James A Newell (3 A.B.C.) 5 marks lost

Wright, honorary secretary of the Ballymena Club and all the competitors were in good time.

The Ballymoney control was in the hands of Mr J C Foster.

At Portrush were there was a stop of 15 minutes to enable the competitors to fill up with petrol and oil, Mr Stewart officiated and saw the riders off on the last stage of the outward journey. At the Causeway they were met by Mr Kane, an old member of the Club. The machines were left there whilst lunch was taken. At 2.26 the start on the homeward journey was made.

The only test hill was Knocksaughey, and the observers report showed that one competitor had not followed the course. This hill was responsible for loss of marks to two of the competitors, James Stewart (4 Douglas and sidecar) having the misfortune to temporarily seize his engine. It was immediately freed, but the stop cost him valuable marks which knocked him out of the running for the cup.

The other failure was S Brown on a 3½ J.H. and sidecar. He eventually made ascent and whilst careering down on the other side came to grief, his machine jumping a stone wall, and landing in a field. He was fortunately not badly hurt and signaled the other riders to proceed.

J A Forsythe, riding a 3½ Sunbeam and sidecar, had a narrow shave and while swerving to avoid colliding with a Rolls Royce car, parted one of the sidecar connections. This caused a stop for repairs but he made Ballycastle control on time.

Mr Scarlett had charge at Ballycastle and sent the competitors off on the next stage, a non-stop run of 41 miles to Larne. In Larne, a stop of 10 minutes was allowed at Bailie and Gawn’s garage and the last stage entered on.

Messrs. Eldridge (the Irish representatives of the B.S.A. company), D Robb and J E M Brown had charge of the finishing post, where the first man was due at 6.32. Sharp to time, the Rex appeared and was slowly but surely piloted home by S Wallace, who cut the line with his front wheel just as the second hand reached the minute. The next man, T Branagh (4½ Quadiant) was 30 seconds late in reaching the line and James Newell, who rode the only A.B.C. reached it 4 seconds early.

The following is a list of starters and the number of marks lost by each:-

BELFAST AND DISTRICT MOTOR CLUB

1. S Wallace (8 Rex sc) no error 2. Ernie Thompson (4 Douglas) 2 marks lost 3. James McBride (3½ Sunbeam) 3 marks lost 4. James Stewart (4 Douglas sc) 4 marks lost 5. James A Newell (3 A.B.C.) 5 marks lost 6. William Hamilton (4½ B.S.A.) 6 marks lost 7. Harry Crawford ( 4 Douglas sc) 7 marks lost 8. T Branagh (4½ Quadrant sc) 10 marks lost 9. W Brown (8 Sunbeam sc) 11 marks lost 10. Thos G Lindsay (2¾ Verus) 13 marks lost 11. J A Forsythe (3½ Sunbeam sc) 21 marks lost 12. S Brown (3½ J.H. sc) did not finish

This is Sammy Wallace’s first win of the cup and we heartily congratulate him. The conditions although not overstrenuous were such as to make riders careful of the little things which matter. For example, no competitor was allowed to leave the course or to leave the saddle, nor was the sidecar passenger allowed to leave the sidecar. Turning in the road or racing up to controls was also debarred and competitors were not allowed to have company in the way of another vehicle for the purpose of assistance. This rule is capable of being broken unintentionally for instance a non-competitor rode along with a competitor during the entire route and while no assistance was necessary, or would have been accepted, it was misleading to the observer on the test hill as no fewer than three non-competitive machines were reported on.”

It is interesting to note that James E M Brown, Honorary Secretary of the Belfast and District Motor Club, also appears to have simultaneously held a position in The Irish Motor, 16 Chichester Street, Belfast as correspondence shows that entrance fees for the B&D events were to be received by him at that address.