McNeice Shines Again At Aghadowey Easter Monday Meeting

Having won the NI Open title on Easter Saturday at Tullyroan Oval, Randalstown Stock Rod ace Sam McNeice completed a dream weekend when he also tasted victory in the coveted Alan Connolly Memorial Trophy at Aghadowey Oval on Easter Monday.
On a day of close racing across all the classes, Cork’s Ian Riordan won the National Hot Rods final whilst Crumlin’s Matthew Milliken took the honours in the 1400 Stock Cars Irish Masters. Portadown’s Jaxon Cairns won a frantic Ninja Karts King of Aghadowey event from a huge field, whilst there was a heat and final double in the Thunder Rods for Limavady’s Liam Wilson.

The opening qualifier for the Stock Rods saw a flag to flag win for Stevie McNiece ahead of Darragh O’Shea, before teenager Harry Minish scooped heat two by just holding off pressure from Sam McNeice and Mark Foster.
The final, for the coveted Alan Connolly Memorial Trophy, saw Sam McNeice on pole spot and he quickly assumed the lead over Minish. Scottish Champion Robbie Armit soon moved to second and heaped huge pressure on Sam over the second half of the race. But McNeice was equal to what Robbie had to offer, the Randalstown driver coming home to successfully defend the trophy for his second big win of the weekend. Armit was great value in second ahead of the impressive O’Shea in third.

The opening National Hot Rods heat saw a straightforward win for Adam Maxwell over Ian Riordan, before Ahoghill’s Phillip McCloy took a popular win in heat two despite big pressure from behind from Riordan and Drew McKeown.
Davy Gurney stepped off the line to lead early in the final, but it was Riordan who quickly moved through to the lead. From there National Champion Ian controlled the race from the front, taking the honours after a very productive day points-wise. Maxwell, John Christie, Shane Murray and World Series leader Glenn Bell completed the top five.

The 1400 Stock Cars were very lively all day, and saw a debut in the formula for Geoff Hearst. There was action all around in heat one, as Matthew Milliken stormed through to win over World Champion Curtis Greer and Craig Bodenham. Heat two saw Lexi Crooks set the early pace until she was overcome by Matthew Weir, but a perfectly timed last bend hit by Greer saw him take the win by the slenderest of margins over Weir and Milliken.
In the Irish Masters final, pole-sitter Greer got bundled wide on the mass start, which allowed Milliken to edge clear. Despite action all around, Milliken controlled the race to take the title win, with Greer recovering to second ahead of Gary Freeburn and Josh McKinstry.

A huge field of Ninja Karts from all four corners of the British Isles contested the King of Aghadowey. England’s Bobby Davis Jnr Jnr took the opening heat win ahead of Scotland’s Alfie Shevill, before heat two saw the locals on top as Jaxon Cairns led home Jack Murphy. Heat three saw England’s Henry Hunn just pip Cairns to the win on the last lap.
Well over 30 karts took the green flag in the King of Aghadowey final, with a huge lead battle between Cairns, Mason Carberry and Hunn. After a late race stoppage, the lead was contested by upwards of eight karts in a sensational race. Cairns held on out front to take a deserved victory over English duo Johnny Wheeler and Parker Smith. Next home were Murphy, Hunn and Carberry.

The Thunder Rods completed the programme, with Norman Purdy showing great pace on the outside line to win heat one ahead of Liam Wilson and Liam Irwin. Wilson went one better in heat two to win over Andrew McLean.
The final had everything, with James Steele ahead at mid-distance before he was bundled down the order. That let Wilson power through to win once again ahead of Purdy, Lee McCloy and Johnny Gillespie.