Following the decision by the 2300 Club not to run the Tour of Mull Rally in 2010, a the public meeting in Craignure last night (15th March) established a Steering Group to coordinate efforts by islanders to see an event run this year.
Argyll’s MSP, Jim Mather, who is also Minister for Enterprise and Tourism – both relevant to this situation, has welcomed the commitment of the Mull community to safeguard the future of the rally, which may be called the Isle of Mull Rally and will have the energetic Mull Car Club (MCC) at its heart.
In a statement which seemed to consign the 2300 Club to history and which was light on recognition of the wealth of experience, opportunity, promotion, social and economic benefit the Club has voluntarily brought to Mull over 40 years, Mr Mather says: ‘I am delighted to learn that moves are under way to ensure that the future of the prestigious Isle of Mull Rally event is safeguarded.
‘This event has been run for many years by the 2300 Club but they had indicated that they were unwilling to continue to run the Rally because of adverse criticism and disruption that they had encountered at last year’s event.
‘The general reaction to this from the Mull community has been very positive.
‘Support for the continuation of the event is widely held across the community and it is seen to be not just an important date in the Rally calendar but a vital boost to the economy of the island at the end of the traditional tourist season.
‘Around 3,000 people, competitors, spectators and supporters flock to Mull and the benefits to the local economy are self evident.
‘I know that a busy and constructive meeting was held in the Craignure Hall on Monday and a Steering Group has been set up to co-ordinate efforts to ensure that the event takes place this year.
‘I sincerely hope that this will prove successful and I commend the constructive efforts of the people of Mull for their quick and effective response to the threat that hung over their Rally’.
While this statement is rightly supportive of Mull, it ignores the need for the island to reflect on the spectrum of behaviours which brought about the loss for 2010 of the genuinely legendary Tour of Mull Rally.
It may well be that this lesson has indeed been learned – and it is to be hoped that it has. Airbrushing history to produce a sanitised version of events has never, in history itself, succeeded other than temporarily.
Newsroom-you really should concentrate more on the fact that the people of Mull have decided to run a rally this year, than trying to apportion blame to them for the loss of the 2300 club’s support. Try reading Neil Molyneux’s own comments on this. At which point does he blame the problem on the folk of Mull? In fact he goes on to say that the 2300 club will offer their support to whoever decides to run the Rally this year. Seems it’s only people like yourself who want to keep blaming this on Mull folk.
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For Tempres: To set the record straight, we are not apportioning blame. We are recording the value of the real and long-standing service to Mull by the 2300 Club.
We are delighted by the energetic response by the island to the catastrophe of losing the event.
But this loss was not born of nothing. For Mull to gloss over its responsibilities in the matter is dishonest and will not allow the lessons to be learned to come to the positive fruition they offer.
The 2300 Club’s Press Release announcing their decision and the reasons for it; and the subsequent Question and Answer session they published on the matter on their website – all in the public domain and all referenced and linked by us – are quite specific on the range of reasons that underlay the cancellation.
Self-congratulation by the island in such circumstances is not appropriate, where the energetic attack on a recovery plan most certainly is.
We feel that, given the hurt felt by the Club, the sheer scale of the spiritual generosity of the 2300 Club in making the offer Neil Molyneaux has given to help in any way they can, is remarkable. It is also testament to the enduring love of Mull by the 2300 Club and by the Molyneaux family who began it all 40 years ago.
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Newsroom-you obviously have your own agenda, and nowhere does it include any generosity towards the people of Mull. In fact your opinion shows a marked incline towards support in any circumstances for the 2300 club, and your reporting is guilty of extreme bias towards them. The above article smacks of bitterness towards Mull folk, and sheer ennui that they have actually had the temerity to organise a rally all by themselves. It’s a real shame that they just didn’t back down and admit defeat, isn’t it? I’m sure, again, that you would have lost no time in crowing about that. Would you like to beaticise the Molyneuxs? The Pope’s here soon, I’m sure he’d hear you out!
That would be just as cockeyed as your view on this whole debacle.
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I totally agree with tempres, it seems newsroom is just out to cause trouble, and make sure this web site keeps getting attention, I for one had never heard of “for argyll” looks like this rally story was just what they needed to get themselves noticed ! They may well be “for argyll” but news room is definatley “against mull”. Good luck to the Mull car club, and all who are getting involved to keep the rally going.
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So what’s the plan then guys? Are you going for the full rally or something related? Can you do it? Have you got the legs on the ground?
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I think newsroom actually has a point. The problems which have caused the cancellation of this year’s rally have not been dealt with yet, though I hope and trust that efforts will be ongoing in the background in this respect. These are safety issues so any organisers would ignore them at their peril. I hope that they will be dealt with as I hope the 2300 club will decide and be able to organise the Tour of Mull rally in 2011 and beyond.
Iain
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