By Sadly, there has been no road racing held in the southern centre for the past two years, but the Loughshinny club, are still very active, and while the ‘Bike Fest’ was a great success last year, this year the club have organised a sprint, kindly sponsored by our long term and loyal sponsors, Country Crest.
Loughshinny ran their first ever event in 1984, and while the Killalane races were their first road race, the club, in conjunction with the Blackchurch Racing Association, jointly ran the ‘Turvey Sprint’ that was held near Donabate.
The decision to run a sprint, sees the club hold it on a part of the iconic Skerries 100 course, and the start will be at the top of ‘Sam’s Tunnel’, where it will follow the course to Finnegan’s Corner, and finish just past “Joey’s Sweep” at the farmyards. The length of the course is approx. 1.4km.
The event will be held on Saturday 6th July, with the roads closing at 8am. The event is limited to race bikes up to Supersport spec, and there will be 4 classes, with a total of 48 entries, and there will also be a classic class.
Clerk of The Course Susan Plunkett, stated:
“We will be splitting the riders into three groups, and each group will get two practice runs, and three timed runs during the day.
Each group will run to the finish, and be escorted back by safety vehicles, with the paddock in a field that was used many years ago at the top of the tunnel. There will be class winners, and then an overall winner, with prize money split into the classes.”
Entries include local star Michael ‘Micko’ Sweeney, who will have his Eamon Mulligan sponsored R6 Yamaha, as well as his own MSR Aprillia. TT and Northwest newcomer Kevin Keyes, is also entered, as is Liam Chawke. Eoin O’Siochru is making his comeback after his crash at the Northwest, along with Ian and Andrew Whearty.
Committee members Des Butler and Sean Leonard are also taking part, and it will be history repeating it for them, as they took part in the first sprint 40 years ago. Another club member and double Manx Grand Prix winner Andy Farrell is also out on his Supersport machine.
The traditional ‘Charity Bike Run’ will take place on Friday evening 5th July, starting at the Skerries Mills, and this is open to all road legal bikes, with the entry fee €10, and donations will go to ‘The Forget Me Not Café’ in Skerries.
Admission on Saturday is €15, and that includes a souvenir programme, with children under 16 free.
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Jack Corry
