Billy Kerr - Memories & Messages

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Ballymena's cycling community are mourning the death of  Billy Kerr, described as "one of the best cyclists in his day”.
Billy passed away on Tuesday 14th August. He was 67.
The popular cyclist was renowned across Ireland for his prowess in the saddle.
He represented Northern Ireland at two Commonwealth Games and Ireland in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.
Mr Kerr’s talent shot the name of Ballymena Road Club to the forefront of amateur cycling after back-to-back successes in the prestigious Tour of the North race in 1978 and 1979. Immediately after his second victory he won the 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
 
 

It is with sadness to read of the death of Billy,a truly great person and rider.
I raced with Sam in the 50's but not Billy. He came along later and even stronger that Sam.
Please pass on my condolences' to the family.
Thank You
Ian Moore
Northern C.C.
 
Sorry to hear the sad news about Billy
 Stephen Roche
 
King Billy (Billy Kerr)....The World of Cycling has lost a Legend. Billy lost the last big battle and will be greatly missed.... 1945 - 2012.
See you in the morning Billy from an old team mate and a very good friend.
Maurice McAllister
Ballymoney R.C.
 
Sean would like to have been able to attend Billy's funeral today and paid his respects but he is abroad working on the Tour of Spain we will certainly have him in our minds and that he now may rest in peace the great Billy Kerr
Sean and Linda Kelly
 
Extremely sad to hear  of the passing of billy Kerr , a man respected by generations from one end of the island to the other there are not many races record books that do not have his name as a winner in the past , RIP.
Philip Lavery
 
 
Billy Kerr - May you Rest In Peace. The memories from your cycling buddies will live on for those of us that didnt get to see you. Condolences to the Family.
Duffin Transport Team
 
Sorry to hear this news, he was a legend on a bike. I remember his words of encouragement at training weekends, Always encouraging the youngsters.
Aiden Hegarty
 
 
So sad, a true legend. We all have our special memories of him. Just cant believe he is gone.
Carol Mark
 
Some man a true legend .. Rip
Callum Anthony Gough
 
 
RIP Billy Kerr, sad to hear the news, the passing of a great cyclist.
Ryan Bankhead
 
One of the best in Ireland. RIP Billy!
Alan Hall
 
 
Very Sad! Gentle Giant True Legend! RIP Billy Kerr
Robert Curry
 
Sad day for Ulster Cycling.
Colin Loughery
 
Still can't take it in, what a legend & character he was. He will be truly missed.
Caroline Fletcher
 
 
An animal on the bike, RIP Billy.
Brian Hammond
 
 
Very sad to hear this. He was a true legend. I rode with and against him alot in the early '80's and he was looked up to and respected by everyone. RIP Billy Kerr.
David Gardiner
 
 
 Just heard the sad news of Billy Kerr's passing. I knew him from road racing and time trialling in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Always remember him telling me about his stage win in the 1980 Milk Race where he took 5 mins out of the race leader Sergei Sukhoruchenkov - delivered with Billy's usual humour. I remember Billy from many events. He was a great ambassador for Ireland and the Ballymena Road Club. He could always sum things up in a humorous way.  His comments about his stage win in the Milk Race (and the future 1980 Olympic Road Race Champion)  and his comments about riding in the Worlds have stayed with me all these years.  Funny, but honest and full of insight. They also carried weight, as they were made by a rider you knew and respected.  I don't think we'll see his likes again.
 One of many good memories of a great cyclist. He will be sadly missed
Chris Aspinwall(ex Kings Moss)
 
 
Billy was one of the last of the hard men. I remembered some of the craic with him, unfortunately we didn't race against each other but I think his record of wins says a lot about how hard a man he was. I wish to offer my sincere sympathy.
Joe Smyth
 
 
No matter where you were, Majorca, Italy or West of Ireland, when people saw the BRC jersey they immediately asked about Billy and wanted to pass on their regards.
Hazel Hughes
 
Iwould tender my sincere condolences to the membership of Ballymena Road Club and the family of the late Billy Kerr on his untimely death.
Back in the 70s / 80s Billy and I were very close as I travelled with him many times both as a team mechanic and team manager on Northern Ireland and Irish teams. We travelled together from his winning ride in the Tour of the North to England where I was one of the support staff on his fabulous back to back wins in the Tour of the North and Sealink International. It was a most momentous 10 days. I always have admired Billy as a rider and  I feel that he was one of the best road riders to come out of Ireland.
Jack Watson
 
I was hoping to attend Billy’s funeral but just couldn’t manage. Would it be possible for you to provide me with his family’s  address inorder that I can write to them and pass on my condolences? In the meantime however, I would like to say that I admired Billy both as a person and a competitor. It was a privilege to race alongside him in the Tour of Ireland,the RAS, The Milk Race, The Sealink International and the Brisbane  Commonwealth Games and witness how he took the race to you, always driving, driving with incredible bravery and courage; so much so, I remember standing back  in awe during a race and asking myself, who is this guy.  There was no limit to how  much he could suffer. Indeed, his prowess and name was even known behind the iron curtain. Every rider of my era has a story to tell about Billy Kerr and such is his
immense stature that everyone holds him in the highest possible regard. One  of my favourite stories is of the time an Irish team, training in Belgium, came across a Belgian, pro team; a habble started, at the finish, only 2riders were left- Billy and one of the  pros. There was something special about Billy Kerr, something utterly genuine and deeply honest. He made a huge impression on me. It will be some time before  we see the likes of a Billy Kerr again.
Jamie Mc Gahan  

Billy was one of Irelands greatest amateurs ,will be sadly missed. R I P Billy.
Carol Mark
 
It was very sad to hear about Billy. I remember him standing holding my saddle at the northern ireland championship when I was under 14s saying to me "GET STUCK IN YOUNG FELLA" A true legend in the club and I'm sure will be sadly missed. I remember my uncle Charlie saying to my dad when i was a boy "that boy could be the next Billy Kerr".
Mal Rodgers Nashville USA(Ex BRC)
 
I listened to my brother Alan talk about Billy as one of the main rivals to beat.  Billy took the yellow jersey from Alan in 1980 An Ras Tailteann.  I was Billy's teammate in the 1982 Tour of Ireland, a race Billy won, he kindly gave me one of his yellow jerseys from that tour, which I have treasured to this day. Condolences to Billy's family on this sad week.  I regretted so much I could not attend Billy's funeral.  I would have loved to have met his family. Someday I will travel up to Billy's grave and say a formal goodbye.  Billy was the name that was mentioned a lot in my house growing up in North Dublin.  He was the benchmark used by my father when kids were losing patience on their cycling success, my father JJ, would say look at Billy Kerr, success comes with long hard work.  I remember sharing the same hotel room with Billy during 1982 Tour of Ireland and how professional he was.

After Tour of Ireland 82, I represented Ireland in 1983 and had two 4th places on stages in Tour of Israel, Billy was the only cyclist to acknowledge this that year with kind words before the start of a domestic race. 
John McCormack (Dublin EagleCC)
 
 Sorry to hear the bad news about Billy.
 Stephen Roche
 
 
It is with deep sadness that i heard about Billy's death during the week. One of the greats. R.I.P.
Sean Kelly