Coveney Hangs On To Lift European Title

Englishman Jack Coveney made the long trip from London worthwhile when he won the 1600 Bangers European Championship at Aghadowey Oval on Saturday evening, June 6th. Portadown’s Alan Haugh tried his best on the last bend to unseat Coveney, but he had to settle for second.
In the other formulas in action, Strabane’s Adam McKinney won the DMC Gold Cup for Thunder Rods, with the other feature race wins falling to Nutts Corner driver Michael Woods (2.0 Hot Rods), Antrim’s Thomas McCrory (1400 Stock Cars) whilst Garvagh’s Troy Crawford took a faultless hat-trick in the Superstox.

A field of almost forty 1600 Bangers, including numerous cross-channel visitors, arrived to chase the European Championship, and with it an automatic entry into the World Final later in the year at Ipswich. Local star Josh Goligher showed his hand first with a fine heat one win ahead of Steven Bolton, before an action packed second heat fell to England’s Luke Farrington with Bolton again in second spot after early leader Jack Botfield found himself hard in the turn three wall. The final qualifier saw former World Champion John Goligher lead before Jack Coveney took the lead, the Londoner going on to win ahead of Alan Haugh and Daniel Croskell.
The European Championship final saw Coveney set the early pace, stretching out quite an advantage in the opening laps. Alan Haugh worked his way through to second, reducing the leader’s advantage by the lap. In the closing stages he was right with Coveney, but Jack was equal to Alan’s last bend lunge and he held on to take the European title after a fine drive. Portadown’s Haugh took a gallant second, with Ballymoney driver Steven Bolton in third ahead of Steven Haugh and Stephen Boyd.

The opening heat for the 2.0 Hot Rods saw a polished win for Aaron Dilly ahead of Dean McFarland and Ethan Dilly. Heat two saw a shower leave the track very slippery indeed, but Michael Woods revelled in the conditions to take a decisive victory over Aaron Stewart and Conor Hughes.
The final if anything was even more wet, with Woods working his way to the front once again. A mid-race restart saw British and Internations Cup Champion Hughes step forward to challenge, and the two then engaged in a super side-by-side battle for many laps. Just when Hughes thought he had it won, Woods switched back to nip up his inside on the last lap and grab a simply superb victory over Hughes, Callum Doak and James McKinney. The Thunder Rods were competing for the DMC Gold Cup, kindly sponsored by McLaughlin Plumbing & Heating of Coleraine. The opening heat saw a clear win for James Steele, as he broke clear to win over a great battle for second that went the way of Adam McKinney ahead of Mark Mclaughlin and Liam Wilson. The reversed grid second heat saw Norman Purdy flying in the damp conditions, as he took the win over James Goldie and Adam McMullan.
The final was lined up on aggregate points from the heats, and it soon developed into an absolutely fantastic dice between McKinney, Joshua McMullan and Wilson. Little separated them for most of the distance, with McKinney holding resolute on the inside and McMullan spending much of the race of the wide outside line. McKinney didn’t put a foot wrong to take the Gold Cup after a sterling drive, with McMullan great value in second ahead of Wilson, Goldie and Purdy.

The novice grade made a great break at the start of the opening 1400 Stock Cars heat, and it was Lexi Crooks who held on to take a very creditable win. Curtis McConkey and Curtis Greer chased her home, with McConkey spinning over the line. Crooks again led heat two, but this time Matthew Weir managed to forge ahead for the win over Alexander McCreadie.
The final saw plenty of action and bumperwork early on, and it was Thomas McCrory who broke free to edge out an advantage. Thomas controlled the race from there, coming through to take a popular victory ahead of the impressive Chrissy Dempsey and Weir.

A smaller than usual entry of Superstox saw yellow grader Troy Crawford show great pace in heat one, taking the win despite the closing attentions of World Champion Steven Haugh. Crawford again took the heat two honours, this time over the battling pair of Dean Catherwood and Jamie McCann.
An automatic upgrade saw Crawford further back on the grid for the final, but that didn’t deter him at all and he strolled home to another chequered flag to complete a perfect hat-trick for the night. McCann this time got second ahead of Catherwood and Haugh.

Added 08/06/2026