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Modern Tyres – Ireland’s largest retail tyre company – will be the headline sponsor of the 2021 Ulster International Rally when it takes place in Newry on its new date of November 19th/20th. The Rally Service Park will be stied at Modern Tyres at Carnbane.
Started in 1965 by Jimmy Byrne, the family-owned business operates 45 branches in Ireland and has regularly supported motorsport in the province. The unmistakable Modern Tyres branding has taken pride of place on the rally cars campaigned by Alastair Fisher and Gordon Noble in the Irish Tarmac Championship and, prior to that, the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC).
Rory Bryne – one of Jimmy’s four sons – is an avid motorsport supporter and competitor having campaigned various Evolutions of Mitsubishi’s famous four-wheel-drive Lancer over the years, including at the Ulster Rally in 2010, 2013 and again in 2014.
Commenting on the new agreement, Rory Byrne said: “Motorsport has been a passion of mine for many years and it’s a privilege for Modern Tyres to be associated with such a high-profile event. We are looking forward to supporting the organising committee to make the event as successful as we can. We wish the competitors and the supporters all the best for what will hopefully be a thrilling event in Newry.”
As part of its sponsorship deal with the Ulster Rally, the service park is relocating from its former Ashgrove Road site to Modern Tyres’ new manufacturing facility in Carnbane Industrial Estate; this is currently in the process of being built and is due to be completed next month. Modern Tyres also operate two branches in Newry: one in Carnbane and a second on Bridge Street.
Ulster Rally Event Director Richard Swanston said: “I am delighted to confirm Modern Tyres as the principal sponsor of this year’s Ulster Rally. Modern Tyres have backed rallying here for many years and I am pleased that we could come to an agreement that works for all ahead of November’s event.
“The Ulster Rally relies on sponsorship to make it viable and safeguard its future going forward,” added Swanston, “and I am extremely grateful for the help Modern Tyres has agreed to give us.”
Organised by Northern Ireland Motor Club, the closed-road Ulster Rally will host the final round of the 2021 British Rally Championship which Welshman Osian Pryce currently leads by just four points from Matt Edwards, with Matthew Wilson a further nine points behind Pryce in third.
The race to be crowned champion is also intensifying in the Junior British Rally Championship, with Donegal’s Eamonn Kelly currently topping the standings from Moira’s William Creighton.
“The Championship is finely poised with three points-scoring rounds left. I am sure everyone will agree with me when I say I hope all of the titles are decided on the Ulster Rally,” said Swanston.
Promoted by Northern Ireland Motor Club Limited, crews will have the opportunity to tackle a short shakedown stage on the afternoon of Friday, November 19th before the competitive action gets underway the following day. Supplementary regulations – and a rally guide for fans – are available on the Ulster Rally website, with entries now open on Rallyscore www.rallyscore.net
The 2021 event can be followed via the Ulster Rally website www.ulsterrally.com as well as the official Facebook account ulsterrally
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The Down Royal Festival of Racing will be the highpoint of the year for racing aficionados, socialites and fashionistas alike as Down Royal hosts an unprecedented weekend of entertainment on 29 and 30 October.
With the Ladbrokes Grade 1 Champion Chase the highlight of the race card, it is no less competitive away from the race track with Ladies Day taking place for the first time in two years on Saturday 30thOctober, when frocks, fascinators, heels and hats will be the order of the day.
This year, the principal sponsor has been confirmed as Newry based Dr Emma Clinics, Ireland’s premier facial aesthetics practitioners.
The ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’ is open to all female racegoers, with the winner taking home an amazing Dr Emma Clinics ‘Ultimate Glow Up’ prize package worth over £4,000 including Hydra Facial's, INTRAcel Pro and Profhilo treatments, Bespoke skincare regime and IV Cocktail Drip, teeth whitening treatment and Skinade supplements.
Dr Emma Cunningham said: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring the ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’ at Down Royal’s Festival of Racing – one of the most hotly anticipated events this autumn for all those stylish race-going ladies. We look forward to seeing the style on the day and would encourage everyone to enter for a chance to win some fabulous prizes from Dr Emma.”
Claire Rutherford, Sales & Marketing Director at Down Royal Racecourse said: “We are delighted to announce Dr Emma Clinics as principal sponsor of our ‘Ladies Day Best Dressed Competition’ – yet another amazing local brand investing in Down Royal.
“The Festival of Racing is the highlight of our racing calendar and promises to be a superb experience for all. The spectacle of Ladies Day has been very much missed over the past two years and is certain to bring an extra element of colour to an already prestigious day of horse racing.”
