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First Ulster Contest a Big Success

7th June 1963, Page 63
7th June 1963
Page 63
Page 63, 7th June 1963 — First Ulster Contest a Big Success
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nOUBLE distinction was achieved by G. McCloy (Quick Lee Cleaners Ltd.), Bedford, when he became overall winner of the Lorry Driver of the Year contest for Northern Ireland last Saturday. A Coleraine man, he topped an entry consisting largely of expert drivers from the busy city of Belfast. And he recorded a victory beyond dispute for not only was he best on the index-ofperformance reckoning which decided the placing but he also had the lowest penalty points of the day.

Ulster's first lorry driver competition ever was an unqualified success and indications are that double the number of 102 entrants might have been forthcoming had the promoters been primarily concerned with numbers. Castlereagh R.D.C. must surely aim to organize again next year, whilst the fact that the driver from the counties has won will undoubtedly stimulate the already keen interest of the Ballymena committee in the subject. Nothing was left to chance last Saturday. The Northern Ireland Dairy Princess initiated the proceedings. The army provided excellent public address equipment and there were really informative announcements.

The team entry totalled 23, the winners in this section coming from Lyle and Kinahan Ltd. in the persons of R. Millar, H. Whitley and E. O'Neill. all with Austins. Six women Territorial drivers were included in the 20 members of the Services class who actually competed. Winner of the women's award was Sgt. E. M. Young (93 [328] Coy, W.R.A.C.T.A.), Bedford, who was fourth finisher in the forces category. The girls, who spend their week-days as teachers, secretaries, factory workers and the like, showed themselves fully competent with three-tonners and some of them told me that they greatly preferred driving them to handling cars. Best of the forces entry was Dvr. Morgan (26 Coy, R.A.S.C.-M.T.), Bedford, whose penalties were much of the same order as those of the other class winners. A striking feature of the forces category was that only seven marks covered the first three placings.

Starting from the Castlereagh Industrial Estate, where headquarters were established at the Fox's Glacier Mints factory, the competitors set out on a 25-mile circuit which, being on a Saturday morning, was a much more thorough test than many of England's Sunday trips of this nature. The only driver to preserve a clean sheet on this section was J. Lawley (Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd.), Scammell. Having dropped only four points on Highway Code questions, Lawley was left in a strong position and ultimately became Class H winner. At this stage McCloy was 48 points down. A. Bickerstaff (J. Bibby and Sons Ltd.), Leyland, lost only two points on the road and nine on the Highway Code, while W. Finikin (Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd.), A.E.C., who finished second in Class H, was debited with five each for Code and road.

Coming to the tests, many competitors showed signs of first-time uncertainty and width-judging estimates were often quite wild. McCloy was absolutely outstanding in this latter test and a mere 11 marks deduction left him far ahead of his rivals. A.T.

Tags

Organisations: Ballymena committee, army
People: E. M. Young
Locations: Belfast

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