Killalane Road Races may still go ahead

The News Letter understands that a team has been put in place by the sport’s governing body in the Republic of Ireland, Motor Cycling Ireland, with the aim of running the race on September 11 independently from the Loughshinny Club.

A strained relationship between the Loughshinny Club and Motor Cycling Ireland culminated in this week’s statement that the event had been cancelled due to a ‘breakdown in relations’.

Clerk of the Course Susan Plunkett said: “The club have come to the sad decision because of a breakdown in relations with Motor Cycling Ireland not to run our Killalane Road Race.

“We are very upset to be put in this untenable position, but we feel there is no option but to cancel the event. This problem has been ongoing all year, and while we have strived to keep road racing going by organising two events each year, it is impossible for the club and its members to work under these conditions.”

In response, a post on Motor Cycling Ireland’s official Facebook page on Friday suggested the club had opted to blame MCI officials for the cancellation rather than its own ‘financial situation’.

The post said: “After the LMSC open meeting about funds and help for Killalane on Tuesday night with all the members attending, a chosen few had their own meeting, where instead of blaming the financial situation of the club they decided to blame the officials of MCI. How do the members who attended the open meeting allow the chosen few to make this decision?”

The Loughshinny Club also runs the Skerries 100 races in north Co Dublin, which traditionally take place on the first weekend in July.