Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) Limited

Herbie Chambers, 350 AJS, flat out across the finish line. Helmets were not worn in speed trials! Photograph: WK Brown

The Motorcycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) was formed on 7th March 1902 in the Metropole Hotel, Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street), Dublin and pre-dates both the Auto Cycle Union - the British mainland governing body, founded in 1903 - and the world governing body, the FIM (Federation de Internationals Motocytliste, which was founded in 1904). In fact, the MCUI has the distinction of being the oldest national governing body of motor cycle sport in the world.

That inaugural meeting was called by a Dublin-based, Ulster-born journalist/publisher, James Percy.

At that meeting, it was agreed ‘that a motor cycle club be formed, and that same be called the ‘Dublin Motor Cycling Club’. At a subsequent meeting, on 21st March, it was decided there should be a body in Ireland to control motor cycling in general, hence the name was changed to the Motor Cycling Union of Ireland. The intention was that when clubs were formed in other areas, Dublin Motor Cycling Club could be reformed and the Union could become a thoroughly national body with delegates attending from the different clubs.

The first officials of the MCUI were: President John Boyd Dunlop; Vice-President Richard Mecredy; Secretary: James Percy and Treasurer: Frank Wallen.

The first MCUI event was a ‘run’ from Gough Statue in Dublin’s Phoenix Park to Bray, on 20th April 1902, and their first race meeting was on the cinder track at Ashtown Trotting Track, Co Dublin, on 18th October 1902. Bob Stevens was the winner of both the 10 mile handicap and one mile scratch races, riding a Phoenix machine. The first race for motor cycles/tricycles in Ireland had been held at Navan Co Meath, on 15th August 1900, and was won by John C. Cooney, a founding member of the MCUI.

The first motor cycle race in Ulster was held at Ballymena Bicycle Club’s Sports on Saturday 9th August 1902. A five miles motor bicycle handicap race was held on the club’s cement cycling track, on the site that today is known as The Showgrounds. There were four starters - Tom Mallon, S. H. McDowell and Willie Nixon, all from Belfast, and Joseph Cordner from Lurgan. Mallon, the scratchman, gave a concession of two laps all round and won easily by about 600 yards.

This meeting also included the One Mile Bicycle Championship of Ireland, which ten years earlier, in 1892, had been won by Richard Mecredy, another founding member of the MCUI.

Combined bicycle and athletics sports meetings were common at this time at venues such as the Ulster Cricket Club, Ballynafeigh; Shrigley Park, Killyleagh; and Glenavon Football Club, Lurgan, as well as at Ballymena.

Tom Mallon was a regular competitor in bicycle races throughout 1902, frequently winning heats and being placed in finals. On 14th June, at Killyleagh, he won the one mile bicycle handicap, sprinting past George Robertson on the line, and on 1st August he won a five miles bicycle handicap at Lurgan.

Another interesting point is the One Mile Bicycle Championship of Ulster at Ballynafeigh on 24th May 1902. The winner was R. Barr, but his mount was a Rudge-Whitworth - later a very successful motor cycle racing company.

In November of that year, James Percy met R. G. Wilkinson opposite Ludgate Hill Station in London. During their conversation, Percy stated how disappointed he was that there did not appear to be any prospect of forming an Ulster Centre. Wilkinson considered the matter was not so hopeless and took it upon himself to get things moving. He sent a circular to all the motor cycle owners in the Belfast district, but since he could trace no more than half a dozen, he also sent the circular to all those who had shown sufficient interest to acquire a catalogue.

As a result, about 40 people attended the inaugural meeting, on Friday 9th January 1903 in Hicks’ Hotel Metropole, College Square North, Belfast. Lieutenant Young was moved to the chair and called upon James Percy to state the objects of the Union. Percy’s address is summarised in the report from the following morning’s Belfast News Letter.

