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| Southern 100 Cancelled
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The Southern 100 has become the latest victim of the
foot-and-mouth crisis.
Organisers have decided to postpone the July road
races until September due to the continuing epidemic
in the UK.
The committee felt that due to recent cases in the
north of England and following consultation with the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in
consideration of the local farmers and community, it
would be unwise to run the event on the planned dates,
July 16 to 19.
Meanwhile a decision was due to be made by Transport
Minister Tony Brown about whether the Mountain Road
will be one way on Sunday, which was the scheduled
date for Mad Sunday.
In terms of the Southern 100, legislation has passed
through the branches of Tynwald to allow the event to
go ahead on the weekend of September 14 to 16.
Southern 100 committee secretary George Peach said: 'I
am very disappointed that the Southern 100 is not
running on its traditional dates in July, although I
am sure that when we get the event going it will be as
good if not better than normal and look forward to
seeing all the riders here at Castletown.'
All entries fees that have been received so far will
be refunded in full over the next week or so and new
regulations and entry forms for the rescheduled
meeting will also be sent out as soon as they have
been approved and printed.
Phil Taubman, clerk of the course, said: 'With the
continuing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth in the UK it
was not a difficult decision to postpone the Southern
100.
'I feel sure that the event in September, although
shortened to three days, will be as exciting as ever
with a full entry.'
Club chairman Derek Nicholson added: 'It is very
regrettable that the Southern 100 committee has had to
make the decision to postpone the Steam Packet
Southern 100 National Road Races, but having regard to
the foot-and-mouth situation at present I feel it is
the correct decision.'
Regular competitor Adrian McFarland has expressed his
personal disappointment that the races have been
postponed, but said he looked forward to travelling to
the Island in September to compete on the Billown
course.
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