Vehicle cavalcade in memory of Steenson

Vehicle cavalcade in memory of Steenson

2 September 2020

THE second annual Crossgar car and motorcycle cavalcade takes place this Sunday.

Organised by the Brian Steenson Memorial Group, the event starts and finishes in the village, with participants due to move off at 3pm.

The local group has already organised various fundraisers with a scooter and motorcycle run to raise funds taking place earlier this year.

A new wall mural has already been erected on the gable wall of the Corner Inn in Crossgar in memory of Steenson, with plans also in place to erect a granite memorial outside Killyleagh castle, once the necessary permission has been secured.

Those taking part in Sunday’s event — which will cover almost 18 miles — will follow a route from Crossgar to Downpatrick and over to Killyleagh before heading back to the village.

The entry fee is £5 which includes tea and sandwiches which will be served at the Corner Inn where social distancing measures will be in operation. 

Only 12 people will be permitted in the lounge at any one time, with a  ‘two in two out’ rota in operation.

Cars will be parked at the Central Garage on the opposite side of the filling station, with motorcycles parking at Scott’s hardware yard. Scooters will be parked at the rear and front entrances at the Corner Inn.

Organisers are also delighted that Roy Neill will compere the event and provide commentary between 1pm and 3pm.

The cavalcade leaves Crossgar for Downpatrick and it’s then over to Killyleagh, into Shrigley, with participants proceeding along the Clea Lough Road past Brian Steenson’s former home and into Derryboye before heading back to Crossgar.

Organisers estimate that the run will take over 30 minutes to complete and hope the event will be well supported to raise funds for the planned Steenson memorial at Killyleagh Castle.

The popular rider lost his life 50 years ago after crashing at the Isle of Man TT. Earlier this year, a highly impressive new tribute film to him was premiered at Down High School in Downpatrick where he was a former head boy. 

The rider was also widely regarded as the motorcycle racing champion Northern Ireland never had and was revered by his peers. He was also a talented engineer, sportsman and musician.

He started his career in 1966 on a Triumph Tiger Cub motorbike funded largely by his father, Alex, with his first race win coming later that year at the Tullyvallen circuit in the Republic of Ireland.

Widely regarded as one of Northern Ireland’s brightest racing hopes, Steenson died following the crash at the TT when he was involved in a three-way battle for second place with Peter Williams and Alan Barnett, behind Giacomo Agostini’s MV Agusta.

His funeral, which was one of the biggest ever held in Co Down, was attended by riders from across the globe, including Agostini.

The local motorsport enthusiasts decided that because Steenson had connections with Killyleagh and Crossgar, they would honour his memory in both areas.

Organisers have requested that participants in this Sunday’s fundraising cavalcade assemble from 1pm.