Gates open at 11am and the first race is at 1.05pm. For full details on the Ladbrokes Festival of Racing or to book tickets, please visit WWW.DOWNROYAL.COM
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Ulster Camogie Council and Northern Ireland Judo Federation has backed an NSPCC campaign which is raising awareness of where parents can turn if they have concerns at their child’s sports club.
An online survey*, conducted on behalf of the NSPCC by YouGov, has found that 20% of parents** from across the UK who had children in sports and leisure clubs, wouldn’t know who to speak to if they had any worries about a child's welfare at the club (including those who answered don’t know).
This is why Ulster Camogie Council and Northern Ireland Judo Federation are backing Parents in Sport Week (4-10 October 2021) – an annual campaign run by the NSPCCs Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), aiming to equip EVERY parent with the safeguarding knowledge they need, and highlight the important role parents play in youth sport.
Kathryn Bradley, Provincial Childrens Officer from Ulster Camogie Council, said: “Sports participation has a hugely positive impact on children and young people and at Ulster Camogie Council, we see that first-hand every day.
"Like many other governing bodies across Northern Ireland, we have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place to ensure all young people taking part in sport can thrive in a safe, fun and inclusive environment.”
Russell Brown, Director for Safeguarding at Northern Ireland Judo Federation, added: “An important part of providing a positive environment is engaging parents and improving their understanding of what safeguarding is.
“Alongside Ulster Camogie Council, we are delighted to support NSPCC's Parents in Sport Week 2021 and help empower parents to know the standards and values of all our clubs and where to turn if they have any worries or concerns."
As part of the campaign, the charity has issued three key safeguarding tips for parents in relation to children’s sport:
This year, the CPSU has also launched special new resources aimed at parents, to help them understand their role in keeping children safe and who they can turn to for help if they have any worries about their child’s sport.
Resources include a free course for parents on keeping their child safe; a new animation which helps parents identify when something might be wrong in their child’s sport; and the new NSPCC CPSU PARENTS HUB - an online destination packed full of safeguarding information for parents.
The NSPCC’s Child Protection In Sport Unit was founded in 2001 in response to a series of high-profile cases of abuse of young athletes. Since then, the unit has worked closely with hundreds of governing bodies of sports and local partnerships to provide safeguarding guidance and embed safeguarding best practice in sport.
The campaign comes in a year of high profile concerns about abuse in sport including gymnastics, football and athletics. The NSPCC wants to encourage parents with a child in any sport to seek advice from its Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@nspcc.org.uk if they have any worries about their child’s experience in sport or physical activity.
Paul Stephenson, Senior Consultant at the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit, said: “We’re proud to be running our annual Parents in Sport Week in its fifth year to help more parents be a significant part of their children’s sporting lives and to help ensure their experience is safe and fun. Every year since the campaign’s conception countless sports bodies, clubs and coaches have supported our aims and worked hard to develop better relationships with parents and carers.
“This year, the NSPCC wants to provide the tools needed to help parents and carers access important information to keep their children safe in sport, to spot poor practice and to empower them to speak out. We’re also continuing to support the tireless work sports clubs put into involving parents in their safeguarding process.
“We’ve come a long way in the past five years and there’s a clear impact on parents when it comes to their knowledge of safeguarding in sport. But we can’t stop here, every parent should feel confident about ensuring their child is safe and having fun and that’s why we’re pleased to launch our free, short, interactive course for parents.”
Check out the free E-LEARNING COURSE FOR PARENTS
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Senior Ladies
Cumann Pheadair Naofa vs Tullylish 10/10
Junior championship ‘B’ final
Match Summary: For the first time in their short history, the senior ladies’ team from Warrenpointturned out in a championship final. The ladies had faced opponents Tullylish twice before, during the league campaign & had come out victorious on both occasions, so were confident of getting their hands on silverware this time. Tullylish had not just turned up to make up the numbers though & showed from the start that they were going to make a game of it. The opening exchanges were quite even, with neither team making an impression on the score board for a while, despite some good attacking play. Tullylish got the first score of the match with a goal, finished from close range, after an excellent solo run. This seemed to spark the Warrenpoint ladies into action, who got into their stride & started to pressure the Tullylish defence & take regular scores. By half-time, the Blues (although playing in black) had built up a comfortable lead, which all but ended the match as a contest. Tullylish kept chipping away but were unable to stop the regular scoring coming from the movement & direct running of Warrenpoint.
The final whistle saw scenes of great delight as Cumann Pheadair Naofa senior ladies lifted their first ever trophy. Well done to all players & the management team.
