Fatality casts cloud over Crossakiel

From early on Sunday morning, the throaty roar of two and four-wheeled vehicles was audible as huge crowds descended on Crossakiel for the 15th annual Kells Motorcycle Races. The schedule was amended slightly following an accident at the Crossakiel circuit on Saturday afternoon when Westmeath rider Padraig Campbell was fatally injured during a practice session. The deceased was scheduled to compete in a newcomers race on Saturday (Honda 400) and was also entered in an open race on Sunday (Suzuki 750). Saturday's second race was rescheduled to Sunday and the action got underway shortly after 11.0 as the annual event dominated the geography of north Meath. Race secretary Aileen Ferguson was a busy woman last week, but the pressure peaked on Sunday when she was in the control room in the paddock area at Crossakiel from early on Sunday morning. Local Garda, Sergeant Pat Dowd, who is based at Kells Garda Station, took part in Saturday's motorcycle run and was again on duty on Sunday. "Kells Road Races are on the international calendar this year and it's an honour and a pleasure to work with the organisers," he told the Meath Chronicle. "I came here to Kells last December and I was looking forward to the road races at Crossakiel since then. "With the addition of the international tag, Kells races have become a major sporting event on the local calendar at this stage," he added. The weekend action marked the culmination of months of planning for what has become a race with international status and was, for the second year, sponsored by Adelaide Insurance Services. 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 and this year was beamed worldwide by Sky television. Estimates suggested that more than 25,000 enthusiasts converged on Meath for the weekend action. Those numbers would have comprised genuine motorcycling fans and those there, perhaps for the first time along with the regulars from the immediate locality all eager to see some of the top exponents of the sport do what they do best on the now familiar course beside the north Meath village. While the racing at Crossakiel was the focus of attention on Sunday, events also took place in Kells on Friday on Saturday. The highlight of Saturday's off-track action was the second annual Kells (Antrim) to Kells (Meath) 160-kilometre motorcycle run. This ride-out featured members of An Garda Siochana and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in a joint-run with other two-wheeled enthusiasts to support the launch of the new Ireland Air Ambulance service. Organised by Quay Vipers Motor Cycle Club, the riders left Kells in Co Antrim early on Saturday afternoon and arrived in the Royal County town shortly after 5.0 to a huge reception at the Fairgreen. The emphasis was on safety and enjoyment for everyone, a point stressed by PSNI Inspector Gary McComb when he spoke to the Meath Chronicle at Kells Garda Station. "It's delightful to be here, last year we were treated superbly and I'm sure it will be the same again this time around as we strive to promote safer biking on the roads, each side of the border," commented Inspector McComb. Supt Ken Brennan was also eager to highlight the road safety aspects of the run and was also pleased with the co-operation which went into the organisation of the event. "This is our second annual run and we were made very welcome in Northern Ireland by our PSNI colleagues and the local community in Kells, Co Antrim, we aim to reciprocate that here in Co Meath," stated Supt Brennan. The value of the weekend action to the local economy was stressed by Cllr John Farrelly. "This event provides a great boost to the local economy," he told the Meath Chronicle. There was also a charity run from Kells to Crossakiel on Friday night which blasted-off from the Railway Bar and incorporated a circuit of the town on the way to Crossakiel. There was plenty of other activity around Kells on Friday night with the Headfort Arms hosting the Red Hot Chilli Peppers tribute band in the Kenlis Suite in aid of the Louth / Meath Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland. The members of An Garda Siochana and PSNI at Kells who took part in the Kells to Kells run included Superintendent Ken Brennan, Sargeant Pat Dowd, Garda Ken Burke, Garda Martin Carroll, Garda Andrew Cosgrove, Garda Roy Dunphy, Garda Conor Byrne, Inspector Gary McComb, Inspector David McCausland, Constable Jack McDowell, Constable Victor Molyneaux, Constable Judy Patterson. Constable Brian Harte, Constable Roy Murray, Constable Colin Adare, Constable Will Rodgers, , Sargeant Damien Crummey.