“They might ask what was the necessity for a Motor Cycle Union. Those who were old time cyclists would recollect how in the old days the free masonry of the wheel brought all cyclists together. There was not now the same necessity for cyclists banding themselves for their mutual benefit because now almost everyone cycled. Motoring was in its initial stages at present. There were a good many difficulties to be got over, and it was only by united effort and combination that they could expect to overcome these. The objects of the Union were sufficiently set forth in the rules of the Union, namely:
To ensure a fair and equitable administration of justice as regards the rights of motor cyclists as such; to establish, revise, or alter the rules regulating the sport and pastime of motor cycling; to control and arrange for race meetings, matches, competitions, or time trials for motor cyclists; to endeavour by such means as may seem advisable to bring about the more efficient maintenance of Irish roads; and to protect the interests of motor cyclists and motor cycling generally They might take it from him that this motor question was coming along very rapidly and was going to be a big thing in the near future.
The rules drawn up were open to modification and such alteration as each Centre might think advisable. For instance, the annual subscription might be reduced to 10 shillings (50p).
One important question was ‘Who was to control motor cycling in this country?’ He had just received, a few days ago, a letter from the Irish Cyclists’ Association (ICA) asking for a conference upon this question. If motor cyclists were to be the tail of the ICA dog, he thought it would be a serious thing. He thought they should stand on their own rights for this reason - that if it was desired to bring over to this country some of the best motorists from England, or elsewhere, and if motoring was put under the control of the ICA, this would be quite impossible because of the position of affairs as between the MCU and the ICA. At the formation of the Irish Motor Union, 16 members were present but since then the membership had risen to over 50, and only three of these outside Dublin. The attendance at that night’s meeting was a splendid augury of success and he would be very pleased to answer any questions until the other members of the deputation arrived.
Mr Thomas Mallon proposed: ‘That, in the opinion of this meeting, an Ulster Centre of the Motor Cycling Union of Ireland should be formed in Belfast for the Province of Ulster.’ Mr W. Good seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously. The following provisional committee, with power to add to their numbers, was then appointed, with Mr R. G. Wilkinson as provisional secretary; Lieutenant Young, William Nixon, T. Mallon, T. Sloane, T. Ireland, J. Fetherston, J. Wilson, J. Woodside, P. Brady, James Wilson, S. B. Thompson, J. Stewart, M. Marshall, W. Good, W. B. McKee, W. J. Anderson, W. J. Forsythe, J. Denby and R. Ireland.”

The first officials of the Ulster Centre were: President: Honourable Leopold Canning; Secretary: R. G. Wilkinson; Treasurer: Thomas Sloane.

Englishman Harry Langman, after winning the Ulster 50 Mile Championship at Magilliagan Strand on September 9th 1922, on his works Scott
Photograph: WK Brown

The first event held by the Ulster Centre was a hill climb at Glenmachan, Strandtown, near Campbell College, Belfast, on 28th March 1903. The course measured 600 yards and there were 15 starters. Bob Breton on a 2hp Riley was the fastest finisher, while Tom Mallon riding a 2hp Quadrant machine was the handicap winner, earning £2 for his efforts. Second place in the handicap, on a 2hp Werner, was Leslie Porter, who had been co-founder, in 1899, of the Northern Motor Company at Chichester Street and later at Montgomery Street, Belfast. The business was built around an agency for Darracq and, later, Wolseley cars. In 1903 it also had the agency for Werner motorcycles.

On Sunday 24th May 1903, Porter became Ireland’s first international motor racing driver when he was accompanied by Willie Nixon as racing mechanic in the infamous Paris to Madrid race. This race was stopped by the French authorities after six people were killed. The fatalities included Willie Nixon, after Porter and he crashed into a keeper’s cottage at a railway crossing. Apparently the flag marshals had left their post to have dinner. Nixon was also a keen motor cyclist, being one of the founding members of the Ulster Centre.

The early events consisted mainly of hill climbs and reliability trials. The major events were the Canning Cup for an inter-centre team event (held 1903 to 1905), the Muratti Trophy for a 400 miles reliability trial (held 1905 to 1909) and the Irish End to End reliability Trial (held 1909 to 1930).

The MCUI was expanding rapidly and by April 1903 there would be Centres formed in Cork and Waterford, in addition to those in Dublin and Belfast. One important question, however, had to be faced: ‘Who was to control motor cycling in Ireland?’ The Irish Cyclists’ Association (ICA) announced it would assume control of the sport and a struggle commenced between the two bodies. Agreement was reached, prior to the active season of 1903, whereby the ICA gave control of motor cycling to the MCUI at all meetings where the majority of items were motor races and the MCUI recognised the right of the ICA to include motor cycle races in meetings where the majority of items were ordinary bicycle races.

As just mentioned, it wasn’t only the Ulster Centre which organised motor cycle events in 1903. The Ulster Cricket Club Sports at Ballynafeigh on Easter Monday (13th April) incorporated a five miles handicap motor cycle race amongst the bicycle racing programme at their cinder cycling track. Bob Breton (2hp Riley), R. G. Wilkinson (2hp FN) and Leslie Porter (2hp Werner) won the heats, and in the final Porter rode in fine style but failed to make up the 900 yards start on Wilkinson. Later in the year, on 11th July, a sports meeting was held at Glentoran Football Club’s ground to raise money for a Masonic Hall in Ballymacarrett. James Stewart, riding a Centaur, won a five miles handicap motor bicycle race.

