Ryan Farquhar competed at Armoy both as rider and team boss, recording his 12th victory at the meeting and also putting bikes on the Supertwins grid for Jeremy McWilliams, and Canadian newcomer Darren James, who also raced for Ryan's KMR Kawasaki Team at the North West 200.

The Dungannon man has also been known for taking young riders under his wing and on Saturday 18-year old Tobermore rider Adam McLean made his second appearance on a Farquhar machine, racing to victory in the Junior Support race setting a fastest lap of 93.037mph.

McLean's first appearance at Kells road races had seen him also win the Junior Support race with a fastest lap and then in the main Supertwin race he finished in fifth position.

There is no question Adam has two of the most experienced campaigners in his corner in Ireland's most successful road racer Farquhar and a Grand Prix winner in McWilliams both of whom have been there, seen it and wear the T-shirts.

Both are also still capable of running at the front as seen at the North West 200 where both were winners and then on Saturday with Farquhar's win, although McWilliams was forced to pull out of the Supertwins race on the third lap.

Of course, one of Farquhar's team sponsors, SGS International, was the overall sponsor of the Armoy races and it was important for the team not only to compete, but get on the top step of the rostrum... so it was a successful day all round.

Ryan said:

"Adam had been getting bits and pieces of bikes from me and I wanted a machine in the Junior Support class and that's how it came about. He has a lot of ability for a young lad."

Darren James meanwhile finished a creditable 10th in the Supertwins race, while Farquhar himself rode to seventh in the Open Superbike race having at one stage been embroiled in a tense battle with Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison for fourth, both getting the better of him in the closing stages, while he retired from the Lightweight race on his 450cc Kawasaki.

Roy Harris