Category: Club News

Following on from the cancellation of our Fun Cross Country due to the weather, which was to be run in January time at Saintfield Road, Crossgar; we are now going to be running our first ‘Fun Evening’ Cross Country event on Wednesday 24th July 2013 at the same venue.

Signing-on and scruiteering will be from 5.30pm until 6.30pm with the 2 hour race for all riders commencing around 6.45pm.

With the recent good spell of weather that we have been having, we are hoping to have it extending until our event in just under two weeks time.

 

It is with regret and frustration that the club has been forced to cancel Wednesday night comings Evening Cross Country. With only 12 paid entries, and 25 in total on paper, the event was not going to be viable. We have been left with no option but to cancel this event. We cannot run on the word of mouth that riders might turn up. We are sorry to all those who entered and your entries will be returned.

 

 

Our ‘Evening Motocross’ has now been passed and reorganised with first aid cover for this coming Wednesday night, 10th July at Leitrim MX Track.
Anyone who didn’t take their entry back last week will be automatically re-entered. Anyone who would like to enter, please get in touch before Tuesday morning. Revised entry forms are available to download here

There will be ‘Free Admission. to the track for competitors and spectators on the night, as a goodwill gesture from the club.

There will be a tear-off ban in place on the night, as the land is used to graze livestock on. So please only use Roll-off type systems on your goggles.

Directions to this event can be viewed on our events page, please click here

 

Thanks again for your continued support and understanding.

 

 

 

 

Our ever popular ‘Evening Motocross’ at George Porter’s; Leitrim Motocross Track will be on Wednesday 3rd July 2013. We will be running the usual Grade A, Grade B and Grade C solo classes along with the an Evo class for the older models of machinery.

Entry fee is £22 (£10 extra for additional class) + an additional £3 each for all competitors and spectators to be paid at the gate.

Entry forms are now available to download by clicking here. Get your entries in quick as they are first come first served, with this popular event which attracts large numbers of riders.

Directions to this event can be viewed on our events page, please click here

 

On Wednesday evening, June 19th 2013 we will again hold our annual Grasstrack event which we run for local charities. Our grasstrack is now in its 7th year and we hope this year it will be as much of a success as previous years. Over the last six years the club has raised in excess of £41,000 at our charity grasstrack events for local charities which are close to the hearts of club members and their families. This year is no different, as we have again picked two local charities and will divide the proceeds in half for both of these very worthwhile causes. The money raised at this years event will go to the Lucy Parke Fund and The Grove Day Centre, Ballynahinch.

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

Lucy Parke is the daughter of David and Stephanie Parke from Drumlee, Castlewellan, County Down. She was 3 years old on 10^th Nov 2012. She has a condition called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. (More information available here: www.progeriaresearch.org) This is a premature ageing disease which means Lucy’s body will age eight times faster than others. It is a very rare fatal genetic condition with only 100 known cases in the world. Lucy is the only child in Ireland with the condition. Lucy has normal mental ability and can walk for short distances. She is talking and singing like any other 3 year old. She looks different to other children and has growth failure, loss of body fat, hair loss and a poor appetite. From an early age Lucy will have arthritis and heart problems and these will contribute to a much shorter life.

As yet, there is no cure for Progeria, but doctors around the world are discovering new aspects of the condition and are testing different drugs so as to give children like Lucy the best quality of life. Lucy Parke Progeria Fund was started shortly after Lucy’s diagnosis in 2010 as friends, neighbours and strangers wanted to help in some way. The money has been raised for when she needs something either to make life easier for her or for any treatment that she needs which may not be funded by health boards. Lucy has hospital check-ups on a regular basis but is generally healthy. She is small in stature but has a big personality with big brown eyes and a smile that will light up any room. She loves being the big sister to Jake and Jenny and is a very loveable and special child.

Lucy parents have been blessed by many good friends and have a strong Christian faith. “Lucy was sent to us for a reason and we thank God for her daily. She has enlightened our family and we have grown closer to God and stronger in our faith because of her. She has changed our lives and will continue to impact the lives of so many others in Northern Ireland and throughout the world.”

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29v11

 

The Grove Day Centre Age N.I. Is located on the Antrim Road, Ballynahinch. Their aim is to support and encourage older people to remain active, independant and to enjoy life to the full. We provide a friendly, caring and stimulating atmosphere for all attending the centre.

