Road racing a family and social event too
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Canadian visitor Dallas Kennedy with his wife Emily and son Tadhg at Walderstown on Saturday.Image 2 of 14
Shannon Higgins and Bernard Higgins from Ballymore with Noeleen Dobson from Fore at the Race of the South on Sunday. Paul Molloy 2026Image 3 of 14
Robert Kennedy and Celine Kennedy from Dublin at the Race Of The South last Sunday. Photo Paul Molloy. Paul Molloy 2026Image 4 of 14
Shannon Higgins and Bernard Higgins from Ballymore with Noeleen Dobson from Fore at the Race Of The South racing last Sunday. Photo Paul Molloy. Paul Molloy 2026Image 5 of 14
Ronnie Irwin from Tubberclair, Tom Lennon, Junior Hawkins, John Dooley and Catherina Dooley from Tang at the Race of the South last Sunday. Photo: Paul Molloy Paul Molloy 2026Image 6 of 14
Jim McCormack from Streamstown, Sean McDermott from Ballinasloe and Adrian McGuigan from Castlepollard. Photo: Paul Molloy. Paul Molloy 2026Image 7 of 14
Abby Evans and Marie Fleming from Moate. Photo Paul Molloy. Paul Molloy 2026Image 8 of 14
Abby Evans, Shane Evans, Tara Evans, Dylan Nulty, Stephen Evans, Jake Evans, Noelle Evans, Hannah Nugent, Shane Nugent, Amelia Evans, Polly Evans, Kenneth Foley and Dean Kerrigan from Moate at the Race Of The South racing last Sunday. Paul Molloy 2026Image 9 of 14
Sam Reynolds, Sheila Keegan, Alex Smyth, Lily Smyth, May McLoughlin, Anna Smyth and Elaine Smyth at the Race Of The South on Sunday. Paul Molloy 2026Image 10 of 14
Alan McNally from Ballivor, David Coleman from Castlepollard, John Landy from Enfield, Cathal Fagan from Castlepollard and Stevo Phillips from Kells marshals at the Race of the South last Sunday. Photo: Paul Molloy Paul Molloy 2026Image 11 of 14
Anthony Gilmore, James Ledwith, Jim Bob Ledwith and Kyle Ledwith from Multi at the Race Of The South racing last Sunday. Photo Paul Molloy. Paul Molloy 2026Image 12 of 14
Adriana Burca and Shannon Ryan from Athboy the Race of the South last Sunday. Photo: Paul Molloy Paul Molloy 2026Image 13 of 14
Richard Meares Moate and Tom Cassidy, Fore MCC marshals at the Race of the South last Sunday. Paul Molloy 2026Image 14 of 14
Johnny Ledwith from Multyfarnham, Gonzalo Leal from Madrid and Lucy Baldwin from Mullingar. Paul Molloy 2026The Race of the South at Walderstown is a sporting occasion when the top road racers of the day compete on track for honours, but it is also a family event, for competitors as much as spectators.
Among those there with his family – wife Emily and son Tadhg – was Dallas Reynolds from Ontario Canada.
The weekend was his first time at Walderstown and it forms part of a long-term plan to get to the Isle of Man TT, he told the Westmeath Examiner.
He said he first became aware of the TT when he was a teenager, and subsequently discovered road racing in Ireland.
“I started last year. I came over and did Cookstown Tandragee and Armoy. The only reason I got into racing these bikes is when I was probably 19, I learned about the Isle of Man and just didn’t understand how that was allowed, and then further research led me to that they do it in Ireland that’s how a lot of guys get the training, I guess, to go over and do it [the TT].
“I knew eventually the goal was to get over here and get this under my belt, because my ultimate goal is the TT.”
Dallas applied to do the Manx GP (a lower standard event to the TT, on the same mountain course), but the organisers said he needed more road racing experience.
“I’m reapplying for this year, and I should have eight [races] under my belt this season alone, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Then I do my time at the Manx for a couple of years and then get to the TT.”
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