County Monaghan Motor Club

Local knowledge seems to have paid off once again as Midland Motor Club men Chris Kelly and Sam Johnston took their third midlands navigation win in a row on Saturday night last. CoC Michael Reilly and his team set out a compact and very demanding 80 mile route with both competitors and cars tested to the max. The midlands men had a 17 penalty winning margin from fellow club men Packie and Colin Duffy with veteran navigation men Andy Mackarel and Liam Higgins 3^rd.

            With weather conditions a far cry from the snow and ice of last year’s trial in the same area, confidence was high amongst the 32 strong entry, which departed the “Marquee in Drumlish” at 9.01pm.  Time points 3, 4 and 5 saw the same lanes traversed twice with what can only be described as the narrowest entrance to a cow shed ever ensuring vital time loss for all crews. Kelly and Johnston took the early lead by only dropping 3 through this section and a further 2 at tp8 but Packie and Colin Duffy took over a the top at tp12. The Duffy’s held the lead up until tp26 where they found themselves stuck and required tractor assistance to get back on solid ground. Andy and Liam were consistent throughout the night and were forced to drop time points, like everyone else but their persistence paid off with 3^rd over-all and an expert class win. The ever competitive Michael Carbin and Evin Hughes were in 4^th and second expert ahead of the ever trying Trevor Farrell and Noel Hall. Border championship leaders prior to this event were Garreth Beagan and Stephen Thornton but they had to settle for 4^th expert and 9^th over-all on this tough event. Michael and Ciaran Tynan were forced to drop 12 time points through the middle part of the event after their Subaru beached on a grassy lane and required the help of back markers to get back on the road, eventually finishing 5^th expert.

With Chris and Sam taking the over-all win, Colin and Packie Duffy lifted the semi-expert class award. Damian Treanor and Jonathan McGovern continued their good form of late to take 2^nd in semi and 10^th over-all ahead of Sean McKenna and Gary Farrelly, both of these crews loosing time coming to the aid of the stricken Tynan’s. The novice class was a much closer affair with Arthur and Mac Kierans taking a slender win and 5^th over-all ahead of Ciaran McElroy and Maudabawn man Damien McCabe. Stephen Wright once again teamed up with Cork woman Muireann Hayes and battled the elements to take a fine 3^rd in novice class and 8^th over-all.

On what was probably a night to forget for any beginner, Cootehill’s Gerry and Aaron McIntyre led the field home with their first class win ahead of Jeremy O’Connor and Garry Hughes with midlands men Sean Mullervy and Seamus McTiegue 3^rd.

That’s midlands done and dusted for another season and it’s off to Donegal next weekend for the 5^th round of this popular Squealing Pig Border Navigation championship.

Midlands Motor Club Navigation Top 12

1 Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza) 67 marks

2 Packie Duffy/Colin Duffy (Subaru Impreza) 84m

3 Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Subaru Impreza) 112m

4 Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 164m

5 Arthur Kierans/Macartan Kierans (Subaru Impreza) 171m

6 Ciaran McElroy/Damien McCabe (Subaru Impreza) 179m

7 Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 195m

8 Stephen Wright/Muireann Hayes (Subaru Impreza) 201m

9 Garreth Beagan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 279m

10 Damien Treanor/Jonathan McGovern (Subaru Impreza) 280m

11 Karl Reid/Ciaran Geaney (Subaru Legacy) 285m

12 Francis Keenan/Martin Swinburne (Subaru Impreza) 288m

Monaghan Motor Club Autotest

Sunday next sees Monaghan Motor Club host their annual Autotest. This is a counting round of the Hewison Trophy as well as the 2^nd round of the club trader’s championship. Proceedings will get under way with sign-on from 11 o’clock and tests starting at 11.30 sharp. Prize giving will follow straight after the event in Aghabog GAA complex. CoC Brendan Flynn would ask that any marshals available on the day to please make contact with him as soon as possible. Once again the venue for this years auto test is Wrights Quarry at Swanns Cross and the event is also kindly sponsored by the Northern Standard. Regs and entry forms are available on the club website at www.monaghanmotorclub.net All club members are reminded that this is a counting round of the Traders club championship and you must be registered prior to the event to get points. So why not come along and enjoy the spectacle of seeing the hewison trophy competitors handbrake their purpose built specials through the tight tests, as well as have a laugh at our club members pretend they know what there at in all sorts of modified cars.

Donegal Motor Club Navigation Trial

All roads lead to Churchill, Co. Donegal this Saturday night for round 5 of the Squealing Pig Border navigation championship. CoC James Greenan and his team have been hard at work planning a 110 mile route, which is sure to test both man and machine. With this years championship still wide open and 3 rounds remaining its sure to be competitive from the off, with the local Donegal men certain to be in contention amongst the border championship front runners. Full report next week.

Today FM Shave or Dye Charity

Club member Adrian Flynn is taking part in this year’s Today FM backed shave or dye charity event. Proceeds of this fundraiser go towards the Irish Cancer Society. If you would like to help Adrian raise funds for this worthy cause just log onto mycharity.ie and click the sponsor a friend link.