Derry
Page 53
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Cheers resound in Londonderry air
by BoL, Holliday • It has been repeatedly demonstrated in LDoY contests that good performances in the Highway Code tests bring valuable dividends when total points are added up. This was seen particularly at the Londonderry eliminator last Saturday where the prize for the overall winner went to the driver with the lowest total score. He was J. McClintock, of the Post Office Engineering department, whose gross score was 123 points lost: with a Highway Code figure of 75 he was the only one among 86 entries to get below the three-figure mark in this test, wherein his nearest rivals were a colleague from the Postal section and a soldier, each of whom lost 100 Code test points.
Unlike the previous weekend's Northern Ireland round at Belfast, this sixth Derry event was strongly supported by the Army, with a dozen entries, and the Post Office Postal section which supplied eight drivers to back up the Engineering department's 12. The Londonderry Development Commission submitted nine widely differing types of vehicle, North Ulster Bacon Co and the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Co each had six; the four lorries entered by Robert Keys and Co had their cab rear windows tastefully -blacked out" by cretonne curtains.
After the 16-mile road route, planned specially to test knowledge of new approaches, opened only that week, to the Craigavon Bridge, the manoeuvring tests
were efficiently marshalled under the supervision of secretary Albert Smallwoods and course clerk A. Gregg. Best performer in the most difficult Test 3 was Class F winner J. McCough (Shell-Max and BP) who sacrificed only 16 points, but last year's champion, G. Patchett (Milanda Bakeries) spoiled what would otherwise have been a clear Class D win by running over the kerb.
A popular prizewinner was best Army driver Pte S. Benefer (MTPL Admin Coy Anglian Reg) and Class C victor P. J. Anderson received his trophy to the accompaniment of appreciative "cheers"— he drives for Murphy of Ballymena, distributor of Guinness.
Rigid Vehicles
Class A: up to 20ft and over 1 ton unladen: 1. J. McClintock (PO Eng) BMC, 123 points; 2, W. Ross (P0 Postal) Morris, 154:3. M. G. Owens (P0 Eng) B MC, 215.
Class B: over 20ft to 24ft: 1, V. McFarland {Udell)/ Development Commission) Bedford, 188; 2, P. Grace (PO Postal) Bedford, 222: 3, R. Robb (N. Ulster Bacon Co Ltd) Bedford, 242.
Class C: over 24ft to 28ft: 1, P. Anderson (PM. Murphy and Co Ltd) Bedford, 228; 2, E. Melaugh (CVA Ltd), Bedford, 248; 3, R. Rutherford (ShellMex and BP Ltd) Albion, 336.
Class 0: over 28ft: 1, W. Lecky )12derry and Lough Swilly Rly Co Ltd) Leyland, 232; 2, C. Hargan (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd) AEC, 294; 3, G. McDowell {CVA Ltd) Bedford, 314.
Artics
Class E: flat or sided or drop-frame, up to 40ft: 1. B. Olphert (Robt Keys and Co Ltd) Commer, 306; 2, H. Harkin 1Thos Gallagher and Son Ltd) Bedford, 464: (no others in class).
Class F: box or tank to 40ft: 1, J. McCough (Sheli-Mex and BP Ltd) Scammell. 312; 2, D. Smyth (12derry and Lough Swilly Rly Co Ltd) Leyland, 374: 3, T. Reynolds (Cawoods Containers Ltd) Guy, 460.
Class G: flat or sided, flat or drop-frame, over 40ft: 1, A. McQuillan {J. Watt) Scammell, 174:
2, J. Heaney {Robt Keys and Co Ltd) AEC, 248;
3, W. Carson { Robt Keys and Co Ltd) AEC, 274. Class H: box or tank over 40ft: 1, P. McLaughlan (Milanda Bakeries) Albion, 258; 2, R. Campbell (Milartda Bakeries) Ford, 298; 3, J. Elliott {CVA Ltd) AEC, 312.
Overall winner: J. McClintock.
Team award: Post Office Postal (P. Grace, C. McGarrigle and W. Ross).