Kirkistown New Year Stages Rally, 21 January 2012.
Despite the bitter weather, Kirkistown was packed on Saturday. The New Year Stages rally brought plenty of surprises from bumps and bashes to a double first time appearance in Ireland of two cars. The ex-Dani Sordo Mini Countryman WRC and a full works S-14 Subaru Impreza. Those coupled with plenty of sideways action from the Mark II Escorts ensured plenty of smiles!
Overall it was a fantastic but chilly day out! Well done to the marshals and event organisers for a safe and exciting day of Motorsport. Be sure to keep checking newtownards.org in the coming weeks for all the news and events taking place around the area – especially the North Antrim Motor Club rally at Kirkistown in February!
Despite losing narrowly on French soil to Clermont, Ulster still qualify for the quarter final stages of the Heineken European Cup.
Ulster were undaunted by the away fixture and took the game to Clermont with both sides level at the half way mark with six points a piece. All scoring fir most if the match came from the boots of Para fro Clermont and Pienaar for Ulster until the last quarter when the French side scored the only try of the game. The final score Clermont 19 Ulster 15.
The defeat means that even though Ulster finished the pool on equal points with Clermont, the French side take top spot due to scoring more tries in the two meetings between the teams. Other favourable results in the competition guarantee Ulster a place in the next stages in April though it will now be another away fixture.
The Newtownards Saturday Market will be moving to a temporary site on Saturday the 21st January 2012. The new site will be at the bottom of Old Cross Street /Court Street or via the new Tesco link road.
The temporary move is necessary as Conway Square where the market is usually held, will be undergoing a three month makeover. For a while, the future of the the long-established town market seemed in doubt but a new location was confirmed at the eleventh hour. The new location is easy to find as it’s off the Castlebawn Road behind the new Tesco Extra store. The new location has an added bonus in that there will free car parking all day! A second, pedestrian entrance will also be open on Court Street close to the Ganges restaurant.
The Newtownards Saturday Market will open at 8am and run throughout the day until 5pm.
How many of us remember kicking a football against the wall as a child hoping that we would become the next George Best? No matter what your sport at school, there were always those who had dreams and aspirations of reaching the dizzy heights of the game. Some made it, many didn’t, but generally an enjoyable time was had by all.
Children in Northern Ireland involved in the relatively young sport of ice hockey are no different. Some aspire to become NHL players across the Atlantic whilst others have set their sights on the UK’s Elite League and want to play for home team The Stena Line Belfast Giants. Continue reading
Funding for Stranfgord Lough seabirds.
Environmental charities across Northern ireland will receive a ¼ million pounds in funding to help complete community projects over the coming months. Wildlife projects will benefit including the Strangford Lough seabirds, Londonderry bats and Fermanagh squirels while plus funding for constructing weirs in the Dun River, woodland management at the Crom Estate in Fermanagh and projects to reduce wildfires in the Belfast Hills.
Two male teenagers, aged
17 and 18, have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a woman was struck by a car whilst out walking along the Bangor Road, Newtownards on 12th December last year. The pair are expected to appear at the Newtownards Magistrates Court on 2 February.
The Leicester Tigers were tamed by a magnificent Ulster squad last night at Ravenhill in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup. Two tries from Ireland’s Andrew Trimble, a try each from Craig Gilroy and Paul Marshall plus a master class in kicking from Ruan Pienaar gave Ulster a bonus point win with the final score of 41-7. The result means an early exit from the competition for two time winners, Leicester, while Ulster lead the group two points ahead of Clermont who thrashed Aironi by in Italy 82 points to nil, scoring 12 tries in the process.
Police investigating the murder of a 36 year old Comber man have made another two arrests.
36 year old Philip Strickland was found shot dead in a car on Quarry Road near Comber on Wednesday. The following day Police arrested a 54 year old man along with his two sons aged, 25 and 26 and later on Thursday night, a 19 year old mand and a 19 year old woman were also arrested.
Police are appealing for information regarding what they described as a “viscious murder”.
Mr Strickland, from East Belfast, was murdered around 9pm on Wednesday evening and found in the front of a car. A number of passing motorists stopped and tried to give first aid to the victim who was then taken to hospital but pronounced dead.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hanna said police were following a number of lines of inquiry. “It was a vicious murder and will impact on the community of Comber, and we recognise that,” he said. “That is why we are working in tandem with our uniformed partners to ensure that the people in Comber, who are not used to this level of crime, get the level of confidence and support from the police.”