Grove Day Centre is registered for 15 Service Users per day and is purpose built to suit the needs of older people. A well balanced meal is provided each day. All our service users have an opportunity to participate in the therapies, activities and seasonal outings. Recently some of our Service Users had the chance to participate in a basic computer course which they thoroughly enjoyed. We have also had Mulberry Cottage Crafts in at the Grove to do Brooch Making and Bonmarche came to Grove to enable some of our Service Users to see their range of clothes and purchase some new clothes. We also do outings and day trips. At Christmas we went to the Millbrook Lodge Hotel and at Easter another outing to the Harbour Inn, Annalong. Our summer outing have not yet been planned and we are hoping to have a Jewellery making class late summer. Our clients love to do craft making, Knitting, Pot Planting and baking. Movie Days where the service Users would watch a movie and enjoy Popcorn and we also have the hairdresser in on a Tuesday morning and a coffee morning on a Friday. When the weather is good we would go for a run to Brennans for ice cream so we are always busy doing something and welcome new ideas

Caring for and providing activities to keep the older generation occupied is our primary aim at The Grove Day Centre.

 

Plans for Wednesday 19th June are very much well underway. The press launch took place on Tuesday night past (June 4th) with a photo below. As with previous years, we will not only have the grasstrack racing to look forward to. We will have displays of classic cars and motorcycles, along with custom trucks. Face painting will also be on hand to keep the kids entertained.

We will be having 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 Quads, Sidecars and Evo’s in our racing programme.

Entry Forms for this event are now available to download; please click here. Please get your entries in quickly, as we always have a big demand for this event and can only cater for limited numbers in each class.

Photo © MWK Mourne MCC Ltd

Signs erected around the Ballynahinch area in preparation for the event…

The club is hosting Round 3 of the Ulster Quad/Sidecar/Veterans/Under 23 Ulster Championship at Seaforde Moto Parc on Saturday 8th June 2013.

At present entries are slow to come in, so please get them in as soon as possible to allow time to compile the programme together and produce entry lists.

For event competitor entry forms, please click here

For direction please click here

We will be running a solo support race on the day but this will be open to entries from Grade C competitors ONLY (Either Grade C MX1 or Grade C MX2)

Competitors please note the following:

• Noise testing will be enforced on ALL bikes and quads… This will take place in the morning.
• NO entries will be accepted on the day,
• Chain guards must be fitted to ALL bikes and quads for safety.

If there is anyone who is available to offer their services as a flag marshal, please get in touch via email or facebook. Lunch will be provided on the day, expenses will be paid and all marshals will be entered into our £25 bonus draw for two lucky marshals.

The Mourne Motorcycle Club will host the second round of the 2013 Ulster Open Motocross Championship at clubman Norman Green’s Seaforde MotoPark, on Monday, May 6th.

The first round of the championship was held at Desertmartin on April 1 and coming into round two Ballygowan man Gary Gibson is leading the Grade A MX1 class, with Comber’s Wayne Garrett in second. There will be Mourne Club members fighting for top positions in the Clubman’s MX2 class; Boardmills man Chris Eccles is leading the way with Downpatrick man; Alexander Ellison in fifth position in the championship.

Along with the motocross action the Ballynahinch Lions will be holding a retiring collection on the day for their chosen charities for 2013.

This year the Mourne club is holding the event with support from BLRC Landrover Specialists, Saintfield Livestock Market, Brent Dorman John Deere Engineer, Brennan’s Service Station and Stick Restaurant, McKibbin Motors, Noel Cochrane Car Sales and Spares, Frenchies Mace in Clough, Bore-a-hole, Kane Trailers in Ballynahinch and Watson’s Flowers in Ballynahinch, along with help from the Ballynahinch Lions.

Along with a substantial prize fund up for grabs on the day, there will be a bonus £50 draw for one rider from the last block of races on the day who did not finish in a prize winning position. This draw will take place at random and anyone who rides in the last block of races from the 4 classes (Grade A, Grade B, Grade C MX1 & Grade C MX2) who did not receive prize money could be in line for winning £50.

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 © Stuart Campbell

(Left to Right): Back Row: Norman Green; Track Owner, Billy McLarnin; Mourne MCC Chairman, George Porter, Roy Kennedy & Sons; Rider, Robert Gibson, Roy French; Sponsor, Arthur McMullan; Mourne MCC Member, Donna & Mark Cochranes; Sponsors, Francis Casement & Colin McKurdock; Ballynahinch Lions Members, Tom Simpson, Roy Neill, Andrew Shields, Junior Burrows, & John Bassett; Mourne MCC Members

Front Row: Adam McMullan, Chris Eccles, Alexander Ellison; Riders & Matthew King; Rider & Mourne MCC Vice-Chairman

 

Competitors please note; no entries will be taken on the day; chain guards must be fitted to all bikes; and noise testing will be enforced on ALL bikes.

