Two-wheeled action at Crossakiel

Kells Motorcycle Club secretary Aileen Ferguson is this week finalising plans for the 15th annual Kells Road Races which will take place around the challenging Crossakiel circuit next Saturday and Sunday. The weekend action will mark the culmination of months of planning for what has become a race with international status at this stage and is, for the second year, sponsored by Adelaide Insurance Services. 'This is a very successful event, it is well organised and we are glad to back here again,' stated Adelaide Insurance Services representative Nichola Pearce. Club chairman Tony Lynch is looking forward the event with great anticipation, although the fatality at road races near Athlone last weekend highlights the danger involved with the sport. Kells has a good safety record and is always high on the agenda when members are planning the event. 'There will be plenty of events taking place in and around Kells to coincide with the weekend racing at Crossakiel,' explained the chairman. 'Apart from the fundraising Kells (Antrim) to Kells (Meath) motorcycle ride, we will have a stunt man, Mattie Griffin, at the Fairgreen on Saturday,' he added. There will be two races on Saturday following a series of practice sessions from 1.0 while on Sunday the 11-race schedule will start at 11.15 with a 600cc event sponsored by Navan Commercials and the Martin Finnegan Supporters Club. The first races staged under the auspices of the Kells Road Race Club were held in May 1994 at Dulane and the following year the move was made to a more suitable course, the current venue at Crossakiel. Through the hard work of the organising committee the Crossakiel meeting has become the biggest national road race event in Ireland. This year, to help celebrate the 15th anniversary, the races have international status from the IMF (International Motorcycling Federation). In recent times up to 25,000 people have attended, the numbers made up of genuine motorcycling fans and curious bystanders wishing to get a rare glimpse of a high-powered motorcycling event. Next weekend thousands are again expected to converge on Crossakiel and watch some of the top exponents of the sport do what they do best on the now familiar course beside the north Meath village. For a few days before the races get underway motorcyclists from various parts of England, Scotland and Ireland, along with their support teams, will converge on Crossakiel. This year could also see a top woman rider in action at the event. Previously, a Scottish woman, Eleanor Forrest, took part in races at Crossakiel and this year one of the top women motorcyclists on the circuit, England"s Jenny Tinmouth, is expected to take her place at the start of the Supersport 600cc class event while another lady from the UK, Marie Hodgenson, is also expected to compete. 'Jenny will definitely be a big attraction and has expressed an interest in taking part in the Kells this year and we will also have Marie Hodgenson taking part,' stated Ferguson. The secretary also paid tributes to the sponsors who have stayed loyal to the races, a huge factor in ensuring they can go ahead. Ferguson says that the Crossakiel course may not be 'the most technical' of courses, but it doses contain the now famous bumps or 'jumps' which she adds makes it interesting for riders and spectators. There will also be a charity run around the town of Kells on Friday evening, 6.30 from the railway Bar in aid of Meath Women"s Refuge. That particular run will finish with two laps of the Crossakiel circuit.