The long wait for the Irish road race circus to roll back into Skerries, is just around the corner, and the Country Crest Skerries 100 will take place on Saturday/Sunday 2/3 July, with the Classic parade taking place on Friday 1st July.
The excitement that pure road racing brings to the beautiful town of Skerries, has a long history, with the iconic race the oldest in the south of Ireland, over the 2.92 seaside course.
The Annual Classic parade takes place on Friday 1st July, with the chosen charity, Friends of Autism and ADHD the beneficiary of the run. Entry fee is €10 per bike, and it must be road legal. Former Moto GP, WSBK, European Superstock Champion and World Endurance Champion, James Ellison will be the guest of the club over the weekend.
Since the last event in 2019, the Loughshinny Club have embarked on a strategy with regard to safety, and in the past twelve months, they have spent and incredible €40,000 on new safety equipment, that will see the course decked in new pole protectors, as well as erectecell bales kindly sponsored in part by Sabre Electrical Services. This investment is paramount for the future of the club, and the race itself, and this will leave the club almost self sufficient when it comes to safety equipment.
With the help of great local sponsors like Eamon Mulligan Builders, Joey Lannon, Country Crest, Des D’Arcy Motors, Vanfleet Transport, and Balbriggan Motors, the new pole protectors will be an addition to the safety of the course. The club are also grateful to the Milverton off Road Club for their help, and not forgetting the Kells Cub, who continue to support the event.
There will be 10 races taking place on Sunday, but before that, the large entry will have to practice and qualify on Saturday, with the roads closing on Saturday from 12noon, opening no later than 8.30pm, and on Sunday (race day) the roads will close at 8am, opening no later than 6.30pm.
Among the stars that will be completing are Derek Sheils, the 9 times winner around the course, and only the second rider ever to lap at over 111mph, just behind Michael Dunlop, who holds the course record. Sheils will be joined by local rider Micko Sweeney, who will be hoping to score his first ever win over Sheils in a Superbike race. One rider who will be hoping to upset the local riders is Cork rider Mike Browne, who, despite breaking both his ankles at the Cookstown, and dislocating his knee at the TT, is looking to be back in action after a few weeks rest following a good TT, and would like to add to his win in the Senior Support race in 2018. Other top riders competing are Darryl Tweed, Thomas Maxwell, and Paul Jordan.
From a local point of view, we have David “Howy” Howard who will be looking for another win in the 400 class, after wins in 2014 and 2019. Barry Davidson the 12 times Irish road race champion, and winner of 93 road races, will be hoping to add to his list of wins in the Classic classes, where he will have the incentive to break the current 350 lap record held by Ed Manly, with a €700 bonus sponsored by a consortium of business, while in the larger capacity Classic classes, we are hoping that the current 1000cc lap record holder Guy Martin, will be back to defend his title after a cracking race with Richard Ford in 2019.
Admission is €30 for the two days, and this includes a complimentary race programme, and for those who have prepaid for their tickets, you can collect your programme by producing the ticket that was sent to you at any security barrier on the approach to the course. There is limited camping at the rear of the race paddock, and this is available on a first come first served policy. There will be NO DRONES allowed over the event, and this will be monitored closely by the appropriate authorities.
The club will also have a limited amount of race T-Shirts, and they are on sale for €15 each.
Your support in supporting this great event is much appreciated, and we would be delighted if you could highlight the safety effort that the club have made during lockdown.
I hope that you will be able to attend the event, and should you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards
Margaret Corry
Media co-coordinator
Email; margaretcorry5@gmail.com
Photo One is (L-R) Joey Lannon, Geraldine, Orla and Michael Hoey, from Country Crest, as well as Des D’Arcy. Photo by Jack Corry.
Photo 2 is Flyer with Pat Bradley from Vanfleet Transport. Photos by Jack Corry.
Racing photo of Micko Sweeney on his 600 at the 2019 Skerries. Photo by Pat Nolan.
