And We Are Off-Cookstown 100 25

Last weekend seen the opening road race of the Season with the Cookstown100 bringing large crowds and an amazing field of road racers to the Orriter Circuit. Friday was difficult conditions for riders, the Club, and the hundreds of spectators lining the circuit with the consistent showers of rain and cold breeze doing everything rather than drying the circuit. The Club decided to for-go the traditional qualifying sessions, instead running untimed sessions in the interest of rider safety and getting through the extensive programme of races. What was fantastic to see were the huge number of newcomers attending, with the likes of Joe Yeardsley, Franco Bourne and our own riders from these parishes, Chris Gray, Brandon Kavanagh and returning seasoned riders like Tramore's Brian McCormack on his Roadhouse Macau machinery once again taking to Black's Jumps and Gortin Corner. It must be said that the experience of seeing both Brian, and a certain Mullingar Missile, Derek McGee with orange newcomer bibs setting off behind the rider with the all time most National road Wins, Ryan Farquar was so heart warming in the damp conditions of Friday. Saturday with a huge improvement in the weather, racing began in earnest, with the three races that were due to run on Friday, now being the opening races of a packed programme on Saturday. Once again Michael Dunlop set a brand new lap record on the Orriter Circuit, with Derek McGee almost seeming like he had never been away, and displayed the talent, speed and experience we've come to know and admire from the Mullingar man. Caomhan Canny took his first (and no doubt his last) win, with Sean Brolly who took his maiden win at Cookstown last year, running a close second to Caomhan. Undaunted, Sean put that result right later in the day by taking the win from Caomhan in the Junior Support. Sadly, we had a number of red flags, and everyone at the RRAI send their best wishes to the injured riders, and a big get well soon especially to everyone's friend, Damian Horan. Corks very own Roy Werst took a well deserved podium later in the day for the NRW Team, and in the inagrual classic superbike class,Darryl Tweed took the win, with Paul Williams and Andy Hornby completing the podium places. The Grand Final, was run slightly earlier than scheduled but seen a straight shoot out between Michael Dunlop, Derek McGee and Micko Sweeney with the Ballymoney man taking 1st, with Michael Sweeney five seconds back and Derek McGee taking third spot. There is no doubt that the Cookstown Club, CoC John Dillion and everyone at the club pulled out all the stops to get the racing done, but it was the hardwork, commitment and experience to not just get racing done, but to put on one hell of a fantastic event, so here is to 2026.

Kevin Keyes at Orriter Crossroads on Friday.