Final score: Cumann Pheadair Naofa 6-21 Tullylish 2-2
Team Sheet: Cara Bradley, Lauren Quinn, Ciara Downey, Ciara Hughes, Lucia Morgan (C), SilinMurphy, Anna Craven, Sara Daly, Katie Howlett,Caoimhe Shannon (C), Tara Cunningham, Molly McNeela, Enya Quinn, Maria Sloan, Brenda Grant, Erin Carr, Lisa Cousins, Laura Taylor, Katie O'Hare, Kate Kelly, Ellen Daly
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Ulster Rally organisers are appealing to crews planning on taking part in next month’s event to submit their entry before the early closing date of October 28 to avoid incurring extra expense. Based in Newry, the event takes place on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th of November.
After that date, any remaining spaces for the closed-roads rally – which is being promoted by Northern Ireland Motor Club Ltd, and sponsored by Modern Tyres – will cost significantly more.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the administrative side of the rally has had to be reworked, with this placing a “heavy administrative load on the entry secretaries”, according to the Event Director, Richard Swanston. “The earlier we receive paid-for entries, the better,” he explained.
“The entry to date is very strong indeed. We have many of the key players from the British and Junior British Rally Championships, including defending champion Matt Edwards, M-Sport Ford test driver Matthew Wilson, and Keith Cronin who’s won the BRC on four different occasions.
“A strong mix of Irish drivers have also entered, including the newly-crowned Northern Ireland Rally champion Jonathan Greer, FIA European Rally Championship regulars Callum Devine and Cathan McCourt, and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Junior driver, Josh McErlean. And then you have Donagh Kelly, who won this event back in 2015 to seal the Irish Tarmac title.
“As we previously announced, November’s event is sticking with a one-day format. It will have a high stage to road mileage ratio,” he added. “With the date change to November, there will also be a return of dark stages to the Ulster which is sure to add another element to the rally.”
Stephen Shaw from Modern Tyre Services added: “As the event countdown gains momentum, we are all busy behind the scenes making the necessary preparations to welcome competitors, teams, spectators and officials to our new facility in Newry. The entry is looking good and we are looking forward to what is shaping up to be another great event.”
Those wishing to enter the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally can do so by visiting www.rallyscore.net and clicking on ‘Modern Tyres Ulster Rally 2021’ under the website’s ‘Events’ section.
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Newry 1’s 7-1 South Antrim 1’s
Back in league action this week and Newry hosted South Antrim in a thrilling high scoring game. The home side dominated throughout the game and bagged seven goals. With 9 minutes played Newry got their first with Keith McWilliams firing in a reverse shot from the left hand side of the circle, and he doubled his tally just 3 minutes later when he was the first to pounce on a short corner which had been saved by the South keeper.
Newry kept piling forward and Peter McKnight was in the right place to deflect home a Josh Porter cross to give them a commanding 3-0 lead by half time.
South were a young energetic team and Newry knew they would not lie down, Kris Fletcher with only his second appearance of the season got Newry’s forth as he dived to deflect in at the back post. At 4-0 it was comfortable for Newry who kept carving out chance after chance, on the right hand side Ivan Steen fire in a pin point ball for Josh Porter to tap in to make it five. The sixth was probably the goal of the game as John Taylor picked the ball up on the half way line, rounded two defenders and drove forward, he smartly placed the ball down the side of the keeper and Josh Porter knocked it over the line.
South Antrim did get one back when there was a mix up in the Newry defence and McGivern in nets could do nothing about the shot. There was time for one more with Ivan Steen scoring from a short corner to round off an impressive win.
Team: R. McGivern, C. Henning, C. Holmes, N. Davenport, J. Greer, C. McKnight, J. Taylor, I. Steen, P. McKnight, K. McWilliams, J. Porter, K. Fletcher, C. Large, A. Baird, J. Gregg
North Down 1-5 Newry 2’s
Newry travelled to Comber to face North Down and try to put last weeks defeat behind them. The return of Mark Mccullough boosted Newry and his direct running from midfield was causing the home side all sorts of problems, and it was McCullough who got the first scoring from a tight angle.
Both sides cancelled each other out for long periods in the remainder of the first half.
Newry however came shooting out of the blocks in the second half as David Hogg fired home a rocket from the top of the circle to make it 2-0. Hogg was on fire and he got his second from a short corner. North started to create a few chances but Richard Henning in nets kept them at bay.
David Hogg stepped up again and got two quick fire goals, within minutes of each other to bring his tally for the day to 4 and 5 for Newry. North Down did get a consolation goal but it was a good day at the office for the 2nds.
