The prestigious Enkalon Trophy race could be moved from its traditional Easter date this year due to a fall-out over the proposed involvement of a leading sponsor in the MCRRCI-run Irish Superbike meeting.

Adelaide Insurance Services provides financial backing to the Enkalon Club and as such has requested permission to have a corporate presence at the two-day ISB Easter meeting at Bishopscourt on Friday 6 and Saturday, April 7.

However, News Letter Sport understands the MCRRCI (Motor Cycle Road Racing Club of Ireland) has snubbed the approach.

The MCRRCI does not receive financial backing from Adelaide Insurance, but as a result of the company’s financial support of the Enkalon Club, the showpiece race - now in its 36th year - may have to be switched to an alternative short circuit meeting where Adelaide branding would be welcomed.

Last night, Davy Weir, chairman of the Enkalon Club, said he hoped the Enkalon Trophy race - the longest running short circuit event in Northern Ireland and the south - would still take place on its traditional Easter Saturday date.

But weir also conceded that unless the MCRRCI changed its stance, the Enkalon club - due to meet tonight to disucess the impasse - will be forced to look for a different home in 2012.

“Adelaide Insurance provide our main source of income and we have to look after them because they are our sponsors.

“The MCRRCI want to hold the Enkalon Trophy race on Easter Saturday - they just don’t want Adelaide Insurance involved.

“Mark Sanlon (MCRRCI) told me it was too late to do anything about it this year but that maybe something could be worked out for next year. He said they (MCRRCI) just don’t want an association with Adelaide Insurance at the moment.

“We are having a meeting to discuss the situation with all of our members and unless things change we will have to look at moving the Enkalon race to another meeting and date.

“We don’t want that, because the Enkalon Trophy race has always been held traditionally at Easter, but we might have no other choice.”

The News Letter was unable to make with contact Mark Sanlon of the MCRRCI yesterday.

Sam Geddis, director of Adelaide Insurance, this week vowed to pull his company’s sponsorship of key motorcycle events including the Adelaide Masters race at Bishopscourt in the summer unless plans by the MCUI Ulster Centre to charge photographers a £60 fee to obtain press accreditation are shelved.

Mr Geddis is concerned that media organisations will curtail their coverage of press conferences in protest at the charge being levied on photographers - a stance already adopted by the Newtownards Chronicle - therefore resulting in reduced publicity for event sponsors.


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