County Monaghan Motor Club

Birr MC Navigation Trial ends in a Tie

Birr Motor Club’s night navigation trial on Saturday night last signalled the start of this years National night navigation championship. Running from the Co. Tipperary town of Nenagh and with Eoin Longworth as CoC it was sure to be a challenging event. Although the first half was to be cut short at the last minute it was still a good event by all accounts. At the finish it ended in a tie as both expert crews of Joe/Greg Shinnors and Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston finished on 1 penalty which they both dropped at the same time point in a similar spec car! 3rd overall also was a tie-breaker but was separated by semi-experts over expert ruling and went to the midlands crews of Pakie Duffy and Nigel McCloughry.

There were three Monaghan crews who made the trip to Tipp with Richard Cassidy driving the veteran navigation man Paul Phelan to 4th overall and winning the expert class award on the night. Martin Tynan and Fintan Clerkin continued their good start to the year with 6th overall and 2nd in novice class, just 1 penalty off the class win. Sean McKenna and Gary Farrelly finished up in 3rd semi-expert. Next round is Monaghan’s Drumlin Navigation Trial on 10th November and CoC Sean McCaffery requests as much help as possible on the night and would urge all marshal’s available to contact him or any committee member asap.

 

BIRR  MC NAVIGATION TRIAL TOP 10

1 (tie) Joe Shinnors Jnr/Greg Shinnors (Subaru Impreza) & Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza) 1 mark,

3 Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry (Subaru Impreza) 5m,

4 Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan (Vauxhall Vectra) 5m,

5 David Forde/Sean Henehan (Subaru Legacy) 7m,

6 Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 8m,

7 Trevor O’Callaghan/Iarla McCarthy (Vauxhall Vectra) 11m,

8 David Beamish/Daire Hayes (Toyota Carina) 11m,

9 Andrew Stewart/Robert Howard (Peugeot 205) 12m,

10 Sean Daly/Niall Murphy (BMW 318) 19m,

 

Glens of Antrim Rally

Best of luck to all local travelling competitors on this weekends Glens of Antrim Rally which is the final round of this years Valvoline Forestry Rally Championship. With one round to go its all to play for as three of the top four crews have Monaghan connections. As things stand, Stephen and Suzanne Wright are top of the leader board with Arthur Kierans who is navigating for Colin Britton in 2nd. Vincent and JP McAree are in 3rd overall with one round to go. The in-form Gary Jennings is in 4th at present but following this weekends event and taking dropped scores into account its very tight and all is to play for in the Antrim Forests.

 

Dates to Remember

Busy few weeks coming up in local rally circles so just a few dates to keep in mind. Saturday 3rd November, Sligo Pallets Border Rally prize giving in Sligo Park Hotel. Saturday 3rd November, Valvoline Forestry Championship prize giving in Clonmel Park Hotel. Saturday 10th November, Monaghan MC Drumlin Night Navigation Trial in Latton. Saturday 17th November, Dunlop National Rally Championship prize giving in Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone. Saturday 24th November, Midlands MC Night Navigation Trial in Drumlish. Saturday 1st December, Monaghan Motor Clubs Annual Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony in Hillgrove Hotel.

 

Sympathy

Monaghan Motor Club wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the Conlon family, Castleblaney on the passing of Mickey Conlons (MC Blinds) father, Michael senior.