Logistical masterclass from Colbert

STEVE Colbert produced a logistical masterclass on Saturday to be able to compete in the second round of the Northern Ireland Sprint Championship at Kirkistown and be able to coach his son Max, who was competing in his first kart races at Nutts Corner on the same day.

Before the Maghery man could do either, he first had to get home from Spain where he was doing his day job with the Motopark Academy racing team!

On Saturday, Colbert faced the difficult task of taking Max to Nutts Corner for practice and qualifying before nipping across to Kirkistown where he planned to do one run before trying to get back across County Down and County Antrim for Max’s race. Somehow, and without the use of a helicopter, he managed to do both, claiming with winning time in class 6B in the process by a significant margin of nearly six seconds, with dad Ken second in their shared Talbot Sunbeam, while Max finished a superb 10th in his first ever kart race to cap and exhausting but worthwhile day at the track(s) for the Colbert family!

Beragh’s John Donnelly, meanwhile, was the top Tyrone finisher overall at Kirkistown, claiming fifth, while Dromore’s Thomas Corey claimed 11th and Catherine Donnelly was 15th with Steve Colbert a superb 16th after just the one run.

Steve’s Dad Ken came home 24th overall, one place ahead of the Honda Civic piloted by Omagh’s Dermot O’Hagan, while Beragh’s Aaron Vance was 30th, one place ahead of Tullyhommon’s Karl Johnston, who won the ‘Fastest Mini in the West’ battle from Irvinestown’s Gerry McGarrity in 33rd.

Derek Robinson fnished 36th overall, with Omagh’s Brian Little 46th and Mervyn Johnston was 49th and Augher’s Damien Corey claimed 51st.

In the class battles, Vance had to settle for fourth in 2A in his Renault Clio, with Mervyn Johnston eighth in his BMW Mini, while Karl Johnston took the 6A honours.

Class 9A was won by Damien Corey from Emma Campbell, while O’Hagan was another class victor, claiming the class 10 bragging rights from James Roddy, with Little in fourth, while Robinson occupied third in class 11.

There was a local podium double in class 14 with Thomas Corey second in his Reynard, while Beragh’s Catherine Donnelly, who topped the Heaslip Ladies Challenge Trophy standings, was third in her Delta T91 and her Dad John was fifth in class 15. And McGarrity claimed the class 16A honours, with Robert Coulter adding the 16B bragging rights.