Aaron Armstrong produced some great riding over the Easter motorcycling festivals at both Bishopscourt and Kirkistown.

After finishing in fifth position in the first Supersport race on Saturday, he then put his Hunky Dorys 600 on the podium in the second race after some great battling. He followed that up on Monday with yet another third place in the same class. Aaron also is also now a contender on short circuit events in the Superbike class, picking up a fifth, a sixth and two seventh places over the weekend.

Meanwhile Aaron’s dad Alan, who is always to the fore in the Supersport Cup class, picked up fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place finishes over the two days.

Also claiming podium places at the weekend was short circuit and road race regular Paul Gartland. Riding his RT&E 400 Supersport, he picked up second and third places on Saturday followed up by fourth and sixth places at Kirkistown on Monday. Paul also had fifth and sixth place finishes on his Ian Mercer Supertwin.

Loris Britton is taking to short circuit racing like a duck to water, and his results are certainly starting to reflect that. After picking up a 15th place on Saturday on his 400 Kawasaki, Loris rode a brilliant race to finish a superb top six place in his first outing on Monday, and the same pattern was emerging in race two, only to make a mistake going into the hairpin with only a couple of laps to go.

Slane Maguire, also on a 400 Kawasaki, finished eighth and ninth at Bishopscourt, but unfortunately had an off day in practise, putting him out of Monday’s racing.

Stephen Montgomery, although a Supersport cup rider, found himself in the main 600 races over the weekend, and came home with a sixth and three seventh positions over both days racing.

If there was a trophy for the happiest racer, it would go to Aileen Keenan. “I’m buzzing..... I love it” were just a couple of responses of the newcomer in just her second event in the pre-injection class.

Other newcomers to the scene this season are Dylan Leonard and David McCrea. Dylan picked up 16th and 18th places in the Supersport Cup races on Saturday, followed up with ninth and 12th places on Monday.

David, riding a Production Twin, came home with two 13th positions, a 15th and 17th.

With the amount of local riders on the short circuit scene, a big mention must go out to Rodney Shaw and Fiona Ferris of Enniskillen Motorcycles, who have helped some of these riders so much in preparation.

Looking to this weekend, the road racing season kicks off at Tandragee where local riders Paul Gartland and Melissa Kennedy will be in action.