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Senior Support A:
Decent conditions all round at Cookstown greeted competitors for the opening race of the day, the Super Seal Windows Castledawson Senior Support (A) race.
232 plate holder Jack Oliver raced into an early lead, holding by lap three an advantage exceeding 1.8 seconds.
By lap seven though pole sitter Keelim Ryan was on a charge and the gap to Oliver stood at just 0.751 of a second.
Oliver’s lead reduced further during the following lap to only 0.323, the stage was well and truly set for a grandstand finish.
Ultimately the highly rated Oliver kept his cool to emerge victorious by only 0.241 over plucky runner-up Ryan.
Third went to Michael Gahan with positions fourth, fifth, sixth acquired respectively by Michael Gillan, Marcus Simpson and Faraldo Racing’s Eoin O’Siochru.
125/Moto 3/Supersport 300:
The Keystone Lintels/Loughran Commercials 125/Moto 3 race went to the form book, as Michael Browne scored a dominant race victory.
Almost ten seconds clear by lap five, his final race winning margin stood at 21 seconds plus over Eoin O’Siochru.
Respected Irish roads veteran Nigel Moore finalised the podium finishers whilst Supersport 300 class spoils went to Barry Davidson after an intriguing battle with Ballymoney’s Darryl Tweed.
Steve Moody wrapped up the top three finishers. Remaining finishers were RJ Woolsey, Sam Johnston, Linton Irwin and Mark Johnson.
Lightweight Supersport:
Improving Scottish roads force Kris Duncan powered to Lightweight Supersport success.
Duncan’s task on route to race victory was made easier when early lead chaser Paul ‘Potchy’ Williams retired mid-race.
This enabled Duncan to command race proceedings and by the conclusion of the ninth and final lap, his race winning advantage exceeded 29 seconds!
David Howard took second whilst Alan Johnston with a late burst of pace, got the better of Orritor Circuit debutant Dan Ingham for the final spot on the podium.
Super Twins B:
Throughout it seemed that Jonathan Watt was on course for a comfortable Super Twins B-race triumph.
Four seconds clear at the end of lap two, Watt (Woolsey Concrete Kawasaki) looked to be homing in on race success when the ninth and final lap arose.
Then drama struck as the 61-plate holder hit problems which enabled RJ Woolsey, Switzerland’s Ivo Ladde to take advantage.
At the chequered flag it was the popular Woolsey who claimed race spoils ahead of IRRC regular, Manx GP pilot Ladde.
Long term pace setter Watt had to settle for third as Milo Ward, Adrian Heraty and Dave Walsh finalised the top six finishers.
Junior Support A/Junior Support B Races:
The JMB Coaches/Bill Eastwood Contracts Junior Support races kept the passionate, knowledgeable crowd at Cookstown royally entertained.
Premier (A) race wise, the prime contenders for success were Eoin O’Siochru and qualifying pace setter Michael Gillan.
The nip and tuck battle concluded with O’Siochru just having the edge on Gillan. Dan Ingham took a maiden Cookstown podium finish ahead of fellow Cookstown newcomer Jay Bellers Smith.
Following (B) race proceedings proved tumultuous for RJ Woolsey, who doubled his race wins tally for the day but only after holding off a charging Chris Meyer.
Just 0.125 of a second covered the leading duo at the chequered flag. A further eight seconds plus behind was 171 plate holder, third place finisher Dave Walsh.
Junior Classics A/Junior Classics B Races:
Barry Davidson took his Irish road race wins tally to 93 via a commanding triumph in the McKinstry Skip Hire Junior 350 Classics (A) race.
Lead chaser to Ballymena’s Davidson was Andy Hornby, who finished just over 7 and a half seconds behind.
John Leigh Pemberton finalised the rostrum finishers whilst Junior 250 Classics spoils went the way of another yesteryear machinery racing great, Philip Shaw.
The corresponding (B) race for Junior Classics runners yielded respective 350, 250 successes for Robert McCrum and Richard Ford.
Prior multi race winner RJ Woolsey, Davy Crawford, Paul McMahon and Gavan Duffy joined McCrum and Ford in gaining podium finishes.
Cookstown 100 Superbike B:
Supersport B race runner-up last night, Toby Shann went one better in the early evening KDM Hire Cookstown 100 Superbike B race.
Gradually reeling in Welshman Matt Rees, Shann by closing race laps was in the lead which he maintained to the finish-line.
TT stalwart Rees finished just 0.366 in arrears whilst third place went to Open B-race victor Darryl Anderson.
In total nine racers completed the 9-lap race with positions fourth through to ninth claimed by Liam Chawke, Obsession Engineering supported Martin Morris, Paul Marley, Alan Johnston, Andrew Sellars and Noel Carroll.
Senior Classics:
It’s easy to forget Guy Martin’s unique pure road racing skillset. More known now for his TV shows, world records, he’s been back on two-wheel racing duty this weekend at Cookstown.
On pole for the Skegness Raceway Senior Classics race, the Kirmington star became quickly embroiled in a captivating tussle Classic 1000, overall race honours with proven classics racer Andy Hornby.
By lap five though Martin was 11 seconds behind Hornby who went onto power to victory.
Martin ultimately retired which enabled Richard Ford, Andy Kildea to join Hornby on the rostrum.
John Leigh Pemberton bested former Senior Manx GP winner Mark Parrett for Classic 500 honours.
Anthony Ambler completed the 500’s top three ahead of the evergreen Wattie Brown.
Cookstown 100 Superbike Race:
Before red flags arose, the feature, blue-riband, showpiece event of the 100th Anniversary Cookstown 100, the KDM Hire Cookstown Superbike race, was proving an absolute cracker.
A race-long duel between Adam McLean and Michael Sweeney looked set for a Grandstand finish with both setting a blistering pace, recording sub 1 minute 24 second lap times.
Just over 0.250 of a second covered the leading pair as lap seven beckoned but soon red flags started popping up around the Orritor circuit.
The reason for this was an incident involving race leader McLean, who had slid off close to Braeside Corner.
A delay then ensued before the race’s re-start which took place over five laps.
With McLean out of contention this paved the way for Skerries Sweeney to enjoy a relatively routine race
success.
3.146 ahead of top chaser Thomas Maxwell, Sweeney’s success took his wins ratio today into triple figures and enabled him to claim the coveted ‘Man of The Meeting’ accolade.
Behind Sweeney, Maxwell, P3 went the way of Richard Charlton whilst fifth place finisher Dominic Herbertson claimed the James Cowton Memorial Trophy, for finishing lead 600cc mounted competitor.
Photo credit Tommy Vennard, Rod Neill
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