A 200 miles reliability trial was held on Tuesday 19th July 1904 to mark the occasion of the marriage of the Honourable Leopold Canning, President of the Ulster Centre. Whilst a reliability trial in name, this event was in fact a race, as the winner would be the first competitor to complete the course. Starting in Belfast, at the Belfast Banking Company premises in Donegall Street at 6am, the route was Belfast to Londonderry, by the coast road, via Carrickfergus, Cushendall, Portrush and Coleraine, and back by an inland route, through Maghera and Toome to finish at The Crown and Shamrock Inn, Glengormley. The victor was John Burney, from Belfast, riding a Royal Enfield.

The following year, this event grew into a two day affair, and was now a 400 miles reliability trial for The Muratti Trophy. Day one was from Belfast to Dublin and back, and day two was the familiar Belfast to Londonderry and back.

The Muratti Trophy, probably one of the finest trophies ever presented for a motor cycling event, was presented to the Ulster Centre by B. Muratti Sons and Co Ltd., a well known Manchester cigarette manufacturer. The trophy features a winged figure on a Bradbury motor cycle, fashioned in silver and assayed at Sheffield in 1904. James Stewart won the event three times in succession, from 1907-’09, and was awarded the trophy outright. It was last heard of in 1987, when it was auctioned by Phillips on Wednesday 25th February for £12,000.

Soon Ulstermen were travelling overseas to compete. Tom Greer, from Stewartstown became the first Ulster competitor in the Isle of Man TT races, when he finished 17th on a Rex machine in 1908. The following year, James Stewart competed for the first time, and in 1912 he finished fourth in the Junior race, riding a Douglas.

The Irish End to End Reliability Trial was organised by the Ulster Centre 14 times between 1909 and 1930, always in mid-July and from 1909 to 1913 it was a one day marathon. After that it was a two day affair with an overnight halt. The first event started at Rock Island Coastguard Station, Co Cork, and finished at Fair Head, Co Antrim. The start and finish were varied at times, as was the route, but the event was always a true ‘run’, from one end of Ireland to the other covering between 400 and 500 miles.

Charles Murphy from Cootehill, won the End to End three times from 1909 to 1912, riding a 3hp Triumph. The premier price, up to 1919, was a silver rosebowl presented by the Palmer Tyre Company. When the event was revived in 1925 it was for the J. W. Stewart Memorial Trophy. James Stewart, a founding member of the Ulster Centre, outright winner of The Muratti Trophy and winner of the first road race, at Killough, in August 1921, had died on 5th April 1925. This memorial trophy which was in silver, was in the form of an Irish round tower, oxidised to represent natural stonework. The base bore the arms of the four provinces of Ireland, in enamel, surrounded by sprays of shamrock. An enamelled map of Ireland in green was also attached to the base, with two ruby spots indicating the starting and finishing points of the trial. On the top of the round tower was a female figure, indicative of speed, carried on a wheel.

A notable fact from the 1912 End to End was the participation of Muriel Hind from London, on a 6hp Rex machine. Miss Hind thus became the first lady to take part in any Irish motor cycle competition and acquitted herself well, taking 16th place out of 19 finishers. Another English lady Miss Marjorie Couple, took part in 1925, and returned to finish third overall in 1927, when she was joined by two local ladies, May Palmer and Mrs Joe Blackburn, who both finished. Mrs Palmer became a regular competitor and in 1929 she was joined by her husband, Harrie. May won a gold award, but there is no mention of Harrie amongst the finishers! World War One halted the event from 1916-48 and the Irish ‘troubles’ prevented it from taking place from 1920-’24. It was revived in 1925 and ran successfully until 1930, including a car class, run by the Ulster Automobile Sports Club, from 1927 Lady competitors also took part in the car section, particularly Mrs J. E. Coulter and Mrs Ethel Shaw, the wife of leading motor cyclist, James. Mrs Shaw won the up to 1500cc class in 1928 driving a 7hp Triumph.

Harold McKee, from Belfast, was the last motor cycle winner in 1930, riding a 493 Sunbeam and sidecar - the third sidecar combination to triumph in the End to End. World economic depression, coupled with the relatively high cost of taking part in a two day event, saw a decline in interest with only nine entries for the 1931 event. The Ulster Centre had no option but to cancel, and whilst several unsuccessful attempts were made throughout the 1930s to revive it, this remarkable competition passed into history.

