Down through the years, seasoned motorcycle race fans always made sure to take plenty of sunblock cream when going to the Skerries 100 road races.

The North Co Dublin Festival of Speed, which was first held in 1946, has a remarkable "brilliant weather" record.

That record, alas, came to a sodden end on Saturday. Heavy early-morning rain eased to mid-morning drizzle, leaving roads streaming wet and the organisers with the difficult decision of whether or not to proceed. Racing had been due to start at 11 a.m.

Happily, conditions had improved sufficiently by 1 p.m. for clerk of the course, David Murtagh, to deem the circuit satisfactory for racing.

The delayed start forced the stewards to reduce the number of laps in each race. It proved a wise decision. Despite a couple of minor incidents, the 11-race programme ran like clockwork.

The Skerries 100 is the biggest annual sporting event in north County Dublin, drawing in excess of 20,000 spectators, and Northern fans, as ever, attended in huge numbers.

They don't just come for the day; Skerries is a weekend away for most. Bed and breakfast accommodation is booked solid and restaurants, fast-food outlets and pubs do a roaring trade.

Geoffrey McElvogue, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, wouldn't miss Skerries. "Skerries has a great motorcycle racing tradition, and the seaside location makes it a nice place to visit. There are plenty of Welsh and English accents around too," he says.

Also visiting this year was Frank Fox, originally from Sheffield, but living in the Isle of Man for over 30 years. He had a formidable racing record: winner of the Junior Manx Grand Prix in 1953, he was one of the leading British riders of the 1950s and 1960s.

"Skerries brings back many happy memories. I rode here in 1954, finishing second behind Dubliner Louis Carter in the 500cc race. I'm proud to say I set a lap record that day which stood for five years," he recalls.

Saturday's dismal weather may have broken a long-standing record, but it didn't seem to unduly bother the competitors.

Lap speeds were, understandably, lower, but Ballymoney's Adrian Archibald (Honda) had a terrific double, winning the Supersport 600 race and the Des D'Arcy Motors Grand Final. Nigel John kept the big Welsh contingent happy with a fine 125cc victory, and local rider Martin Finnegan, from Lusk, took third in the 250cc race behind hard-charging Ulster men Darren Lindsay and Denis McCullough.