Launch of Armoy / Kells Cross Border Championship

Yesterday was a historic day for the members of Kells MCRC when they travelled to Stormont for the launch of the Armoy/Kells Cross Border Championship. This will be a two round championship with a total of  £6,000 stg prizemoney on offer.  The classes nominated are  the Open, 600cc and the 401-750cc Support. For riders taking part in Kells and Armoy this will be good news as this prizemoney will be on top of the normal prizemoney for the two events. The sun was shining at Stormont and the huge crowd attending were in high spirits.  Members of the Kells club who attended were  our Chairman Johnny Landy,  Aileen, Lester & Emma Ferguson, Tony Lynch, Stevo Phillips, David Burke, Albert Hamilton . Ryan Farquhar, William Dunlop, John Burrows, Wayne Hamilton, David Lumsden represented the riders. Sean Bissett represented the MCUI S/C with his wife Catherine.  Representing the MCUI UC were Chris Blair, Ian Forsyth, Alan Drysdale, John Atcheson. Our thanks to Mr. Thomas Byrne, TD,  Mr. Brian Curran ,Chairman of Kells Town Council.  Councillors Frank Lynch, Bryan Reilly, Tommy Grimes, Brian Collins, Ollie Sweeney,  Conor Ferguson,Michael Finnegan, Road Safety Officer with Meath Co. Council who made the effort to travel to Stormont. The Armoy Club must be congratulated for organising such a memorable day for the Northern launch. A special word of thanks to the two sponsors of this championship   Sam Geddis from Adelaide Insurance Services and Packie Laverty from Coleraine Skip Hire .  Both are fully behind this cross border / cross community initiative.  Sam Geddis has been involved with the Kells Club for the past two years organising another successful event namely the  Kells to Kells Rideout which this year will start at Kells Co .Antrim on Sat 17th July at 2pm and travel to Kells Co. Meath.  All bikers welcome to take part, many activities are being planned in Antrim for that weekend. Kells MCRC also hope to  welcome the Rugby and Gaelic Teams from Armoy who will play matches in Kells on the week leading up to the race, we will also be welcoming the Kells Cougars the local Soccer Team in Kells Co. Antrim. The Northern Ireland launch was hosted by MLA Ian Paisley Jnr at Parliament Buildings.  As we all know Mr. Paisley is a huge race fan and has been at the start of the Kells to Kells Rideout also.  Sports Minister Nelson McCausland also attended the launch and supported Mr. Paisley.  Both were very complimentary about what the clubs were trying to do.  Everyone present appreciated that the championship was a way of attracting top competitors to both events which will encourage the Road Race Fans to travel and this in turn will help tourism in both areas. Alan Drysdale interviewed all the riders present and they all stated that they were looking forward to doing Kells and Armoy and that the extra prize money would be welcomed by all taking part. Bill Kennedy on behalf of Armoy thanked everyone who attended and all departments who have given their help.  Aileen Ferguson on behalf of the Kells Club thanked the riders because without them their would be no racing.  She also thanked the sponsors and all who are supporting the Championship, the Kells Club hope that it will be the start of a long and successful relationship with Armoy. Click here to view photo gallery Admin Kells MCRC