Billy Kerr on the cover of ‘The Comic’ in 1983
The death has taken place in Co Antrim of one of the best known riders in Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s, Billy Kerr.
A huge name in the sport both sides of the border, Billy passed away in Antrim Area Hospital yesterday, Tuesday. He was aged 67 years.
Ballymena Road Club confirmed the sad news in a statement today, saying all of its members and officials had been greatly saddened to hear of Billy’s death.
“During his time as a competitive cyclist he represented Ballymena Road Club and Northern Ireland and brought huge success not only to the club but the Borough as a whole,” the club said.
It extended its deepest sympathy and condolences to his family circle at this sad time.
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Kerr was a winner of some fantastic races in his day and in his pomp in the late 1970s and early 1980s there were few who could match him. A formidable rider against the watch, he was also a renowned road racer where his biggest wins came.
He was part of the Irish road race team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, in a line-up that included Stephen Roche and Tony Lally.
He was a somewhat unusual rider in that he hit the absolute peak of his powers when he was into his 30s. But once he got going on the road he was unstoppable.
In 1978 he took victory in the Tour of the North and also won the prestigious Shay Elliott Memorial.
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In 1979 he defended his overall title in the Tour of the North and immediately after winning that he also won the iconic but now defunct Sealink International.
In 1980 he secured his place on the Olympic team and also took overall victory in the Rás Tailteann as well as winning stage 8 of that race. He also rode the three-week Milk Race in Britain that year, going very close to a stage win on stage 6 into Llandudno when he was second.
In 1981 he claimed the Tour of Ireland overall and also the Tour of Ulster again. The following year in the Rás he took stage 1 and stage 8 and that season also claimed the Tour of Ireland and the National Road Race title, with another overall victory coming in 1983 in the Tour of Ulster.
He represented Northern Ireland at two Commonwealth Games – Edmonton in 1978 and Brisbane in 1982.
His list of wins are simply too numerous to mention but he was Northern Irish and All Ireland TT champion in all three distances; 25 miles, 50 miles and 100 miles.
We will bring you news of funeral arrangements when we have them.
Billy Kerr RIP (1945-2012)
Billy Kerr (Photo: J Rafferty)
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