Ellison leads the way

Ellison leads the way

26 June 2013 - by BY STUART CAMPBELL

COUNTY Down men were leading the pack on an evening of short, sharp motocross races at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch, last Thursday.

The charity event, held by the Mourne Motorcycle Club, was in its seventh year with all proceeds this year going to the Grove Day Centre, Ballynahinch, and the Lucy Parke Appeal.

The Clubman’s red class was first to the line and Crossgar man Alexander Ellison was in unstoppable form, leading all three races from the start to take three wins in the six lap races. Second overall in the class was Annacloy man Matthew King with third, second and third placed finishes and Newry rider Aaron Sands took fifth, fourth and second places to finish in third.

In the Clubman’s blue class Carryduff’s Mark Coburn won the first two races, before coming home in third in race three to win the class, followed by William Hodgen from Rathfriland in second, with fourth, third and second finishes, and Banbridge man Ross Adair who finished in third overall, after eighth, second and a win in the final race.

In the clubman’s green class Boardmills man Chris Eccles became the second rider to take three wins, but he had to work for race two when he came from fifth position on lap one to take the lead and the win on the last lap.

In second overall was Dollingstown rider Jonathan Martin, with second, third and second position finishes and Christopher Spratt was third with fourth, fifth and third positions.

Three second placed finishes helped Ballynahinch man Leslie Blakely take the honours in the Evo class as two other riders enjoyed less luck.

Ballyhornan man Scott Rourke finished race one in 10th after a poor start left him to fight through the pack, before winning races two and three to take second overall.

Jonathan O’Neill, from Ballynahinch, had won race one followed by third in race two, before his third race ended with mechanical failure on lap five when he was sitting in second position. Portavogie’s Raymond Cromie took his chance and finished in third overall with three consistent finishes in sixth, fifth and fourth.

Starting their first ever adult races, Castlewellan’s Darren Owens won the Quad Clubman’s class with a second and two wins. Stephen Mulholland from Newcastle took third overall with third, third and second finishes. Second overall went to Banbridge man Paul Thompson after he won race one and came home in second and third in the final races.

In the sidecar class Lisburn men led the way with Gary Moulds and Ben Alexander leading all three races from start to the flag for three wins, with Ricky Portis and Roy Beattie in second with third, fifth and second finishes. Tony Willis and Ian Glenn finished fourth, third and fourth positions for third overall.

Next on the line was the Quads Experts class with Saintfield’s Dean Colhoun, winning overall after a second place and two wins, with Mark McLernon from Hillsborough, taking second and Banbridge man David Cowan was third overall with three third placed finishes.

The Grade A and B class was last to the line with Newtownards man Tommy Merton winning all three races, as Dromara’s Stuart Fee was second overall with third, sixth and second positions and Banbridge man Ryan Adair took third with second, third and 16th-placed finishes.

The top Grade B finisher Phil Harris from Saintfield took 10th, fourth and eighth positions, Jay McCrum from Jordanstown was second with 11th, 12th and 11th finishes, and Crossgar’s Joel Brown took third overall with 12th, 10th and 13th placed finishes.