Big entry expected for Armoy road races

William Dunlop, Neil Kernohan and Adam McLean pictured with Bill Kennedy at the Armoy launch last week. Picture: Roy Adams.

The Armoy races were launched in the Bushmills Distillery last week, where we were told that the meeting was one of the most popular in the country, with enquiries already coming in from all over the British Isles and further afield.

Already confirmed to race are William Dunlop and Derek Sheils, both proven race winners in the past. Adam Mclean, who has been a revelation over the last couple of seasons and has taken to roads like the proverbial duck to water, will also start, as will local man Neil Kernohan. Sam Dunlop and Paul Robinson, great supporters of 2 stroke racing, are entered.

Further details will be announced a bit closer to the race date, but Bill Kennedy, Clerk of the Course for the meeting, says he expects the racing to be fast and furious, given decent conditions.

Armoy is one of the meetings I look forward to each year. Well run and over a brilliant 3 mile circuit it has to rank as one of the best supported in Ireland.

NEIL ROBINSON MEMORIAL MEETING

Also announced during last week, the Neil Robinson Memorial Races, one of the best short circuit meetings on last years calendar, will take place at Kirkistown this year, due to Bishopscourt not being available.

Won in 2015 by Dromara man Alistair Kirk, the meeting, which will be on the 9th July, will have what has been described to me as a substantial prizefund. It’s the second consecutive year that the Mid Antrim club have hosted the event, with all classes being catered for.

Prizemoney and medals will be presented to the top three in race, thinks to the generosity of the sponsors. Admission will be £10/€15 for an adult. Children go free. Practice from 9am and the first race due away at 11.30am.

THIS WEEKEND

The 70th running of the Skerries 100 is this Friday and Saturday. The only road race meeting in the south to run on a Saturday, the Skerries is one of the most popular road races anywhere in Ireland.

Roads close for practice on Friday at 2pm until 9.30pm, while on Saturday the roads close at 9am. It’s hoped to have the first race under way at 10am.