Classic scrambling at Seaforde attracts top riders
The first round of the 2025 Northern Ireland Classic Scrambles Championship was held at Seaforde MotoParc on Saturday, April 5. The event was hosted by the Killinchy and District Motorcycle Club, with short, sharp six lap races writes Stuart Campbell.
The first class on the line was Adult Pre 74, Pre 70 and Pre 65 bikes. Cullybackey man James Thompson took the chequered flag in all three races, followed home by Conlig man John Griffiths (2, 2 and 3), Comber’s Adrian Lappin (3, 4 and 4) and Islandmagee man Harry Stitt (4, 3 and 5).
The Grade C class was next on the line and after an early finish in race one, Shaun Drennan won the next two races ahead of Comber’s Robbie Fowler (3, 2 and 4) and Killinchy man Ben Morrow (2, 4 and 3).
Next up was the Grade B class with Comber man Simon Bryans taking a second placed finish and two wins ahead of Craigantlet man Nathan Graham (2, 1 and didn’t finish race three) and Bangor’s Andrew Mitchell (3, 3 and 2).
In the Grade A class Comber man Tommy Merton led the way all day taking three wins ahead of Ballygowan man Christopher Lappin (3, 2 and 2), John Griffith (4, 3 and 3) and James Thompson (2, 4 and 4).
The next class was the Adult Pre 77 race with John Griffiths taking three wins, ahead of Harry Stitt (2, 2 and not out in race three) and Christopher Lappin (3, missed race two before taking second position in race three).
At the end of each set of races there was a single race for different bikes/age groups. The first was the Adult 125cc/250cc race with Gransha man Andrew McAlpine leading from the start to take the chequered flag ahead of Dromara’s Jack Willis and Adrian Lappin.
At the end of the second set of races an Adult Over 50’s race was held, with John Griffith winning ahead of Adrian Lappin, Andrew McAlpin, Comber man William Dickson and Bailliesmills man Eddie Hampton.
The Adult 500cc class was the final race of the day and Tommy Merton led from start to finish to win ahead of James Thompson, Christopher Lappin and John Griffith.
With the racing finished Tommy Merton was presented with the John Donnelly Trophy, for winning overall in the Grade A class with three wins. The Comber man had been tied with Ballygowan’s Gary Gibson on winning the trophy five times, but now Merton has the honours, winning the trophy for the sixth time.
(Photo by Philip Campbell).
* Pictures of Tommy Merton (22) leading the Grade A class, John Griffiths, Tommy Merton, Christopher Lappin, Harry Stitt and Adrian Lappin (all pictures taken by Gary Hamilton)
