The North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club hosted the penultimate round of the Plews Tyres Irish Motocross Championships last weekend under cloudy skies but a dry two days saw some fantastic racing from Youth and Adult alike, and the addition of the Plews Tyres ‘Plews Crew’ adding to the atmosphere with goody bags etc, for the kids.

Saturday saw the Youth take centre stage and the weekend kicked off with the 50cc Automatics dealing with the big hills and a near two-minute lap the kids produced a dominant performance from Logan Nichols with Julian Vigors son of Graeme of early 2000’s fame second.

Next up the 65cc Cadets and Juniors surprised onlookers with their speed around the hilly circuit but some excellent close racing resulted in a treble win for Elliot Lynd with another treble going to Brendan McAreavy after some incredibly close competition from local lad Lurgan’s Mason Shields.

The Small Wheel and Big Wheel 85cc ran together and produced some close racing as young Templepatrick star Bradley Thompson son of Neil who won his first Irish Championship race at Tandragee 20 years ago winning treble and finishing third in amongst the faster big wheels, Enniskillen’s Max Jones was runner up, the BW 85 overall went to Dungannon’s Daniel Devine his European experience showing through, with Daniel McGovern second with three thirds.

The 125cc and 250F machines were next up and the impressive line up did not disappoint, Castlewellan EMX 125 runner TM mounted Alfie Herron wrapped up the Championship with his overall win from John McCann, in the 250F class, Omagh star Lweis Spratt back on his beloved KTM ran out a treble win in dominant style but behind him Noah Annett and Hillsborough teenager Ned McFarland put on a real show for second place, Annet grabbing the silver medal.

@Maurice Montgomery

Also, on the day Rachel Chambers clinched the Women’s Championship and in the concurrently run EVO class for machines over ten years old Nathan Donnelly pipped Luke Stockdale and Adam Donnelly to the win.

Sunday was the turn of the Adults to show their skills and they did not disappoint, Clubman’s MX2 produced the race of the weekend when Ned McFarland and Bradlee Walker having a race long swap fest of passing in a great demonstration on sporting tough but fair racing in race 2, but overall, Bradlee Walker took the overall from Jack Grills and Paul Grey after McFarland suffered a DNF in race 1.

@Maurice Montgomery

Clubman MX1 had one of their races red flagged after Luke Flynn took a nasty fall, thankfully without injury, but the MX1 lads deserve a special mention for their behaviour during the yellow flags, well done lads, slowed to a walking pace past the incident as they should.

On a brighter note, the class was won by club member and regular at every event at Tandragee Dromore man Anthony Lyle on his 350 KTM, after Stephen Edgar stalled the big Kawasaki to finish runner up.

@Maurice Montgomery

Pro Class overall went to Seaforde GOMX/Plews Tyres Yamaha mounted Nathan Green riding with impressive control and speed, even more impressive was the fact he did it riding with a broken finger sifter being hit by a stone in practice, handguards from then on!!! Runner up his nemesis Donaghcloneys order Niall Creggan had no answer to the tall Seaforde man, third was likeable Ballymoney man Jordan McCaw on his Gas Gas, these three also win the Grade A MX1 class.

@Maurice Montgomery

Grade A MX2 was a clean sweep for Lewis Spratt looking ever more comfortable back on the KTM, second was Gabriels Golturenko from MCI, with Alfie Herron screaming the TM 125 to third.

@Maurice Montgomery

Semi Expert MX1 was won by Stephen Bailie from Jordan Allingham and Cameron Mackie from Lisburn third, Semi Expert MX2 was taken by Robert Sweeney from Noah Annett and Ben Egerton.

Veterans 45 + was won by the evergreen and ever stylish David Tutty on his immaculate Honda from Rochard Palmer and Glenn James, while the ‘youngsters’ on the 35+ class was won by Thomas O’Grady in imperious form with local regular runner Nial McCauley second and Ryan Fenton third, special mention here must go to Munster man Garry O’Sullivan who rode three races on Saturday on his magnificent 1995 500cc Honda and completed 9 races on Sunday on his 2001 125cc, 2001 250cc and 500cc Hondas in the Veterans an bot Clubman races demonstrating the passion and enjoyment of this fantastic sport, and good luck to Garrry and all the local competing this weekend on the Veteran Motocross of \Nations at the mighty Hawkestone Park in Shropshire.
@Maurice Montgomery