Ulster Rally's 30th. Anniversary Dinner - (Fri) 23 Feb 07

Posted: March 1, 2007 8:24 PM

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Photos:
Sperrins Photography - John O'Neill

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist is coming to Armagh
• TABLE RUSH FOR RALLYINGS BIG NIGHT

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19/01/07
World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist is coming to Armagh
Stig Blomqvist the 1984 World Rally Champion and winner of the Ulster Rally in 1983 is amongst the galaxy of rallying superstars who have confirmed their intention to attend the Ulster International Rally’s 30th Anniversary Dinner on the 23rd. February 2007 at the Armagh City Hotel.

“This is the caliber of guest that we had hoped for on our night of nights. The Swedish driver won our event in 1983 driving one of the most evocative Group B Supercars of all time, the Audio Quattro before going on to take the World Title in an Audi the following year.” Remembers David Gray, Kieran McAnallen and Drew Todd of the organising committee.

Stig, the seven times winner of the Swedish Rally, has been a works driver for Saab, Lancia, Sunbeam Talbot, Audi, Peugeot and Ford in his long career and he still competes in European Rallycross to this day. Stig, who will be accompanied at the gala dinner by his winning co-driver in 1983 – Bjorn Cederberg, rallied both a Saab and the Audi Quattro in the Ulster lanes.

Early Demand for Tables
As the guest confirmations pour in, the Organisers have reported a 50% uptake already on the 70 available tables for the big night. The event will honour not only the drivers and co-drivers who stared on the Ulster Rally in the period from 1976 to 1990, but the senior officials, stage commanders, marshals, and emergency services in the first fifteen years of the rally’s history.

Early Winners
Cathal Curley the winner of the first Ulster Rally in 1976 and Billy Coleman who won his first major event in Ulster – the Texaco Rally, (the predecessor of the Ulster International), have also accepted as has Irish rallying`s lady legend Rosemary Smith.

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TABLE RUSH FOR RALLYINGS BIG NIGHT
Within weeks of the announcement of the Ulster International Rally’s 30th Anniversary Dinner on the 23rd. February 2007, a third of the tables for the big night have already been taken.

“The initial response has been outstanding for our Gala Dinner where the drivers, ladies, officials, stage commanders, marshals, and emergency services in the first fifteen years of the rally’s history between will be honoured.” Said David Gray, Kieran McAnallen and Drew Todd of the organising committee.

The invitation list for Ulster’s First Rallying Fifteen Gala Dinner is to say the least impressive, with names like Cahal Curley, Pentti Arikkala, Jimmy McRae, Michele Mouton, Louise Aitken Walker, Stig Blomqvist, Walter Rohrl, Gwyndaf Evans, David Lllewellin and Russell Brookes on the organisers wanted list.

SIX COUNTIES THEME
Using the six counties of Ulster as their theme the organisers will be honouring the people who created and maintained this great event in six categories.

The Antrim Awards are for the Essential Services personnel, which recognise the contribution made by the rescue, radio, and medical services.

The Armagh Awards will go to the Media who have publicised and reported on the event in its early years.

The Derry Awards are for the Secretaries, Time Keepers, Stage Commanders and Marshals, and each club is being asked to nominate a marshal who has given outstanding service during that period.

The Down Awards go to the Clerks of the Course and Deputy Clerks of the Course who have been responsible for the overall running of the events.

The Fermanagh Awards are for the outstanding female participants in the first fifteen years. And the Tyrone Awards go to the drivers and co-drivers who won the event during that period when the Porsches, Escorts, Vauxhalls, Mantas, and Quatros roamed the Ulster lanes.

ARCHIVE APPEAL
The evening will be presented by the RPM Team, headed by Pamela Ballantine and Plum Tyndall and enlivened with video inserts provided from the RPM and Fergus McAnallen`s Rally Retro Archives.

“The further you go back the more difficult it can be to obtain moving images and although we have considerable coverage there are some gaps in the rally’s history, and we are always interested to discovering additional footage from amateur enthusiasts. We can transfer this footage from any format and preserve the footage on DVD for its owners.” Explained RPM’s Director Alan Tyndall.

RESERVING A SEAT
Reservation details are available by e-mail at UlsterIntrally@xl-ents.co.uk or by contacting at (028 9042 1777) (048 9042 1777 ROI) (+44 28 9042 1777)