The Lightning Rods were out in force for their European Championship (sponsored by C P Dynes Drainage Contractors), and England’s Lee Parsons got the crowd talking as he took the first heat for the visitors from Aaron Stewart. Stephen Emerson took the flag in the second encounter from Ben McKee, before Gordy McKee claimed the final heat from Mervyn Emerson. Stephen Emerson had annexed pole position for the big race, with brother Mervyn alongside and Gordy McKee lurking ominously on the inside of row two.

Emerson led them away for the forty lap final, and McKee soon latched onto his bumper where he would remain for the entire race. It was almost an identical scenario to the World Final last year with McKee taking David Hearst’s place – he tracked the multi-champ all the way but just could never find the opportunity to get by. Emerson thus gained the red and yellow chequers for 2010, with McKee excellent value in second, with Parsons equalling his 2009 European result in third. Mervyn Emerson and Vince Litter had earlier been battling for the third spot, but a mid-race skirmish led to the demise of both.

Ben McKee then won the Dash 4 Cash before Parsons took a popular Meeting Final victory.

Over 40 Bangers contested the King of Krash title on Sunday, which fell to Keith Carey from Steven Reynolds in a very entertaining event. Local ace Davy Patton won the Allcomers Heat for Team Buckle before Andy Davison netted the DD after Reynolds was disqualified. Barry McArdle won Most Entertaining Driver and Dave Haugh Best Presented Car.

The ProStocks were most certainly a star turn on Sunday, with Adrian McKinstry and Jason Beggs taking the heat wins. The final turned into one of the races of the weekend, with a six car battle for the lead entering the final stages. The experienced Francie Allen held his nerve to come out on top to win the Truffles Trophy from McKinstry and Stefan McClelland.

The Fairhill Bar Challenge Cup for the Robins on Saturday night saw yet another superb display from the 3-wheelers. Form man Jimmy Beattie took both heats before finding himself in all sorts of bother in the final. That allowed Irish Champ Ian Bolton to grab the win. Rollovers galore from Bolton, his son Stephen and Ryan Wright showed us that the Robins are most certainly back on form!!

Many thanks to all our sponsors over the weekend – Boss Motors, CP Dynes Drainage Contractors, Donnelly Auto Electrics, Tullymore Road Motors, The Fairhill Bar, Truffles Restaurant and guest house, Wilson Engineering, Belfast Car and Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers and A W McCauley Vehicle Maintenance. Special thanks also to Donnelly Bros Mitsubishi of Mallusk for the Pick-Up used for the victory laps.

With the 2.0 Hot Rods British Championship on the horizon too, star man Denver McLean laid down a marker with a rare red-grade win in heat one, his first in quite a while too. Adam Hylands then took heat two in style, before Adam Heatrick held off allcomers to claim another final win to add to his Ballymena victory last month. The final was however marred by a horrendous crash for Glen Hetherington, who clipped the ailing car of Davy Clarke whilst unsighted in the middle of the pack. Glen speared into the wall in an accident which took in the whole length of the back straight, with the #968 pirouetting and shedding wheels for what seemed a lifetime. Glen and his team now face a race against time to be ready for Speedweekend next week.

It was a case of keeping it in the family for the McMillan’s in the Junior Productions, as both Derek and Shane grabbed a win apiece in the meeting sponsored by the family company. Derek took heat one, before Lee McCracken gate-crashed the party with the victory in heat two. Shane then bounced back from his practice crash with a faultless display to lift the final trophy in great style, with Derek following him home to boot. Jordan Magee claimed the trophy for the highest white/yellow roof finisher, as Shane couldn’t possibly have taken both!!!

The ProStocks were well up in numbers which was pleasing to see, and newcomer Thomas Agnew, a former Kartist, made no mistake from the white grade in both heats. This earned him an instant upgrade to yellow for the final, where he got into the lead but was hauled in by Robbie Diffin. As Diffin went ahead to claim the win, Agnew clashed accidentally with Ryan Stewart. What then followed could only be described as chaotic, or even idiotic, as the Agnew car was fenced hard for no reason whatsoever, and then continually rammed until the reds came out. There is no such place for any such actions at Nuttscorner Oval, and those involved will face tough disciplinary action once a full investigation is carried out.