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Belfast Sam Gray back to Bramcote
Page 40
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by Bob Holliday In several ways the 1971 Northern Ireland Belfast centre eliminator, run last Saturday, was different from those of past years. Held since 1963 at Castlereagh, this year it moved to the RTITB site at Nuns' Corner where the first-class facilities were warmly approved both by the competitors and the organizing officials of RoSPA, led as usual by Leslie Sinfield.
Entries, which have hitherto shown a consistently rising trend, were down (92 as against 117 last year) due to a variety of causes. The Army, usually strong in support, was able to spare only three drivers being busy on more urgent military duties. Although the Post Office Telephones department supplied 10 entries, the Postal Services section was absent for reasons in some way connected with a 9 per cent pay rise.
Further depletion of the normal strength was being attributed to a drain of north Ulster drivers to the new eliminator at Portstewart to be held later this summer.
Even the 36-mile road route was subject to disturbance, it being necessary to make a last-minute diversion to bypass an "incident!' that had blocked the main street of Crumlin only the night before.
Despite all these happenings it was a highly successful round with three lads from BOC's Northern Ireland depot showing how well it pays to learn one's Highway Code; their losses in this section of 30,40 and 40 points respectively helped them considerably to win the team prize. Lowest scorer of the day was Class B winner J. Campbell of Kraft Foods with a total of 110, but his nearest rival Class D victor T. Burrows 1136) was judged the overall winner on the percentage improvement formula.
Mr Burrows headed an 11-strong entry from Shell-Mex and BP which produced another class winner in W. Townsley and four place men.
The absence of the postmen eliminated 1970 National Finals runner-up J. F. Dougan but by winning Class E the 1968 champion of champions Sam Gray assured himself of another trip to Bramcote.
Rigid Vehicles Class A: up to 20ft and over 1 ton unladen: 1, E. T. Lester (PO Telephones) Morris. 152.
2, J. Fisher (PO Telephones) Morris. 157; 3, B. Keown (PO Telephones) Morris, 252.
Class B: over 20ft to 24ft: 1. J. Campbell (Kraft Foods Ltd) Bedford, 110; 2, S. Black (BOC) Austin. 138: 3, J. McGooken (BOC) Austin, 142. Class C: over 24ft to 28ft: 1, R. McKay (80C) Albion7 166; 2, S. MacFarlane (Lawther and Harvey Ltd) Leyland. 194; a G. Wilkinson (T. L Greer) Bedford, 226.
Class D: over 28ft: 1, T. Burrows (Shell-Max and BP Ltd) Leyland, 136; 2, C. Floyd (ShellMex and BP Ltd) AEC, 190; 3, J. Brown (ShellMax and BP Ltd) Leyland, 248.
Artics Class E: flat or sided or drop-frame, up to 40ft: 1. S. Gray (N. I. Eggs Ltd) Ford, 182; 2. N. Dqvidson (NIG, Lame) AEC, 208; 3, D. Hanna (NIC Belfast) Leyland, 258. Class F: box or tank to 40ft: 1, W. Townsley (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd) Scammell, 162: 2. D. Stitt (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd) Scammell, 186; 3, S. Skillen (Kosangas (NI) Ltd) ERF, 232.
Class G: flat or sided, flat or drop-frame, over 40ft: 1, J. Millar (Cawoods Containers Ltd) Leyland, 216; 2, C. McColm (NIC Lame) Leyland, 260:3, B. Butcher (NIG Larne) Leyland, 288. Class H: box or tank over 40ft: 1, R. Ashton (Esso Petroleum Ltd) Leyland, 216; 2, D. Keefe (Shell-Mex & BP Ltd) Scammell, 246; 3. J. Devlin (Lawther and Harvey Ltd) AEC, 248.
Overall winner: T. Burrows.
Team award: BOC N. Ireland Ltd (J. McGooken, S. Black, R. McKay)