The name Darren Clarke may be known in the golfing world, but Enniskillen & District Motorcycle Club member Darren Clarke made a name for himself in the senior support race at Kells road races at the weekend.

Making his debut, Clarke had a good qualifying session on Saturday, making steady progress throughout, and after five laps, finished in eighth position.

Sunday’s race couldn’t really have gone much better, and making his way through the field, he crossed the line in fifth position in the six-lap race behind Keelim Ryan, Marcus Simpson and Michael Gahan.

Ryan went on later in the day to complete his double in the lightweight race from David Howard and Alan Johnson.

Mechanical issues have been a problem for Ederney rider Paul Gartland this season, but things looked good during practice when he posted the fifth-fastest lap in the open class, and repeated that performance in the grand final session.

But it wasn’t to be on race day, and he was ruled out of the open race which was won by Michael Sweeney, with Thomas Maxwell and Graham Kennedy completing the podium.

There were similar problems on Saturday for Adrian Heraty after just a couple of laps which ruled him out of both the junior support and supertwin races.

The junior support race top three was Eoin O’Siochru, Jack Oliver and Anthony O’Carroll.

Kyle Parkes kept up his good form in the junior 250 classics, taking third spot in the six-lap race behind Brian Mateer and RJ Woolsey, while in the 350 classics run concurrently, John Leigh Pemberton took the time win from Michael Brady and Leon Murphy.

Tragedy

As the Supersport 600 race got under way, it looked like it could be a cracker, but as the race unfolded, tragedy struck, as 22-year-old Limavady racer Jack Oliver sadly lost his life.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

The remainder of the Kells road race meeting was abandoned.

As the Enniskillen & District Motorcycle Club prepare for their short circuit event this season on October 1 at Bishopscourt, the club have decided to put on a bus from Enniskillen for anyone wishing to attend.

The cost will be £30, which will include entry to the circuit and souvenir programme, and there will be various pick-up points along the way, including Lisbellaw, Maguiresbridge, Brookborough, Fivemiletown, Clogher and Augher.

Further details will follow in the near future.