Jow Derry Enters he Lists
Page 65
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IVALRY between the Northern Ireland
• cities of Londonderry and Belfast has wn rather than diminished over several tildes. In which case, the organizers of Lorry Driver of the Year competition St have realized that once an elimination been successfully established in Belt it would not be long before Derry fol. ,ed suit.
Dn Saturday, June 4, the walls of Ulster's :oric city rang again-this time to the Ind of some fifty or so vehicles passing ough on the observed section. Although y entries might be considered low in comison with some of the well-supported ilands centres, it looks as if next year rry will be closely challenging Belfast so as the number of entries are concerned. .1 is, of course, quite remarkable that h Derry and Belfast do attract contests aiming for the national finals. Many rants are comparatively small companies I the cost of sending a lorry and driver to Bramcote, near Nuneaton, must be formidable.
Another feature of the Northern Ireland rounds is the large contingent of G.P.O. vehicles. Of the nine teams entered for the Derry contest two G.P.O. (Eng.) teams had the lowest penalties. During the day G.P.O. drivers carried off no less than five class awards-U.K. postmasters please note!
No clear cards
The Highway Code test and the observed section cost most competitors valuable penalty points. No driver had a completely clear score card and only three passed the Highway Code with flying colours. Drivers found that some of the signs on the observed section had been altered or switched around by vandals and it was perhaps surprising that the local police had routed the test through Londonderry on a busy day. Somewhat upset by his marking in this section one of the attic drivers wanted to quit the competition immediately but fortunately common sense prevailed and he went on to win a third prize.
On to the three manoeuvring tests where the really competitive stuff takes place! In spite of the comparatively low number of entries the winner and runner up in Classes A and B were only separated by one or two penalty points. As usual Class C was subject to a fairly big invasion of military vehicles; one is drawn to the conclusion that either TA drivers do not have a great deal of practice or that their high platform, sheeted Bedfords are less manoeuvrable than civilian lorries.
Derry's champion
With the lowest penalty marking of the day, Pat Anderson of Morgans (Derry) Ltd. fully deserved his class win and his eventual nomination as Derry's champion.
The artic entry was augmented by a contingent of six vehicles-Bedford and Dodge from a local haulier, Thos. Gallagher and Son. These vehicles achieved a very high standard of turn out: the vehicles themselves were clean and tidy and the company had obviously made a wholehearted effort to support the competition_ Their support was well rewarded, for one of their drivers, Thomas Quigley, carried off a well-deserved first prize.
John Doherty, of Monarch Electric Ltd., was an easy winner in Class G.
The success of Londonderry's first round owes much to its diminutive but voluble committee chairman, Councillor J. W. Stirling, and a hard-working secretary. Bob Manning. At the close of the day the chairman could be seen putting the final touches to a 16 mm film of the contest. J.M.H.