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A Mayobridge based motorcycle business that started life in a chicken shed has marked 40 years in the trade with a star-studded evening at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry that saw the worlds motorcycling 'royalty' join in the celebrations.
left: Anne Marie Fegan, Giacomo Agostini, Shane Fegan, Adrian Fegan and Finola
Duffy. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
Crossan Motorcycles, which has its roots on the Crossan Road in Mayobridge, was founded in February 1986 and has grown from those modest beginnings into a multi-million pound operation with around 20 full-time staff and a website shipping to 120 countries worldwide. The family based business has become one of the most respected names in the motorcycling world.
The journey from that first premises to where the company stands today has been anything but straightforward. After the early days in Mayobridge, the business expanded with satellite shops on Mary Street in Newry, followed by a move to the Mall in 1988 and Trevor Hill in 1989, before returning to a new warehouse and shop back on the Crossan Road in Mayobridge in 2005.
Anniversary. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
Company Director, Adrian Fegan reflected on the four decades: "Running a race team for a number of years and running a couple of pubs in between and sponsoring top names in our sport at times can be stressful, but I have to say I've enjoyed it all. The company is still growing year on year which is great to see, but it doesn't happen on its own. We have some great staff, some have been with us a long time, and I am grateful for that. We have a very good loyal customer base worldwide and with some help from Invest NI over recent years we have expanded that. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my staff and our customers old and new for their continued support."
The 40th anniversary was celebrated on Saturday 14 February with a gathering at the Canal Court that brought together a remarkable line-up of motorcycle racing figures. Adrian put the event together after friends and customers suggested he do something to mark the milestone, and the response from the riders he contacted was immediate.
Anniversary celebrations. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
"I have been asked the question on how in Heaven's name did I manage to get so many top riders in one room in the Canal Court on the 14th of Feb. Well I just know them as friends not superstars, but they are proper superstars in our sport," he said.
The guest list included world champions, British champions, Isle of Man TT winners and Manx Grand Prix winners, with Adrian suggesting the occasion was genuinely historic. "There was a little bit of history made that night, those who attended know this - around 200 guests. Never ever has that line up of quality riders, world champions and British champions, Isle of Man TT winners, Manx Grand Prix winners been in the one room in Ireland and probably the UK too. And we had them in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry. We will probably never see this again. It was great for the city of Newry."
Judith White, Banbridge; Colie Curran, Newry; Cliona Megarry, Warrenpoint; Aaron
Smyth, Mayobridge; Joan Fitzpatrick and Sean Fitzpatrick, Mayobridge and Paula
Harte, Newry. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
Among those connections Adrian spoke warmly about was motorsport legend Giacomo Agostini, who he has known for around 15 years. "Giacomo Agostini mixes with royalty and knows just about everyone, or they know him, he even carried the Olympic torch a couple of weeks ago in Italy. He has invited myself and Anne Marie my wife to a few dinners out foreign, and without asking we have been placed at his table. We do have a good chat and get on, we don't talk about motorbikes believe it or not, it's other stuff. He's just an icon of our sport and I am privileged to know him so well, our conversations flow which is brilliant."
Adrian also spoke about his long association with the Dunlop name, from sponsoring Robert in the earlier days to helping get Michael Dunlop's career started. "The Dunlop name is just so famous, and again I have been so lucky in a way to be associated with them, from sponsoring Robert back in the day to helping to start Michael's career, the first bikes Michael rode in the early days were mine, and we still are associated with him." Scottish riders Brian Morrison, Ian Simpson and Ian Duffus were also among those Adrian counts as long-standing friends, along with the other riders who attended on the night.
Adrian paid tribute to those who helped make the evening a success, including Louise at the Canal Court, his wife Anne Marie, Amelia, Colly, and Paul in the IT department, as well as friend James Tompson, who had a few surprises in store on the night.
As Crossan Motorcycles looks ahead, the business shows no signs of slowing down, with Adrian crediting his loyal staff and customers, both old and new, for helping build something that has put Newry and Mayobridge firmly on the global motorcycling map over the past 40 years.
The Guests
Giacomo Agostini
The Greatest of All Time in World Championship Grand Prix Racing.
15× World Champion. The most successful Grand Prix rider in history, a record that even Valentino Rossi never surpassed | 10× Isle of Man TT Winner | Multi Ulster Grand Prix Winner | A legend recognised worldwide across both Motorcycle Racing and Formula 1
Michael Dunlop
"The Bull" / "The GOAT of Pure Road Racing"
33× Isle of Man TT Winner – the most successful TT rider of all time | 13× Ulster Grand Prix Winner | 8× North West 200 Winner | Multi Irish Champion
Mike Brown
2× Isle of Man Classic TT Winner | Multi Irish Road Race Winner
Ian Simpson
5× British Superbike Champion | Multi North West 200 Winner | Multi Isle of Man TT Winner
Philip McCallan
11× Isle of Man TT Winner | 11× North West 200 Winner | 14× Ulster Grand Prix Winner | Multi Irish Champion
Brian Morrison
World Endurance Champion | Isle of Man TT Winner | 4× British Champion | 4× Le Mans 24 Hour Race Winner | Multiple Further Championship Titles
Eddie Laycock
Multi Isle of Man TT Winner | 6× North West 200 Winner | Ulster Grand Prix Winner | Grand Prix Competitor aboard the Miller Yamaha
Ian Duffus
2× Isle of Man TT Winner | Multi Ulster Grand Prix Winner | Multi North West 200 Winner | Multiple Podiums & Further Championship Success
Brian Reid
Double World Champion | 5× Isle of Man TT Winner | 9× Ulster Grand Prix Winner | 11× Irish Champion | North West 200 Winner
Ian "Lucky" Lougher
10× Isle of Man TT Winner | 8× North West 200 Winner | 18× Ulster Grand Prix Winner | 32× Southern 100 Winner
Ryan Farquhar
Multi Isle of Man TT Winner | 10× Manx Grand Prix Winner | 5× North West 200 Winner | 9× Ulster Grand Prix Winner | Holds the All-Time Record for Most Irish Road Race Wins with an Incredible 357 Victories
Glen Irwin
Current British Superbike Championship Competitor | 27× British Superbike Race Winner | 11× North West 200 Winner | Fastest Ever Newcomer at the Isle of Man TT
Adrian Archibald
Multi Isle of Man TT Winner | 6× Ulster Grand Prix Winner | North West 200 Winner | Multi Irish Road Race Champion
Alan Irwin
Multi Irish Road Race Champion | Southern 100 Champion, Isle of Man
Wayne Kirwan
Manx Grand Prix Winner aboard a Crossan Bike | Irish Champion | Multiple Irish Road Race Victories
Geoff McMullan
Multi Classic Manx Grand Prix Winner | Multi Irish Champion | French Classic Endurance Champion | Belgian Road Race Champion | North West 200 Winner | Ulster Grand Prix Winner | Best Newcomer & Podium Finisher at the Isle of Man TT
Jim Dunlop
Founding Member of the Legendary Armoy Armada alongside his Brother Joey Dunlop | Multiple Isle of Man TT Race Replica Awards
Sam Dunlop
2× Manx Grand Prix Winner | Multi Irish Champion
