Ryan pushed to the max at Clough

The Dungannon man was hounded all the way by Adrian Archibald on the FB McKee Suzuki in the feature Clough Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club Grand Final before the Ballymoney ace bit the dust in wet conditions on the last lap well in excess of 100mph.

Miraculously, Archibald escaped injury, but his big Suzuki was destroyed in the crash and he is now without a Superbike ride for the upcoming McKinstry Skip Hire Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod on August 14.

Farquhar cruised to a comfortable victory in the opening Superbike race from Archibald and John Burrows and won the Supersport class with 12 seconds to spare, but Burrows was an ever present threat in the Supertwins 650 race while exciting prospect Seamus Greene was hot on the Killyman star's tail in the Moto 450 race until he too was caught out by the greasy roads.

With Michael and William Dunlop withdrawing from the meeting following a fall-out with the organisers, Farquhar could have been forgiven for anticipating an easy day at the office, but he was made to sweat for his success at a damp Clough on Saturday.

"I didn't have things all my own way," said Farquhar, who now has 22 wins at the Mid-Antrim and 38 in total this season. "In the Grand Final I think that was the hardest I've ever had to ride in conditions like that.

"Conditions weren't good for the main race and no matter what pace I rode at, Archie followed me.

"We both had wet front tyres and intermediate rears, but in some places the road was really dry and the tyres were overheating, so the bike wasn't handling the best and I'm sure his was the same.

"If he had passed me I wouldn't have rode any faster because I was out of my comfort zone in those conditions."

Farquhar's winning margin in the Grand Final was almost 58 seconds over veteran Paul Cranston, who stormed through from Group B on corrected time, with Victor Gilmore claiming the last place on the rostrum.

Burrows, Derek Sheils and Stephen McIlvenna completed the top six.

In the Irish Championship Superbike race, Farquhar eased away from the chasing pack to scoop his first victory of the day by six seconds from Archibald, who had the fastest lap of the race at 99.340mph. Burrows, Cranston, Gilmore and Kilrea's William Davison were the first six.

It was a relatively straightforward win for Farquhar in the Supersport class as he seized the lead from Archibald in the early stages and went on to win by almost 13 seconds, with Burrows joining Archibald on the podium.

Seamus Elliott, James McCann and McIlvenna rode impressively to break into the leading six.

Barry Davidson took a popular win in the Junior 250/400 race at his home meeting by a commanding 15 seconds from his CB Racing team-mate Wayne Kennedy, who just managed to hold off a late attack by Victor Gilmore.

In the Supertwins 650 race, Farquhar was made to work for his usual customary victory by John Burrows, who rode brilliantly on his KBM Kawasaki to give his fellow Dungannon rider a run for his money.

Paul Robinson (Honda) was the winner of the 125cc race by six seconds from Wayne Kennedy with Barry Davison third, while Farquhar coasted home in the Moto 450 race after Seamus Elliott looked like he had the pace to match the KMR rider before sliding off unhurt.

Dean Harrison was a double winner in the Junior and Senior Support races and the manner of his victory in the Senior race especially caught the eye as Harrison charged through from third place to overhaul Shaun Anderson and Alan Bonner in the latter stages.

Robert McCrum won the Classic race from Neil McWhirter and Allan Brew.