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DUBLINER Sean Doyle was never headed as he took a victory in last Saturdays Shane Cup trial, held in difficult conditions at Shilnavogey, near Broughshane.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Mar 2013, 16:48 GMT

At the end of the opening lap, Doyle, down 27, held a 3 mark advantage over Michael Burton.

He steadily built on that, eventually running as the winner. His score of 95, being 20 better than that of Burton, while Andrew Perry was the best of the Ulster based riders, going down 147 penalties.

In Grade B, Mid Antrim club member William Dickey took a win. In a brilliant opening lap, the local man dropped just 7 marks, less than half the penalties of Stuart McClurg.

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At the end it was Dickey who ran out the winner, his score of 51 being 20 less that McClurg, while Ben Braithwaite took third on 85.

Former Irish champion, Banbridge man Philip Hanlon took a win in the C Grade. His first 2 laps saw him drop just 4 marks and 6 marks respectively, to effectively break the rest of the field. At the end it was left to another local man, Sam McCallion, to fill the runner up slot, some 19 penalties adrift of Hanlon, while Gareth Mackey was third, dropping 66.

Robbie Jennings won the D Grade, having an event long tussle with Geordie Robinson. At the end of the opening lap Jennings had lost a single mark, to the 0 of Robinson.

On the next circuit Jennings slipped further back, but going out onto the last lap Robinson led by a single mark, 5 to 4. On the last lap, Jennings rallied, winning by 15 marks to 17, while David Gault was never really able to match the form of the leaders, taking third place on 26.

Philip Hanlons two sons Jake and Josh, completed a unique family treble, taking wins in their respective Grades. Jake won the Youth A Grade, finishing 28 marks ahead of Curtis Brown, while Josh was the Youth B winner, his score of 26 being 10 better than that of Andrew Dunlop.

MCUI RACE SCHOOL.

Riders finally got some track time at Kirkistown last Sunday, when in near perfect, if only cold, conditions, the second MCUI race school took place.

To be honest, I had some trouble making sense out of things the way they were ran, but I did notice a few lads who were going well.

Galgorms Neil Kernaghan ran an R6 raced last year by Sam Wilson. Neil, a former MX rider, wasn’t too far off the pace, and will definitely be a lad to watch this year.

It took a bit of ‘Daddy Engineering’ to get Antrims Luke Hazlett onto the track. Discovering that the keys of his new ER6 had been left at home, dad Stephen had to dismantle the whole underside of the petrol tank and fill the bike from the fuel tap.

It worked anyway, and towards the end Luke was setting some useful times, stepping up from the 125 Production class to the Stock Twins category for 2013.

Another local man, Keith McQuillan had his ER6 blow a fuse before practice started. His team had a bit of rapid pitwork to do to set the local man on track on time.

The final race school is this coming weekend and hopefully we will be treated to some similar weather.

REGS AVAILABLE.

Regulations and entry forms are now available for the Mid Antrim clubs two short circuits, which fall just 5 weeks apart, both at Nutts Corner.

The first meeting, an Open event, will be on March 16. Entries for this one go to Seamus Dobbin, 9 Lyleshill Road, Aughafatten, Ballymena, BT42 4IJ. They close on March 6. Entries for the Irish Championship meeting, which will be held on the 20th April, contact Davy McCartney, 8 Riverlea, Rathkenny, Ballymena. These close on April 10.