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Year – National Teams – Place – Driver who won the Final

• 1996 – Scotland – Edinburgh – Dave Carswell, Scotland
• 1997 – Scotland – Belfast – Peter Barr, N Ireland
• 1998 – Scotland – Dublin – Dave Carswell, Scotland
• 1999 – Scotland – Edinburgh – Dave Carswell, Scotland
• 2000 – N Ireland – Belfast – Peter Barr, N Ireland
• 2001 – Rep Of Ireland – Dublin – Richard Croft, N Ireland
• 2002 – Scotland – Edinburgh – Dave Carswell, Scotland
• 2003 – N Ireland – Ballymena – Kyle Lyttle, N Ireland *
• 2004 – N Ireland – Kilkenny – Dougie Williams, Scotland
• 2005 – N Ireland – Edinburgh – Dougie Williams, Scotland
• 2006 – N Ireland – Portadown – Kyle Lyttle, N Ireland
• 2007 – N Ireland – London – Carlo Hunter, England

* There was no male final but Kyle is named because he has set the fastest lap in race

• 1994 – Dave Carswell (Scotland)
• 1995 – Mike Stubbs (Scotland)
• 1996 – Dave Carswell (Scotland)
• 1997 – Leigh Nicholl (Northern Ireland)
• 1998 – Dave Carsewell (Scotland)
• 1999 – Dougie Williams (Scotland)
• 2000 – Dougie Williams (Scotland)
• 2001 – Leigh Nicholl (Northern Ireland)
• 2002 – Dave Carsewell (Scotland)
• 2003 – Dougie Williams (Scotland)
• 2004 – Marcus Murphy (Northern Ireland)
• 2005 – Dave Carswell (Scotland)
• 2006 – Dougie Williams (Scotland)

27th January 2007 (more…)

Saturday 19th November 2006

Northern Ireland drivers had attended Castlefin Karting, Co Donegal to take part in trial Grand Prix to qualify for Euro Nations 2007 in England next year. There were other drivers from outside N Ireland, taking part for fun, making it more challenging and enjoyable event.

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Here’s a link to Englishman Mark Dobson’s personal report of 12th Scottish Open with some photos. He came 2nd in final. (more…)

Here is the results from Euro Nations today as follows:

Male Final:

• 1. Kyle Lyttle
• 2. Ally Auld
• 3. Dougie William

Ladies Final:

• 1. Lynda McKeown
• 2. Daphne McFaul
• 3. Pauline Archbold

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20th March 2006

20 drivers have attended Superdrive track for trail karting. Thankfully, the track and weather were dry until after we completed the Grand Prix! We have all enjoyed ourselves racing each other.

Each of us had 4 heats and then 3 semi-finals for top 12 drivers – top two of each semi final will go through to the final. In the end, six drivers got through to the final were Richard Croft, Marcus Murphy, James Newell, David Hobson, Raymond Stevenson and Leigh Nicholl.

Despite Grand Prix being ‘trial’ to choose drivers to take part of Northern Ireland team for Euro Nations, it turned out to be a very tense final with some drivers being ‘ultra-competitive’, so competitive you would be forgiven for thinking that there’s a £500 prize winner in the end!

As a result, each at a time, three drivers of the final had given up and drove off to the pit stop before the end of the final. However it was enjoyable final to watch as the remaining three drivers continue to race and the result was 1st Richard Croft, 2nd Marcus Murphy and 3rd Raymond Stevenson.

Afterward, AGM meeting was held where Marcus Murphy and Lynda McKeown were each given the prize for best male & female driver of the year.

1st Richard Croft, 2nd Marcus Murphy and 3rd Raymond Stevenson.

Driver of the year 2005 – Marcus Murphy

Female driver of the year 2005 – Lynda McKeown

Thanks to everyone for coming to trial karting and AGM.

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We had 46 drivers attended 2006 Northern Irish Open Championship at Raceview Indoor Karting, Ballymena. Raceview Indoor is well known for its tight indoor track, now have a new outdoor track, which is slightly longer than indoor.

46 drivers were split into two groups for outdoor and indoor. Each 23 drivers group had to do three 5-mins heats and when completed, swap over for other track to do another three 5-mins heats. All we had to complete for is our best lap time. For everyone, it was a matter of trying to find/improve our lap time in order to qualify for top 6 fastest time of the both track to get through to the two finals (Male/female). No more point system or grand prix, just the lap time which was all we had to complete for.

However, the outdoor track was wet in the morning, the group had to drive through wet surface hence their slower lap time, improving a bit with outdoor track drying gradually and after group swap completed, other group benefits with drier outdoor track, posting their much better lap time.

But it didn’t stop us enjoyed ourselves, we had to keep our eyes out for anyone who did the fastest lap and comment on it. It was good to watch how the drivers fare with their lap times, some surprised us!

In the end, 6 drivers made it to the final starting with fastest time:

1. Peter Barr
2. Marcus Murphy
3. Gary Barnett
4. Ally Auld
5. Karl
6. James Newell

Interestingly, Englishman Karl is the only visitor that got through to the final dominated by Northern Ireland drivers.

The final was something familiar when peter barr started in front, went wide on 2nd tight corner of the first lap which allows Marcus, Ally & Gary knocked past him on the inside. Peter barr fell back into 5th position and Marcus was in the front, ally 2nd and Gary stayed on the same position. James got to 4th position.

Half way through final, Gary overtook ally to gain 2nd place after chasing behind ally for few laps. Reliable kart master Marcus won the final with Ally in 3rd place.