For event competitor entry forms, please follow this link

For direction please click here

If there is anyone who is available to offer their services as a flag marshal, please get in touch with Andrew Shields on 07850 411 955. Lunch will be provided on the day, expenses will be paid and all marshals will be entered into our £25 bonus draw for two lucky flaggers.

The club will host Round 2 of the Ulster Open Motocross Championship on Mayday Monday 6th May 2013 at Norman Green’s Seaforde Moto Parc.

We hope to get a good crowd and fingers crossed the weather is in our favour this year.

Press release to follow next week…

For event competitor entry forms, please follow this link

For direction please click here

Competitors please note the following:

• Noise testing will be enforced on ALL bikes,
• NO entries will be accepted on the day,
• Chain guards must be fitted to ALL bikes for safety.

If there is anyone who is available to offer their services as a flag marshal, please get in touch with Andrew Shields on 07850 411 955. Lunch will be provided on the day, expenses will be paid and all marshals will be entered into our £25 bonus draw for two lucky flaggers.

On Saturday night, 16th February 2013 the club again hosted a very successful Prize Giving and Buffet at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch. With close to 100 people in attendance to see the prizes handed out from 2012 season past.

A total of eight trophies were handed out to competitors who had taken past in the club’s 2012 motocross events. The evening was compered by ‘The Voice of Motocross’ on the island of Ireland… Mrs Roy Neill. Before the handing out of the prizes our chairman, Billy McLarnin thanked everyone for coming to the evening and described the club as a motocross club and a social club for it’s members, attending meetings, organising events and the club’s annual Mourne Away Day which has become an important part of the club’s calendar.

The presentation of the prizes started with David Gorman, from Dromore who won the John Herron Cup, Ballyclare man Paul Atkinson, who won the James Mullan Trophy for Grade C Rider and Gary Gibson from Ballygowan, who won the Grade A rider trophy sponsored by James Mullan. The Bertie Campbell Memorial Trophy was awarded to Waringstown rider Steven White and Loughbrickland man Jason Meara took home the James Mullan Trophy for Grade B rider. Scott Leaney, from Lisburn, was presented with the Harry Palmer Cup and the Seaforde Motocross Parc Trophy. Coalisland man Donal Teague collected the Harry Palmer Perpetual Trophy.

The final trophy to be presented was the only one that is not decided by points scored at the club’s racing events. Each year the Norman Campbell Trophy goes out to a Mourne club rider to honour his results and active role within the club. This year Ballynahinch man, Terry McCann won the trophy. Terry was shocked and overhelmed to receive the award, but true to form still a man of few words!

Prize Winners (Left to Right) David Gorman, Scott Leaney, Terry McCann, Billy McLarnin (Mourne Club Chairman), Jason Meara, Gary Gibson, Donal Teague, and Steven White.

Norman Campbell Memorial Trophy presentation: (Left to Right) Matthew King (Mourne Club Vice-Chairman), Terry McCann, Billy McLarnin (Mourne Club Chairman)

 

For more photos from the night click here

Dunmore Mountain, Spa, Ballynahinch will be the venue for our next Cross Country event on Saturday 9th March 2013.

After the poor weather that threatened and then forced the cancellation of the first Cross Country event of 2013, the club is hoping that mother nature will be kinder to us on 9th March. Anyone who has rode at Dunmore Mountain before will know that the venue can be used in all extremes of weather, this is why we choose it as the current weather we are getting has been very wet to date.

Entry Forms are now available to download from this website or by clicking here

Entries close on Wednesday 6th March 2013 so get them in early.

Mourne Motorcycle Club are holding our very successful club prize giving and buffet at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch, on Saturday 16th February 2013 at 7.30pm ’til late.

Cups will be presented to the prize winners from events run in the past year. Also presented on the night will be the Seaforde Motocross Park Cup and the Norman Campbell Memorial Cup. (All prize winners will be notified by post)

As the price of daily living has increased, we have managed to hold our very reasonable price of £17.50 per tickets. This is for a hot-food buffet including desert and an evenings entertainment. There will also be a raffle on the night.

Anyone who attended in previous last years, will know how good an evenings craic it is, and all new faces will be made very welcome.

 

Tickets can be purchased via this website, (Fill in contact form page) most club members or by contacting Billy McLarnin on 07860 608 418 or Matthew King on 07834 071 524.