2025 SPRINT REVIEW…
Words and Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
The 2025 SW Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship got underway at the start of March in County Antrim where its calendar showed a season consisting of nine rounds, with seven of them counting after two drop scores.
Here’s how the season unfolded:
Round 1 - 1st March – NUCC, Nutts Corner.
Tim Woodside got off to a great start by taking the win, followed by Alan Cassells, with Ethan Faulkner rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Crawford Ewing was the fastest in Roadgoing. Oliver Cormican came out top in Modified. Whilst Stephen Smith took the Specialist win.
Round 2 - 15th March – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown.
Alan Cassells took his first win of the season, followed by Ethan Faulkner, with Brian Fitzmaurice rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Stephen Potter was the fastest in Roadgoing. Oliver Cormican came out top in Modified. Whilst David Hawthorne took the Specialist win.
Round 3 - 5th April – NUCC, Nutts Corner.
Tim Woodside came out on top for the second time this year, followed by Alan Cassells, with Scott McMullan rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Crawford Ewing was the fastest in Roadgoing. Dan Campbell came out top in Modified. Whilst Scott McMullan took the Specialist win.
Round 4 - 31st May – Enniskillen MC, St Angelo.
Alan Cassells was fastest on the day, followed by Brian Fitzmaurice, with David Hawthorne rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Crawford Ewing was the fastest in Roadgoing. Oliver Cormican came out top in Modified. Whilst David Hawthorne took the Specialist win.
Round 5 - 5th July – NUCC, Nutts Corner.
Alan Cassells was fastest again, followed by Steven Gault, with Brian Fitzmaurice rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Scott Fitzgerald was the fastest in Roadgoing. Oliver Cormican came out top in Modified. Whilst Alan Davidson took the Specialist win.
Round 6 - 2nd August – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown.
Steven Gault recorded the fastest time of the day, followed by Ethan Faulkner, with Brian Fitzmaurice rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Crawford Ewing was the fastest in Roadgoing. Garry Campbell came out top in Modified. Whilst Andy Hawthorne took the Specialist win.
Round 7 - 23rd August – Larne MC, Kirkistown.
Alan Cassells was back at the top of the time sheets, followed by Steven Gault, with Scott McMullan rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won yet again by Emma Campbell.
In the other categories, Scott Fitzgerald was the fastest in Roadgoing. Richie O’Mahony came out top in Modified. Whilst Graham Moore took the Specialist win.
Round 8 - 25th October – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown.
Having proved a force to be reckoned with in the British Sprint Championship, young Ethan Faulkner took his first win on home soil this year, followed by Graham Moore, with Andy Hawthorne rounding off the top three. The Ladies Challenge was won by Nicola Hughes.
In the other categories, Crawford Ewing was the fastest in Roadgoing. Gregory McMillan came out top in Modified. Whilst Graham Moore took the Specialist win.
Round 9 - 08th November – UAC, Kirkistown.
It was Ethan Faulkner to take yet another victory on home soil, securing third overall in the process. Brian Fitzmaurice finished the season second overall with second place on the final round, while Graham Moore rounded the podium on the last event. The Ladies Challenge was won yet again by Emma Campbell who secured the championship.
A heavy crash on the penultimate round halted Alan Cassells season, but he’d already done enough to bring home his fourth championship.
In the other categories, Scott Fitzgerald was the fastest in Roadgoing, awarding him the championship trophy. Gregory McMillan came out top in Modified, but it’s Oliver Cormican who gets the award. Whilst Graham Moore took the Specialist win, the championship trophy goes to Alan Davidson.