Team: R. Henning, M. McCullough, D. Barlow, I. Lutton, M. McCullough, J. Ross, S. Moffett, J. Whiteside, S. McCarfferty, S. Blakely, D. Hogg, N. Lutton, S. Graham, J. Lutton
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There will be no shortage of GAA action over the next few weeks with the 2021 Armagh Hurling and Football Club Championships featuring at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh over the next three weekends.
Kicking off this Sunday 31 October in the Athletic Grounds at 1.45pm it's the Junior Football Final between Crossmaglen II and Belleeks followed at 4pm by the Intermediate Football Final between Carrickcruppen and Culloville.
Upcoming Fixtures
Junior Hurling Championship Final
Craobh Rua v Cuchulainns
Sunday 7th November @ 1.45pm
Athletic Grounds
Senior Hurling Championship Final
Keady v Middletown
Sunday 7th November @ 4pm
Athletic Grounds
Senior Football Championship Final
Clann Eireann v Crossmaglen
Sunday 14th November @ 3pm
Athletic Grounds
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Newry 1’s 0-1 Portadown 1’s
After a resounding win last week, Newry hoped to keep the form going but unfortunately they suffered a 1-0 defeat. It was a poor performance from the home side which Portadown took full advantage of to go away with all three points.
Newry started brightly forcing a short corner within 5 minutes, however this was as close as they would get in the first quarter. In the second quarter Portadown took the lead when loose marking allowed a simple tap in at the back post. Peter McKnight nearly drew the sides level but his short from a tight angle flash just over the bar.
In the second half Newry huffed and puffed but could not force a way through, the visitors were hitting on the counter attack. Richard McGivern in the Newry goals kept them at bay and the home side in the game. Chances late in the game fell to Keith McWilliams and John Taylor but neither could convert. Newry host Mossley next Saturday at home in what will need to be a much better performance to get anything from the game.
Team: R. MCGivern, A. Baird, C. Holmes, N. Davenport, J. Greer, I. Steen, J. Taylor, C. McKnight, P. McNiece, P. McKnight, K. McWilliams, C. Large, M. Russell, J. Gregg, K. Fletcher
Newry 2's vs Lisnagarvey Postponed.
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Hurling News
Seniors earn a semi-final berth
Ballyvarley 1-7
Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 1-14
Six points from Ali Higgins and a fortuitous first half goal from Tiarnan Tinnelly was enough to see the blues through to a third successive semi-final in two weeks’ time. In deed Warrenpoint always had control of the outcome of this game, but the soft slippery surface turned the game into a lottery.
The blues were quickest out of the blocks with a Tiernan Murphy free and a Higgins score from play and over the rest of the half John O’Kane, Higgins & Murphy increased the lead for the visitors. When Tinnelly got possession out on the right wing and fired towards the Ballyvarley goal, everyone thought it had dropped over the bar but fortunately for the blues it had evaded Conall McNally and snuck under his crossbar to give the blues a seven-point lead. Ballyvarley to their credit kept plugging away as Conor McPolin pointed from a placed ball only to see the blues move further in front through Higgins and a James Murray point from 40m out. Disaster struck seconds before the end of the half when a high ball into Daryl Freers’ goalmouth was bounced around the square only to see Charlie Lennon get a stick to direct the sliotar to the back of the net.
With a six-point lead Warrenpoint started the 2nd half with points from Oisin Kelly & James O’Hare, but then they allowed the home side to slowly chip away at the lead as McPolin pointed the next four scores. The introduction of Conor Keenan & Tomás Magill settled the visitor as Keenan ended the blues drought with less than nine minutes to play and a Higgins free on 59mins saw Warrenpoint seal a seven-point victory and a place in the semi-final in two weeks’ time.
Team: D Freer, T Magee, M Murtagh, C Kelly, D O’Neill, C Teague, O Kelly 0-1, J O’Hare, M Teague, T Murphy 0-3, J Murray 0-2, A Higgins 0-6 (0-1f), C Fegan, J O’Kane 0-1, T Tinnelly 1-0
Subs: M Murphy for C Teague, K McCullagh for M Teague, C Keenan 0-1 for Murray, T Magill for T Murphy
Congratulations
Congratulations to our club referee Brendan Rice who has been appointed as the man in charge of the Down Morgan Fuels Senior Football Championship Final. We wish Brenan and his team of umpires Martin Slevin, Lar Devlin, Daniel Bird and Shane Lavery the very best of luck.
Lotto Jackpot
This week's jackpot is £6200. Please continue to support the club from as little as £1 a week. Tickets must be bought online by 7pm. WWW.KLUBFUNDER.COM
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