Harry McGimpsey, 350 New Imperial, before the North Down “50” Road Race at Clandeboye in September 1922. He first finished second on handicap to James Shaw, 490cc Norton. Harry and his brother, Julius, were leading road race competitors between 1921 and 1930. As H & J McGimpsey Ltd, they has a New Imperial agency in Donaghadee and subsequently, after World War II, a BMC dealership in Bangor’s Main Street under the same name which traded until the early 1980s
Photograph: WK Brown

The Ulster Centre held its first sand race on Magilligan Strand on Saturday 24th June 1911. The winners were: five miles scratch up to 750cc: J. R. Thompson (BSA); 10 miles handicap: A. Kirk (Triumph); and 50 miles handicap: Billy Chambers (BSA). On 19th June 1915, the Ulster Centre promoted the first Irish Championship event. The Championship of Ireland was decided over a 50 miles race, again on Magilligan Strand, and was won by James Shaw on a Norton.

In 1913, the Dublin Centre changed its name to the Southern Centre and at the Inter Centre Conference on 12th April it was agreed that the Ulster Centre should have jurisdiction over the provinces of Ulster and Connacht, with the Southern Centre controlling Leinster and Munster. The Ulster Centre only relinquished control of Connacht at the 1931 Inter Centre Conference. Motor cycle sport in Ulster lay dormant from 1915-19, as Irishmen, of all traditions, including many motor cyclists, were fighting, and dying, in the Great War.

Sand racing restarted at Magilligan in 1919 and 1920, with the 50 miles Championship of Ireland, and was won, on both occasions, by Dubliner Steve Redmond, astride an Indian machine.

At the annual general meeting of the Ulster Centre on 20th January 1921, in Thompson’s Restaurant, Donegall Place, Belfast, it was agreed to form the Ulster Motor Cycle Club. The MCUI (Ulster Centre) ceased to function as a club, but now acted as the governing body of the sport in Ulster comprised of delegates from the various clubs. The Ulster Centre, as we now know it, had come into being.

Throughout the 1920s, sand racing was the most popular form of racing - even more so than road racing. All the major Irish and Ulster Speed Championships were decided at sand races. There were three annual meetings at Magilligan, for the 50 miles, 75 miles and 100 miles championships. The Ulster MCC were the main organising club, although others - such as City of Derry, Belfast and District, Coleraine, Knock and the North of Ireland clubs - also held races, mostly at Magilligan, but also at Portstewart Strand and at Minerstown, Co Down.

There were many successful sand racers, none more so than Belfast’s James Shaw.

From 1915 to 1930, James won ten Irish and ten Ulster championships. However, Shaw was not just a sand racer - he was also one of Ireland’s finest road racers. After serving in the Royal Flying Corps in World War One he started his own motor cycle agency in Belfast and in 1920 he took part in his first Isle of Man TT, finishing seventh in the Senior race. In 1922 he was fourth in the 500cc Belgian Grand Prix and he set the fastest lap in the 1926 French Grand Prix.

James always raced in many of the smaller races at home, winning the Ulster MCC’s Ballynahinch 50 race in 1921 and over the years taking wins at Ballydrain, Banbridge, Carrowdore, Clandeboye, Dungannon and Phoenix Park.

James was part of the works Norton team, together with such luminaries as Alec Bennett, Joe Craig and Stanley Woods. He finished second on handicap in the 1925 Ulster Grand Prix, winning the 350cc class.

He took the overall win in 1925 and two years later he scored perhaps his best result, when he beat Frank Longman and Stanley Woods to win the 500cc Ulster. James also recorded his best TT result in 1927: fourth in the Senior. Shaw took part in some of the early North West 200 races, with a best finish of third in the 350cc class in both 1929 and 1930.

His business interests expanded and he was the Triumph car agent in Belfast and also the Norton motor cycle agent so unsurprisingly James always raced Nortons. He and his wife, Ethel, immigrated to America, where he became involved in the motor business. He died in New York in May 1978.

By 1931 interest in sand racing was declining. Indeed the 100 miles championship meeting had to be cancelled due to lack of entries - world economic conditions during the Depression, the growing popularity of road races and grass tracks, and machine corrosion being the main reasons. Attempts to revive the discipline through the 1930s were unsuccessful, although the Coleraine Club brought sand racing back to Magilligan in the 1950s and ran several meetings, which saw riders such as Austin Carson, Sammy Miller and Tommy Robb among the winners. Their last meeting was on 20th August 1955, after which the Irish sand racing chapter closed.

Published on: 2006-12-08 (6408 reads)

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