Ian McGrory is Eastland Kart Club’s senior champion driver for 2026.
He won a 10-lap final contested by eight drivers who had qualified by way of races during the club championships on Sunday.
Drivers each had four heats of mixed groups, with front, middle and back starts.
The fourth round, comprising two races, determined who would go into the final. The top three drivers from both races were joined by the first two from a repechage, making a field of eight.
Eastland Kart Club 2026 senior championship placegetters runner-up Shane Murrell (left), winner Ian McGrory and third placegetter Sam Hughes. Photo / Daniel Taylor
The drivers in the final were Harley Davis, Shane Murrell, McGrory, Sam Hughes, Glenn Harrison, Roger Moss, Daniel Taylor and Dallas Wanoa. The final was held at the end of the meeting.
McGrory was first, Murrell second, Hughes third, Harrison fourth, Taylor fifth and Moss sixth.
The rookies and juniors had four heats for points to decide the winners. Drivers had front, middle and back starts, and each races comprised eight laps.
Asher Davis won all four of the rookies’ races, Max Archer picked up three second placings and a third, and Chloe Hughes had a second placing and three thirds.
The rookies' podium at Eastland Kart Club's 2026 championships: runner-up Max Archer (left), winner Asher Davis and third placegetter Chloe Hughes. Photo / Barry Irvine
That meant Asher Davis was crowned club rookie champion, Archer was second and Chloe Hughes was third. Kaitlyn MacLellan was fourth.
In the juniors, Kolten Irvine had three wins and was leading the fourth race when his kart broke down.
Nixen Gooch had the other win and three second placings. Asha Hughes had one second placing and three thirds. Tyrone Jones had one third placing.
The juniors' podium at Eastland Kart Club's 2026 championships: runner-up Asha Hughes (left), winner Nixen Gooch and third placegetter Kolten Irvine. Photo / Barry Irvine
The club’s junior champ for 2026 was Gooch, with Asha Hughes second, Irvine third and Jones fourth.
In other group races, Sam Hughes had two wins, and Bill Mooney, Mike Vita, Jack Jobberns and Harrison each had a win.
McGrory had two second placings, while Mooney, Murrell, Taylor and Wanoa had one each.
Harley Davis had two third placings, while Tessa Irvine, Jobberns, McGrory and Murrell each had one.
The fourth round comprised two races to determine the make-up of the final, with the first three drivers in each race going through. Harley Davis and Sam Hughes each had a win, second placings went to Murrell and Harrison, and thirds went to McGrory and Moss.
A field of 11 karts took part in a 12-lap repechage to find the last two drivers for the final. Taylor and Wanoa finished first and second respectively to fill those spots. Tessa Irvine just missed out, finishing third.
Best times of the day were: 22.021s, recorded by McGrory in the adults’ racing; 25.479s, recorded by Gooch in the juniors; and 28.939s, recorded by Archer in the rookies.
