Splash, bang, wallop as riders stick in the mud

Splash, bang, wallop as riders stick in the mud

14 March 2013 - by BY STUART CAMPBELL

MOURNE Motorcycle Club held their latest cross-country motocross event on Dunmore Mountain, outside Ballynahinch, on Saturday.

A low turnout of 52 riders meant there was one combined race on the day for the expert class and clubman class, which was to last for two hours.

Before the race began a travelling marshal led the competitors round on a sighting lap of the track, which was almost two miles long.

Weather was to play a big part on the day, with constant drizzle and fog rolling over the track during the event.

When the riders set off on their two-hour race the track was beginning to cut up and after half an hour of racing the track was almost impassable in some sections. This led one rider to shout ‘hallelujah’ towards spectators as he climbed up one steep section of the track.

But the event had to be ended after one hour and 40 minutes as the constant rain and fog was beginning to make the track unmanageable in sections.

The chequered flag was taken by Ballyclare man Chris Brown, who won the Experts class after he completed 12 laps. He was followed home by Saintfield’s Gary Bell, who was the only other rider to complete 12 laps, in second.

Ballycastle’s Charles Stuart came home in third after completing 11 laps, with Dromara man Jarrod Frost in seventh and Joel Brown from Ballygowan in eighth, after both men completed seven laps.

The Clubman class was won by Aaron Smyth from Belfast, who completed 11 laps, with George McMillen from Crossgar in sixth after nine laps and Saintfield man Tom Lecky completed three laps to finish the race.

The motocross season began in Cork on March 10 when the Munster club hosted the first round of the Irish Championship.

The Irish Championship will be in Downpatrick on June 15 when the Killinchy club host round four and then at Seaforde on September 7 when the Mourne club hosts the final round.

The Mourne club host round two of the Ulster Championship at Seaforde on May 6, Killinchy club holds round three at Downpatrick on June 1, the Temple club hosts round four at Laurel Bank on June 29 and the championship returns to Seaforde on July 13 when the Knock club hosts the fifth round.