On his return from a recent shoulder injury, Annaghmore’s Mark Taylor took a well deserved heat and final double in the Lightning Rods. ORCi Champion Brendan McConnell inherited the win in the opening heat of the night after Gerry Rogers had taken the flag but failed post race technical checks meaning he was loaded up for the night. Gordy McKee and Irish Champion Jordan Rochford were the place men. Taylor then took over for the next two races, taking the second heat handsomely over Gordy McKee and his brother Ben McKee, before try as he might Ben just couldn’t chase down the flying Taylor in the feature race. His double victory now means a rise to blue grade for next weekend’s racing. Aaron Stewart had one of his best runs in a while to grab third, ahead of Martin O’Flaherty in fourth.

Once again the ProStocks provided a huge grid, with 37 cars in action making it a very packed grid indeed. Steven Haugh avoided all the spins and skirmishes to take the first victory of the day ahead of Ryan Fleming who was showing a welcome return to form, and Chris Hamill in third.
Novice grader Graeme Kinghan took victory in heat two, which will long be remembered for a huge accident on the start/finish line when Cyril Hawe became stranded across the track and got collected by the field, leaving Conor McElmeel and recent form man Allen Cherry to name a few badly damaged. Despite the yellow suspension period Kinghan held on ahead of Mark McLaughlin and Sam McKinstry.
In recent weeks Irish and Irish Open Champion Stefan McClelland has had a torrid time, firstly destroying his number one car in an accident and having to press his new charger into service sooner than he would have wished. The new Vauxhall came good in the final though, as he powered through from the back to land a decisive win and announce that he is most certainly back....and in style too! Fleming again was the runner up ahead of Dungannon’s British Champion Ryan Abernethy.

The young 6-11 year old stars of the future entertained in the first Ninja Kart outing for a few weeks, and again a very healthy field took to the track including yet another newcomer in Lily Gallagher. It was another member of the ‘Girl Power’ brigade who was on top form, as young Sophie Willis showed the lads a clean pair of heels to sensationally win both heats! Matthew Nicholl and Stuart Emerson chased her over the line in the first heat, before Nicholl and Adam McFall were the placemen in heat two. Mark Crawford was the star of the final though, bursting through to the lead past early pacesetter Aaron Ward at the half way stage. Young Mark never looked back, and took his first ever final win ahead of Jack Hazlett and Willis.

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It was the second round of the Lightning Rods Greystone Joinery and Construction Ltd Challenge Series, and it was pleasing to see series sponsor Jason Devlin back in harness for what is an all too rare on track appearance these days. Local Annaghmore racer Mark Taylor, who was racing through the pain barrier following a shoulder injury, took the win in heat one over Templepatrick’s Gordy McKee and Drogheda’s Gerry Rodgers. In this one Devlin and Ben McKee had a major coming together in the closing stages which almost saw McKee’s car in the wall roof first!
Gordy McKee went one better in the second outing, leading home his repaired brother Ben for a family one-two with Winston Weir in third. The final saw the grid made up from points scored in the heats, and despite a very poor getaway McKee was able to turn his pole position start into an immediate lead. Dane Ferry soon emerged as his nearest challenger, and despite his best efforts he just couldn’t get on terms with Gordy who made a welcome return to victory lane after a recent barren spell. Ferry was runner up ahead of Weir in third once again.

The 2.0 Hot Rods were once again the main attraction for many, and as always the on track action didn’t disappoint. Nutts Corner driver Philip Beatty debuted his new Citroen Saxo and soon put it to good use by getting a clear lead in the opening heat of the night. With the flag in sight, Beatty’s new mount had a problem on the final lap and Davy McMenemy was able to pip him to the flag by the narrowest of margins.
Cookstown driver James Turkington was the early pacesetter in heat two, and the novice grader put on his best showing to date before succumbing to the pressure from behind in the second half of the race. Ballyclare veteran Gary Wilson stormed through to take the flag in the end, leading home British Champion Shane Murray and Mervyn Emerson at flagfall.
Andrew Emerson set the early pace in the final, but Beatty soon moved through to take up the running. There was to be no repeat of his heat one issues in this one however, and he celebrated his first meeting in his new car with an excellent victory. Emerson was runner up on this occasion, with McMenemy and Adam Best next across the line after an enthralling race.

Randalstown’s Dan Campbell was another who showed a fantastic return to form, as he was undoubtedly the star of the Junior Productions with a brace of wins. He took victory in the opening heat ahead of fellow blue grader Edmund Davis, with Bradley McKinstry the first of the star men home in third. Davis went one better in heat two to land a morale boosting victory, with Campbell this time his runner up and Dean McCrory showing best of the red grade in third.
In the final the red grade battle was simply immense, with McKinstry, McCrory, Jaimie McCurdy and Shane McMillan racing wheel to wheel for the entire race. The battle was conducted superbly by the youngsters in a manner even the adult racers would have been proud of. This was of little significance to Campbell though, who left them trailing in his wake to take his second win of the night ahead of McCurdy, McMillan, McCrory and McKinstry.

Many Thanks to our meeting sponsors, Calvin Garage Services Ltd of Scarva, Tel: 07801 977 532