Loughgall Festival 2012 welcomes exciting new features
Members of North Armagh Motor Club and Armagh Lions Club are pictured alongside a 1921 Nash - a classic American icon - with Eric Thompson of Rockvale Poultry at the wheel.
The Loughgall Festival of Motorsport and Classic Country Lifestyle Fair are pleased to welcome a number of exciting new features for this year’s event.
Now in its sixth successive year, the Festival, which is held in the beautiful Loughgall Country Park, has been able to supply £10,000 annually to the event’s nominated charity.
This year it the turn of RNLI Lifejackets Appeal which aims to kit out all the crews with new state-of-the-art lifejackets and plans are well under way for a great day out for all the family on Saturday 19th May.
Organised jointly by Armagh Lions Club and North Armagh Motor Club Ltd the aim of the event is to raise funds for the designated charity whilst providing all the excitement of a rip-roaring historic rally and dynamic auto-test for the mechanically minded, or a more sedate static display of over 200 cars alongside the tempting tastes of classic country produce and all the delights of rural lifestyle trade stands.
This year there will be a specialist demonstration on the use of locally produced foods by one of the country’s top multi-award winning chefs, Robert McDonald, who joins us from Digby’s in Killylea. With his fine cusisine, Digby’s have just won County Armagh Gastro-Pub of the year 2012 for the second year running. Robert is the only chef in Northern Ireland to be a member of the Master Chefs of Great Britain, and he thrives on introducing people to fresh ideas using traditional produce. The kitchen unit for the demonstration has kindly been provided by Good Food Northern Ireland.
Rockvale Poultry, under the ownership of Eric Thompson and his sons Alan and Edward are supporting the Country Lifestyle Fair which is a showcase of all things associated with the rural life, from food production to country clothing. This is situated alongside the static vehicle display where a vast array of all makes and models will be on show, ranging from vintage to classic as well as ex-rally cars formerly owned by some of the top drivers.
Armagh Lion Hugo Cowan said, “We are expecting a huge turnout of statics on display, all of whom will be presented with a special finisher’s prize, unique to the 2012 Festival. There is nothing to rival a gentle stroll around these amazing vehicles admiring the workmanship of a long-gone era. These models are always extremely well presented and are a credit to the dedication of their owners.”
Over at the rally sport end the wheels are in motion for another cracking event and Clerk of the Course William Fullerton and Treasurer of North Armagh Motor Club Ltd said; We are delighted to be jointly promoting the Festival of Motorsport at Loughgall Country Park and especially pleased that the event proceeds will be distributed to RNLI Lifejackets appeal.
“The format of the Special Stage Rally for Historic Rally cars, the Apple Blossom Autotest and the Historic and Classic Vehicle Display along with Trade Stands has proved very successful. However, without the main sponsor, Burkes of Cornascriebe it could not happen and we are also grateful for the help and support of Armagh City and District Council, Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Forest Service and the many voluntary marshals and officials.
“The main event, the Historic Rally will this year have six all tarmac Special Stages in the scenic parkland and spectator friendly setting of the Loughgall Country Park. It is the only event in Northern Ireland with the emphasis on Historic Rally cars. We welcome back last year’s winner Cookstown man Keith McIvor in his Porsche, second overall last year, Donal Connolly from Letterkenny in the Ford Escort RS2000 and Lisburn’s Wesley Patterson in his new Ford Escort RS2000. With competitors of this quality we are confident it will be an exciting day of rally action.”
Further information and regulations can be downloaded from the club website at www.namcc.com or from the event Secretary Keith Somerville on 0774 595 9141.
Autotest Regulations can also be downloaded from the club website and from event Secretary Gordon McKeown on 07703187491
Information on the Classic Country Lifestyle Fair is available from Ivor Ferguson on 07712 647 546.
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Weather for Dungannon
Monday 20 May 2013
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