Jonathan Rea honoured with Freedom of Borough of Mid and East Antrim Council

Six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea has been conferred with the Freedom of the Borough of Mid and East Antrim Council.
Dr Jonathan Rea MBE and the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston.Dr Jonathan Rea MBE and the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston.
Dr Jonathan Rea MBE and the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston.

The Northern Ireland rider attended a special ceremony in the Mayor’s Parlour in Larne Town Hall on Thursday, where only a limited number of people were permitted due to Covid-19 guidelines.

Rea, who was also made a freeman of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in 2019, is the most successful World Superbike rider in history.

The 34-year-old is chasing a record seventh successive crown in 2021, when he is also on the cusp of a landmark 100th career victory in the championship.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Peter Johnston said: “The Freedom of the Borough is the highest accolade that Council can award and I am delighted to have presented it to World Superbike Champion Dr Jonathan Rea MBE

“Jonathan’s career to date has been nothing short of incredible. He is one of the greatest sports people our country has ever produced.

“A past pupil of Larne Grammar School, Dr Rea has won the Superbike World Championship a record six times. He is the first rider in the history of the Championship to achieve six world titles consecutively from 2015 until 2020.

“The word legend is often over-used, but in Jonathan, we in Mid and East Antrim, have someone who is truly fitting of that description.

“He is a wonderful ambassador for our area and an inspiration to so many throughout Northern Ireland, and around the world.”

To mark the occasion, a ‘perpetual’ bursary has been launched by the Council in Rea’s name, with the aim of ‘providing additional support to sporting individuals within the Borough who will act as effective ambassadors for Mid and East Antrim in their chosen sporting activity’, with funding up to £2,000 per individual.

Cllr Johnston added: “While it is customary to have an exchange of gifts at Freedom events, Jonathan asked that rather than presenting him with a gift, to explore options which would assist individuals within our Borough who excel in individual sports so that they can enhance their sporting development.

“This bursary is a fitting tribute to Dr Jonathan Rea and we thank him for this lasting legacy which will benefit many recipients from our Borough.”

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