Brian aims to revive Mid-Antrim ‘150’ races

Over the past 20 years Broughshane man Brian Thompson has been recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s leading sports marketers, with sales and marketing roles in both football and in sports turf maintenance with Groundsman Industries in Ballymoney.

This weekend would have seen the running of the road races at Clough but organisers had to take the decision not to run the event this year, as a result of the spiralling cost of hosting the races.

Instead, the nearby village of Broughshane will hosts a superb Festival of Motorsport on Friday and Saturday, featuring some of the most exotic classic cars and motorcycles ever seen in Ireland.

“When I first met with the Mid Antrim Race Committee it was obvious how dejected they were with the decision to shelve the race for this year,” explains Brian.

“Growing up in Broughshane the Mid Antrim was a great feature of the sporting calendar, yet I knew the traditional date could not be let go.

“So we started discussing possibilities and along came the ‘Festival of Motor Sport’.

“Already the Mid Antrim 150 is the first race anywhere in Britain and Ireland to have its own scratchcard lottery entitled Legends, Irish Road Racers.

“It has been well received in the limited time it has been on sale.

“The Festival of Motor Sport, I believe, will be very successful and will perhaps evolve in different ways over the years.

“Today is total evidence that the Mid Antrim 150 will re-establish itself as one of Irelands leading road races.

“That is my objective and I am looking forward to working club members of the road racing fraternity to ensure that objective is met,” added Brian.