Charley Irwin dominates Knock Club's annual Portrush Beach Races with eight wins
Sunshine and thrilling racing greeted crowds at the eighth Ramore Portrush Beach Races, promoted by the Knock Club and MRA last weekend.
Ballyclare rider Charley Irwin dominated, winning all eight HTM Expert solo races aboard his Discount Beds Honda.
In Saturday’s opener, Robbie McCullough grabbed the holeshot, with Irwin third behind Ross Stewart.
By lap three, Irwin had passed McCullough for the lead, taking the chequered flag clear of McCullough and Adam Donnelly. Three more victories secured the overall on the day.
Newly crowned Ulster and Irish MX1 Champion Nathan Green joined the action on Sunday, but it made no difference to 19-year-old Irwin, who added four more wins. Green claimed four runner-up finishes, while Ballygowan brothers Adam and Nathan Donnelly finished second and third overall over the two days.
“Eight out of eight, no issues and the bike was perfect,” Irwin said with a smile. “With the quads out before our race, there was only one racing line for a couple of laps until we broke down their ruts.
"Once that happened, I got into my rhythm and pushed on. I always love racing at this meeting. Portrush Beach is a perfect setting for racing, and big crowds always create a great atmosphere.”
Jake Hall was the overall winner in the Semi Experts class over the two days, ahead of Ben Hall and Paul Atkinson.
Seven wins and a fifth place were enough for Castlewellan’s Bradlee Walker to claim the Stephen Russell Clubman Group 1class overall from Glenn Fisher and Shea McMcMullan. In Group 2, Andy Keys from Kells took the overall from Ben Johnston and Andrew Linton.
Stranocum’s Peter Henderson took his GasGas to victory in the Balloo Hire Sports class ahead of Curtis McDermott and Conor O’Regan, while in the Veterans, Ashley Allerton, Peter Adrain and Adam Heaney completed the podium.
Saturday’s Jet Products quad racing produced an exceptional battle between Emma Wray and Travis Toye until the engine of Wray’s Daily Grind Yamaha failed in race four. The opening three races saw the pair locked in close competition, with the Lisburn girl taking all three wins to secure the overall.
“We knew our engine was close to needing a rebuild, but we thought we would stretch it one more round. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. I heard a noise, so I stopped it to be safe,” explained Wray.
Seventeen-year-old Coleraine rider Toye inherited race four, but returned on Sunday to win all four races aboard his Briggs Equipment Yamaha and take the overall.
Toye has enjoyed a successful season, winning the Irish MX Masters, finishing third in the Ulster Championship and recording his best-ever British result with fourth at Duns, where he was the leading under-21 finisher.
He was pleased with his weekend, saying: “I always like the beach races as it is local to me. The first couple of laps were dodgy after the solos had made their own ruts, but as soon as they were broken down, everything was good.
"I haven’t raced for a while, so it took a while to get back on the pace.”
Padraig McNulty and Stephen Kelly over the two days finished second and third.
Round one of the 555 Promotions Winter series got underway at Magilligan MX Park with Zach McCorkall taking the overall in the Auto class from Corey McAleer and Cahan Mullan, while in the 65 class it was Calvin Larkin from Marc Bergin and Elliot Lynd.
Jake Sayers was the overall winner in the S/W85 class from Mason Shields and Jax Knox Weatherhead.
Ethan Gawley had a perfect day in the B/W 85 races with three hole shots and three wins for the overall with Jamie Larkin and Carter Williams completing the rostrum.