Irwin lifts Tommy at Seaforde

Irwin lifts Tommy at Seaforde

17 July 2013

THE Knock Motorcycle and Car Club held the 64th annual Tommy Stewart Memorial meeting, which was also the penultimate round of the Ulster Championship, at Seaforde Moto Park on Saturday.

The Clubman’s MX1 class was first to the line and Dundonald man William Barr won all three races, with Moira’s Jordan Blakely taking three second placed finishes.The day’s results mean that Blakely is only two points ahead of Barr with one championship round to go.

In the Clubman’s MX2 class Crossgar’s Alexander Ellison and Chris Eccles, from Boardmills, left the rest of the pack trailing behind as they fought for the lead. Ellison won the day, taking two firsts and a second, as Eccles came in first, second and second. This leaves Eccles leading Ellison by 31 points in the championship.

In the Semi-Expert MX1 and MX2 class Luke Smith, from Millisle, took first, third and fourth positions to win the MX2 title on the day.

Racing finished with the Experts MX1 and MX2 class, the riders fighting for championship points and the Tommy Stewart Memorial.

Ballyclare’s Graeme Irwin won the battle as he took three wins to secure the Tommy Stewart Memorial Trophy, but it was Ballygowan’s Gary Gibson who increased his lead in the championship.

Consistent riding saw Gibson take three second-placed finishes as his closest championship competitor, Lisburn man Richard Bird, came home in third, seventh and then crashed out with one lap left of the last race when he was in second position.

The results saw Irwin take the Tommy Stewart, with Gibson finishing in second position overall and Comber man Wayne Garrett in third after finishing,

fourth, third and third in the three races.

The busy week of off-road racing had started in Leitrim on Wednesday when the Mourne Motorcycle Club hosted an evening of short sharp motocross races.

All races lasted just six laps and the Grade C red class was first to the line, with Ellison in unstoppable form, winning all three races ahead of Eccles who took seventh, third and second position finishes.

In the Grade C blue class Scott Bailey, from Markethill, won all three races, as Hillsborough’s Mark McLernon took two firsts and a second in the Grade C yellow class.

The last race was the combined Grade A and Grade B class and Ryan Adair, from Banbridge, won all three races.