Despite the adverse conditions throughout the country, the annual Monaghan Motor Club Dinner Dance and Presentation of Awards went ahead as planned on Saturday night last with over 100 people attending. The main event of the evening was the presentation of the Traders Trophy to the overall club champion for 2010, Andy Mackarel. The competition for this prestigious award is based on total points scored for overall placings in all club events throughout the year. These include autotesting, navigation trials, autocrossing and stages rallying. Andy has now won this award on 9 occasions, which is a club record.

A special feature of the evening was the presentation of the Gerry MacNamara Memorial Award. This perpetual cup will be awarded annually to the person who has made the most outstanding contribution to the club. It was fitting then that the inaugural award should go to Ronnie Hawe. As the Club Chairman Paul Hughes put it: “To say that the award was well-merited by Ronnie is the ultimate understatement”. The club was honoured to have Gerry’s son Darra present to make the presentation.

Andy Mackarel and Liam Higgins were presented with the Gary Nesbitt Memorial Award as navigation champions. The winners of the remaining perpetual awards were as follows:

Perpetual Cups for Stages Rally

Maguire International Cup: (best club finisher)    Niall Maguire            Enda Sherry

Keenan Stainless Steel Cup: (best club 2.4ltr)        Gary McPhillips          Mark Tierney
Squealing Pig Cup: (best club 2ltr)                            Mac McKenna           John Loughran
JG Kelly Supplies: (best club 1.6ltr)                        Jim McKenna              Thomas Treanor
CombiLift Cup: (best Club Junior)                           Darren McKenna      Nicola McKenna

Ladies Award:                                               Janice Mackarel
(Highest Placed Lady in Traders Classification)                            
Novice Navigator:                                         Barry Garvey
(Best placed Navigator in Novice Class of Club Championship)           
George Cannon Cup:                                   Michael Tynan / Ciaran Tynan
(Best placed Monaghan Residents in Drumlin / not overall winners):                  
Premier Award:                                            Arthur Kierans / Ashley McAdoo
(Highest placed club finishers in Drumlin):          

Gary Nesbitt Navigation Club Championship

Beginner:
5th        Aaron Duffy               Dessie Keenan
4th        Eoghan Corr                Peter Deery
3rd        Brendan Ward                        Paul Treanor
2nd        Christopher Fanning               Sean Kelly
1st        Martin McGuigan                   Brendan Treanor

Novice:
5th        James McCarvile                     John Hetherington
4th        Gerry Cassidy                         Fintan Clerkin
3rd        Darren Babington                   Paul Sheridan
2nd        Sean McKenna                        Garry Farrelly
1st        Kevin Keenan                         Barry Garvey

Semi-Expert:
3rd        N/A                                         Hugh Kelly
2nd        Declan Tynan                          Andrew Grennan
1st        Michael Carbin                        Evin Hughes

Expert:
3rd        Trevor Farrell                          Noel Hall
2nd        Arthur Kierans                        Ashley McAdoo
1st        Michael Tynan                        Ciaran Tynan