Coronavirus NI: Statement issued by Tandragee 100 organisers

The North Armagh Club’s meeting is scheduled to take place from May 1-2 prior to the international North West 200, which is set to get underway with opening practice on Tuesday, May 12.

On Wednesday, NW200 Event Director Mervyn Whyte told the News Letter that although plans for the event were presently continuing as normal, he was ‘monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis’.

However, Whyte warned: “At the end of the day if we move from the ‘containment’ stage to the ‘delay’ stage and we’re told there are to be no mass gatherings, then obviously we have to heed that medical advice like everyone else.”

The latest advice from Dr Michael McBride, the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, is that evidence of benefit from cancelling outdoor sporting events in terms of impact is low. Nonetheless, the situation is a fluid and rapidly developing one and there are growing concerns over the possibility of sporting events here falling victim to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Wednesday evening, a statement issued by Anne Forsythe on behalf of the Tandragee 100 said: “Following the outbreak of Coronavirus in Northern Ireland we are continuing to seek advice from the Public Health Agency. At this time, evidence of benefit from cancelling outdoor sporting events in terms of impact is low.

“We will continue to seek advice and monitor the situation on an ongoing basis as we prepare for the 60th Around a Pound Tandragee 100 in less than eight weeks’ time on 1st and 2nd May 2020.”

Earlier this month, the Isle of Man Government also said plans for the TT Races (May 31 to June 12) were progressing as normal, although a cross-government working group has been established to ‘regularly review the changing situation.’

The Cookstown 100 is the first Irish road race on the calendar for 2020 from April 24-25.