#ards peninsula

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Christian Elkin by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: The Randalstown import managed two fifth placed finishes in the highly competitive Supersport class. Christian was one of the four riders in the field riding the Ducati Panigale V2.

[strawberryjayne]

The Peninsula

When you have nothing more to say, just drive

For a day all round the peninsula.

The sky is tall as over a runway,

The land without marks, so you will not arrive

But pass through, though always skirting landfall.

At dusk, horizons drink down sea and hill,

The ploughed field swallows the whitewashed gable

And you’re in the dark again. Now recall

The glazed foreshore and silhouetted log,

That rock where breakers shredded into rags,

The leggy birds stilted on their own legs,

Islands riding themselves out into the fog,

And drive back home, still with nothing to say

Except that now you will uncode all landscapes

By this: things founded clean on their own shapes,

Water and ground in their extremity

Seamus Heaney

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Ciara Cahoon by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: The Carrickfergus girl raced last year in the entry level Moto 1 class and has since progressed up the Moto 3's. She rides a lovely wee NSF250R Honda - these wee single cylinder 250's are to be phased out in 2028 to be replaced by a single make class powered by twin cylinder 689 cc Yamaha YZF R7 engines. A shame, these wee bikes and their KTM rivals are superb.

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Ryan Gibson by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: The Banbridge man on the Gibson Motors/Firewood Supplies BMW would end up with two top five finishes. His bikes are always immaculate.

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Close to the edge by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: The Nightmare racing boys doing a bit of grass cutting at Kirkistown.

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Alfie Flynn by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: The Kilkeel youngster dominated the Moto 3 races winning both by quite a margin. The riders really have to keep these Moto 3 bikes pinned to keep the speed up around a tight wee circuit like Kirkistown.

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Stars of the Future by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: Carnlough's William Graham on the 300cc Chinese Tianda and Banbridge's Joel Haire on his 300cc Yamaha race to the finish line. Joel Haire would win both closely fought races to royally entertain the large Easter Monday crowd. Moto One, entry level 'cheap' racing which helps nurture the future talent.

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Dineen and Browne by Gary Hamilton Via Flickr: Ryan Dineen with passenger Calvin Browne in full Superman pose on the run to Fisherman's. The Belfast crew managed to pilot their Kawasaki outfit to two third place finishes.