Clontibret’s Sam Moffett and navigator James O’Reilly were the best placed Monaghan crew on the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship based in Abbeyleix on Sunday last 27th February. The pair had an encouraging run in their Evo 4 to finish 5th overall and 2nd in the Group N category. Last year’s Group N champion Shane Maguire had to settle for 3rd in class and 9th overall in his Subaru. Dunlop championship regular Niall Maguire was off the pace on this rally and a major time loss on the last stage relegated him to a lowly 18th overall in his WRC Subaru.
It was a much more positive outcome for Conor Foley and Damien McKenna, who drove their Mk1 Escort to a memorable win in class 10. David Moffett also recorded a win in the Junior category in his Starlet. Non-finishers were Maurice Moffett (class 13 Starlet) and Gerard McQuaid/Gareth Quinlan (class 11 Escort). The rally was won by Tim McNulty who had a comfortable margin of 59 secs over current National champion Melvyn Evans, both driving WRC Subarus.
ROUND 1 DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP TOP TEN:
1 Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 74m 02s,
2 Melvyn Evans/Patrick Walsh (Impreza WRC) 75m 01s,
3 Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery (Impreza Gp N) 77m 12s,
4 Steve Simpson/Frank Curtin (Impreza WRC) 77m 39s,
5 Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 78m 13s,
6 Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Renault Clio) 78m 50s,
7 Liam McCarthy/Denis O’Mahony (Corolla WRC) 78m 52s,
8 Wesley Patterson/Martin McGarrity (Escort) 78m 58s,
9 Shane Maguire/Charlie McEnery (Impreza Gp N) 79m 16s,
10 Ian Barrett/Eoin O’Flaherty (Impreza Gp N) 79m 27s.
Omagh MC Fivemiletown Spring Rally
A host of Monaghan Motor Club members made the short journey North on Saturday to Fivemiletown for Omagh Motor Club,s annual Spring Forestry Rally. This popular and compact route takes in three short but challenging stages between the Fivemiletown and Knockatallan area with a further stage coming close to the border with Clones and Carnrock. First car on the road and last year’s winner Ian Cochrane ended his hopes of back to back wins on the 2nd stage when he slid his Evo 9 on its side into a drain on a fast left hand corner. This paved the way for Donegal man Donagh Kelly to take victory in his EVO 9 ahead of Strabane’s Martin Cairns in his Subaru S9 WRC with Mark Donnelly and Martin Brady taking 3rd on the podium also in an Evo 9. Frank Kelly won the hotly contested 2 wheel drive category ahead of local man Shane McGirr while their main rival Adrian Hetherington crashed out heavily on the first stage, thankfully both crew members were unharmed.
Best of the locals were Stephen Wright and Ciaran Geaney who finished a magnificent 8th overall and 2nd in class on what was Stephens’s first real gravel outing in his new EVO 6. Stephen reported an enjoyable day, gaining confidence with every mile. Next up were Michael and Ciaran Tynan in their EVO 5, finishing 14th overall, a puncture on stage 6 their biggest concern of the day. Emmet Sherry managed a late call up to navigate for new kid on the block Amy Cox in her G3 as the 19 year old raised many eyebrows to finish an incredible 21st overall on her first ever forestry event. Cootehill men Mervyn Wedlock and Damian McCabe brought their immaculate G3 to the sticks for the first time and set some good times finishing 30th overall. The unusual partnership of Andy Mackarel with Raymond Conlon on the notes were next up in Andy’s equally unusual 3ltr V6 rear wheel drive Opel Calibra finishing 37th overall and content with getting this powerful machine to the finish ramp without any major issue. Johnny McKenna navigated Donegal’s Paddy Walker to 41st overall and 4th in class in a Peugeot.
Other travelling Monaghan men who hadn’t as much luck include Michael Conlon and Aidan Boyle in the black MC Blinds Escort who suffered electrical problems while David Moffett and Andrew Speares had back axle trouble in their Starlet. Suzanne Wright was in the passengers seat with Barry Greer in an EVO 4 but their day out was short lived with a blown turbo on the first stage.
Monaghan Night Navigation Trial
This Saturday night 5th March sees the penultimate round of both the Squealing Pig Border and National night navigation championships hosted by Monaghan Motor Club. CoC for the event is Donal McArdle with St Mellans GAA club, Truagh as the venue. Route card 1 is out at 6.30 with first car due to leave at 09.01pm. As always marshals are required and should assemble at the venue no later than 8.00pm.
Autotest
The recently postponed Monaghan Motor Club autotest has been re-scheduled for Sunday 3rd April at Wrights Quarry, Swann’s Cross.
County Monaghan Motor Club 