Billy Kerr
Ballymena Road Club - Chain Reaction Cycles - officials and members were saddened to learn of the death of their former club member Billy Kerr on Tuesday evening last week (14th August)
Billy, 67, from Glenariff Crescent in Ballymena passed away following a short period of illness.
Billy’s achievements as a cyclist have been well documented and include representing Ireland at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 where he became the first cyclist from Northern Ireland to finish an Olympic Games road race when he was placed 41st from 115 starters.
Either side of the Moscow games Billy represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada in 1978 and 1982 in Brisbane Australia.
The brilliant Billy Kerr brought the club its greatest international success in the late seventies when he shot the town to the very top of the amateur cycling world. Billy won the Tour of the North in 1978 and 79 and immediately after his second victory he won the Sealink International Stage Race in England.
He then went on to win the Ras Tailteann, the Tour of Ireland, Northern Ireland and All Ireland road race championships. In 1981 Billy won all six Northern Ireland and All Ireland time trial titles at 25, 50 and 100 miles.
He set a new NICF BAR average speed of 25.335 mph and had individual records of 21 minutes 43 seconds for 10 miles: 55 minutes 41 seconds for 25: 1 hour 56 minutes 25 seconds for 50: and 4 hours 8 minutes 37 seconds for the 100 miles distance.
Remember Billy recorded those times on a standard road bike. After the Sealink win a journalist commented on the state of Billy’s bike. He explained that he just had the one bike and used it for training, racing, club runs riding to work and going messages!
The same bike was used for the specialist art of time trialing, the only thing Billy changed was to fit a pair of 28 spoked wheels and take off the bottle cage! There were no tri-bars or low profile bikes in those days, which make his time trialing achievements even more remarkable.
Billy’s single minded determination enabled him to focus on an arduous training and racing regime, which often meant he clocked up between 400 and 500 miles each week on his bike. He also applied that same attitude when stating his opinion. I recall one occasion, during the peak of his cycling achievements, when we were debating some issue or other. Billy was so determined to have his say that he continued arguing even after I had agreed with him. He only relented when I emphasised that I was actually agreeing with the point he was making! Those who knew him best - family, friends, work mates and fellow cyclists - will recognise that side of his personality.
Billy’s funeral took place on Sunday from his home to Kirkinriola grave yard. Mourners gathered from all over Ireland and further afield. Afterwards the road club hosted a post funeral tea in their Rex Bonar House clubrooms which was attended by over 100 mourners. Many thanks to the BRC ladies committee for the excellent catering
The club extends its sympathy to Billy’s son Neil, his brother Sammy, who is a founder member of Ballymena Road Club, and to his other brothers, sisters and the entire family circle. RW
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