The organisers are confident that the event, which was scheduled to take place in early August, will return to the motorcycling calendar in 2015.

"We've been debating the financial side of things for a couple of months but we just couldn't see how it would work," said race secretary Derek McWhirter.

"We've had a few bad years and that has taken its toll. We plan to return in 2015, perhaps on a different date."

"The race made a huge loss last year so we've decided to sacrifice 2014 and concentrate on returning the following year.

"We've been in discussions with the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland and it is our intention to explore the suitability of an alternative date for the future.

"In the meantime, we will run an Irish Superbike round at Bishopscourt in July."

The Mid Antrim races have suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, with the event being cancelled in 2008 and then being abandoned because of an oil spill on the circuit in 2011.

The event was moved to a June date in 2012, but reverted back to its traditional August place on the calendar in 2013.

The race has also suffered from the absence of the Dunlop brothers, William and Michael, who have not taken part since 2009.

Last year, the Bush road races did not take place, but that event is to return this season.



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Demise of Mid Antrim 150 a warning to us all, says Bill Kennedy

Armoy Clerk of the Course Bill Kennedy has warned that no club is immune to the threat of financial collapse following this week’s announcement that the Mid Antrim 150 has been cancelled.

Kennedy has been at the helm of the thriving Armoy meeting since its inception in 2009, with the ‘Race of Legends’ quickly rising in status to become arguably the country’s leading national meeting.

Armoy has benefitted from the support of loyal sponsors over the past five years and attracts large crowds, with top riders including Michael and William Dunlop, Guy Martin, Ryan Farquhar, Keith Amor, Conor Cummins and former Grand Prix winner Jeremy McWilliams among the star-studded entries in the past.

However, Kennedy is loathe to take anything for granted and points to the sad demise of the Mid Antrim 150 as evidence of the challenges faced by financially-vulnerable clubs.

“A lot of people don’t realise that it’s a year-round job to be involved in running a national road race. You’re working all the time on all the issues that need to be looked at and you can’t afford to take your eye off the ball at any time,” Kennedy told the News Letter.

“We’re very fortunate to have good sponsors on board but it’s a matter of working with them as much as possible to keep them on board, but what has happened to the Mid Antrim can happen to any club, no matter who you are.

“We’ve already saw this happening with races in the south last year; some of those events are trying to make a comeback this year, but it’s never easy to start again.”

The Mid Antrim was cancelled in 2008 and abandoned in 2011 following a suspected malicious oil spillage on the 3.6-mile Clough circuit.

These setbacks combined with falling crowd numbers and a lack of star names have seemingly had a cumulative effect and the writing has been on the wall for some time.

Ballymoney brothers Michael and William Dunlop haven’t raced at the Mid Antrim since 2009 and Kennedy feels it’s no coincidence that their absence has coincided with the steady decline of the Clough meeting.

“For me, the Mid Antrim has been on the slide from the time they had a falling out with the Dunlop brothers,” he said. “It takes the big name riders to make any event - yes, you do need a full grid of riders of all capabilities but it’s the top names that create the buzz and the atmosphere and excitement - that’s what the majority of people want.

“You’ll still have those fans who’ll come out regardless, but to get the numbers into your event you must have the big names and it’s as simple as that.”

Ballyclare’s Jamie Hamilton, meanwhile - a double winner in the Supersport and Supertwin races at the Mid Antrim in 2013 - said he hoped the event would return to the calendar next year.

“I was disappointed to hear the news because I’ve done well there in the past and last year I broke the lap record in the Supertwin class by something silly like six seconds,” said Hamilton.

“I got my first win in the Supersport class as well and a second place in the first big bike race, so I was right on the money. It’s sad that it’s not running because the racing was some of the best we had last year.

“Hopefully they can get things sorted out and come back stronger next year.”



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Mid Antrim 150 organisers focus on return in 2015

The organisers of the Mid Antrim 150 have are hopeful the event will return to the Irish road racing calendar in 2015.

This week, the club took the hard decision to cancel the meeting - scheduled for Saturday, August 2 - after encountering financial difficulties following a ‘major loss’ in 2014.

Event secretary, Derek McWhirter, said:

“We feel that sacrificing this year’s event will allow us to rebuild for 2015. The club would like to thank all our sponsors, competitors, officials, fans and anyone who has helped us in any way with the running of the event and assure them all that a big effort will be made to get the race back again next year, with possibly an alternative date in the calendar.”

The Mid Antrim 150 will be run as an Irish Superbike meeting at Bishopscourt in Saturday, June 21 pending approval from the MCUI.

In 2008, the event was cancelled before a suspected deliberate oil spill in 2011 forced the abandonment of the race.

A number of fundraisers are planned to help swell the club’s coffers, including an eighties-themed night with RJ Woolsey in Leighinmohr House Hotel, Ballymena on Saturday, March 1.

The Miss Mid Antrim 150 competition will also take place on the same evening.

Everyone is welcome and tickets costing £5 are available from club members.


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