Here’s the final result:

1. Marcus Murphy
2. Gary Barnett
3. Ally Auld
4. James Newell
5. Peter Barr
6. Karl

On the Ladies Final, starting positions:

1. Lydna Keown
2. Daphne
3. Alison B
4. Pauline A
5. Vanessa
6. Clare O’Connor

Ladies Final results:

1. Lynda Keown
2. Daphne
3. Alison B
4. Clare O’Conner
5. Pauline A
6. Vanessa

Top three drivers remained in the same position throughout the final and the only change of final was when Pauline and Vanessa lost their control at the corner, which left Clare some space to pass through to finish 4th place.

Here’s the fastest laps for indoor

1. Peter Barr – 16.94
2. Marcus Murphy – 16.99
3. Gary Barnett – 17.03
4. Kyle Lyttle – 17.04
5. Richard Croft – 17.10?

Woman’s fastest lap indoor – Lynda Keown – 17.39

Best Driver of the day – Gary Barnett

Evening Buffet/Disco went smoothly, in full house. The foods in buffet was great.

Here’s the results from round 3 game:

1. Scotland – 24
2. Rep of Ireland – 20
3. Northern Ireland – 18
4. England – 14

Gary Stratton won the Vodka bottle on coin throwning contest. Paul Brolly won the Head/Tail game which everyone in the room had to take part.

Buffet/Disco draw:

• 1st – John Watson – DVD Player
• 2nd – Stuart lennon – The pamper suite voucher
• 3rd – Jason Lander – 15 mins of Raceview Indoor karting voucher

24 Raffle prizes draw out afterward.

All in one enjoyable evening.

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Scottish Open 2005, was once again, an enjoyable racing event with 35 drivers attended and some mixing weathers.

Wet track would bring good news for Leigh and other rainmasters including Carlo but wet weather somehow didn’t do the visitors any favours as the featherweight scottish duo have re-claimed their first and second place in wet final since two years ago! It is Dave Carswell and Dougie Williams! Familiar results, isn’t it?

Last year, Marcus Murphy who became the second visitor to won the final so the chance for any visitors winning the scottish open would be slimy! The odd-on of any visiters winning Scottish Opens would be equal to say, a first Irish man walking on Moon!

War-torn karting veteran Peter Barr seemed to have lost his ’star’ driver status because he has not raced on scottish open championship for nearly 3 years. Not surprising, he didn’t do much in Scottish Open, even failed to scare off newcomers! We will make sure of his arse to be kicked up this winter to bring him back to his former best before Northern Irish Open 2005. Don’t worry, peter…

Richard Croft was still great driver but he braked too early before approching the corner and while leigh was behind him, bumped into him on 1st lap of the final. Richard was knocked down to 7th place as a result of this.

Leigh has started well in the final and the wet track worked in his favour but somehow on the 3rd lap, Jason Lander had lost control of his kart, getting into path of Leigh, lost leigh’s valuable time.

Leigh has fought his way up to 5th before finishing line, he couldn’t make it to top four as time just ran out. Leigh came 5th which was remarkable as he has started in 9th place and had couple of hits.

England’s due Carlo and Gary came impressive 3nd and 4th place. They may be well worth a watching out for Northern Irish Open 2005 as they have learned a little too quickly for our liking!

Scottish Doug Williams set fastest lap in final at 1.11.28 and leigh was 2nd fastest at 1.11.44. Most of the finalist have set lap time on between 1.12.00 and 1.14.00.

Richard has finished 7th which is good as he started in 10th place. Raymond started on 3rd position in final, processed to 2nd until his crash after first few laps and instead of carrying on, he had left the track which resulted him being the last. However, Raymond Stevenson has won best driver of the day prize.

Lynda started 11th in the final as the only female and came 10th. Also she has been involved in Ladies final too and won the first place. As a result of this, she become the first non-scottish female driver to win the Ladies’ Scottish Open. Congratulations! Lynda has never raced on Scottish Open before which is very impresisve. Clare o’connor came 3rd in ladies, well done!

For the past 10 years of Scottish Open Ladies, it has always been won by scottish ladies driver until now. Alison Bandeen had won the Scottish Open Ladies five times in a row and was denied winning her 6th a row but came 2nd instead.

NI drivers in Scottish Open 2005

• Leigh Nicholl – 5th
• Richard Croft – 7th
• Paul Conway – 9th
• Lynda McKewon – 10th
• David Hobson – 16th
• Peter Barr – 20th
• Clare O’Conner – 24th
• Gary Stratton – 28th

Final

• 1st Dave Carswell – Sco
• 2nd Dougie Williams – Sco
• 3rd Carol Hunter – Eng
• 4th Gary Huddlesion – Eng
• 5th Leigh Nicholl – Nir
• 6th Jason Landers – Irl
• 7th Richard Croft – Nir
• 8th Karl – Eng
• 9th Paul Conway – Nir
• 10th Lynda McKeown – Nir
• 11th Mark Roberston – Sco
• 12th Raymond Stevenson – Nir

Ladies’ Final

• 1st Lynda McKeown – Nir
• 2nd Alison Bandeen – Sco
• 3rd Clare O’Conner – Nir

Here’s the result of kart game from Disco & Buffet evening.

Nicknamed ‘Deadracer’ who we have been trying to find out for a couple of weeks, has come forward to announced himself. Ladies and Gentlemen, the deadracer is here, Dave Carswell! He did very good job playing as deadracer, the opposite version of Leigh’s nickname aliveracer!

Karting games – 2nd rounds (of 5 rounds)

• scotland – 17
• rep of ireland – 15
• n.ireland -15
• england – 11

Next kart games at disco and buffet will be at Adair Arms hotel, Ballymena on Sat 21th Jan 2006.

We would like to say thank you everyone for contributing to deafkartni team from Peter Barr, David Hobson , Leigh Nicholl and Colleen Conway.

See you at Northern Irish Open next year!

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