two hours on the track which was almost one and a half miles long.

This is the third year that the Mourne club has held a cross-country event at the start of the New Year. In 2010 the riders had to deal with riding through snow and in 2011 frost had left the ground frozen for the event. But in 2012 with heavy rain leading up to the event riders, such as Killinchy man Adrian Lappin, Crossgar’s James Cuffey, Saintfield’s Tom Lecky and Alan Campbell from Downpatrick, were treated to a slippery track which was to cut up heavily in places.

Thanks must also go to Bells Crossgar for the use of the forecourt on the Saintfield Road for parking vehicles.

Photo © Barry Clarke 2012

(Left to Right): Mark Douglas from Crossgar, Ballynahinch man Arthur McMullan, Downpatrick man Michael Killen and Mark Kirkpatrick from Aghalee.

The officers and members of the Mourne Motorcycle Club Ltd would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members and anyone associated with the club, a very Merry Christmas and prosperous and safe Happy New Year.

Best Wishes for 2012 and beyond!