Arthur & Mac Kierans have created history by becoming the first crew to win successive overall titles in the Border Rally Championship. The Monaghan father and son team have been the dominant force in class 12 for the past two years. This year, three class wins and one 2nd place finish proved enough for them to retain the title. At the Sligo Pallets Border Championship awards ceremony in the Sligo Park Hotel on Saturday night last, Arthur and Mac thanked everybody who made it possible for them to retain their title this year. The Monaghan pair were pushed all the way as Class 9 frontrunner Barry McGill from Donegal, was always in close contention and finished as the 2nd overall driver after a strong run of results in his class. Paddy McCrudden finished as 2nd overall navigator after a consistent season in class 2 with his driver, Adrian Cannon. Pakie Duffy’s consistency in class 3 paid off as he finished 3rd overall driver, whilst Championship sponsor Andrew Mullen finished 1st in class 4 and navigator Elaine Doherty was the 3rd overall navigator. It was a double celebration for Arthur as he recently won 1st overall navigator in this years Valvoline Irish Forestry Championship with driver Colin Britton who finished 2nd overall.
There were many local class winners in this years championship and a full report on this years championship and class award recipients can be viewed in an extensive report, compiled by championship PRO Evin Hughes on Monaghan website http://www.monaghanmotorclub.net. Well done to all local’s who participated in this years championship and thankfully it was announced at the awards ceremony that Sligo Pallets will continue their sponsorship for another 3 year term.
Drumlin Navigation Trial
All roads lead to Latton GFC centre this Saturday night as Monaghan Motor Club host their annual Drumlin night navigation trial. CoC for the event is Sean McCaffery and as always help is badly needed so all intending marshals are requested to be in Latton for 8.00pm latest. This years drumlin is the third counting round of the national night navigation championship following rounds in Birr and Cork. It is also the opening round of the Squealing Pig Border navigation championship. However, and maybe more importantly for some it is the final counting round of this years club traders championship and Gary Nesbitt club navigation championship.
Andy Mackarel has a 16 point lead in the traders championship but can still be mathematically caught by either Daniel McKenna or Damian Connolly. For this to happen Andy would have to have a non-finish and both contenders would need to win the drumlin. Maybe a long shot but in this infamous Drumlin event, anything can happen. The Gary Nesbitt club navigation championship is a much closer affair however with a number of contenders still in with a big shout. Andy Mackarel has a 12 point lead over Donegal’s Gary McElhinney with Michael Carbin, Sean McKenna and Michael Tynan all in with an outside chance should Andy fail to finish. The navigators section is much tighter as Damian Connolly has a two point lead over Liam Higgins and both navigators are sure to be contending for the overall event win so all is to play for.
The class awards are also far from decided with no more than 3 points separating any of the top three in any class from expert to beginners. Saturday night is surely not going to be for the faint hearted as Sean McCaffery and his team have laid on a challenging 110 mile route with route card 1 published at 7pm and route card two at 8pm with first car away at 9.30pm. Keep an eye on club website for further information and full report next week.
Cork Startrek Navigation Trial
Two Monaghan crews made the long journey South to contest the Cork startrek navigation trial on Saturday night last with mixed fortunes. Richard Cassidy and Paul Phelans night was over, almost before it began with a broken drive as early as the first time point. Not for the first time Richards determination saw him get a new drive shaft fitted on the roadside and they continued with the event having only dropped five time points. This ultimately cost them dearly at the finish as they finished 20th overall. Martin Tynan and Fintan Clerkin had better luck however and finished in 6th overall as they continued their good start to this years national navigation championship.
The event was won by Cork natives Dermot Whelton and Barry O’Sullivan with David Beamish and Daire Hayes in second. 3rd overall also stayed within Cork as Johnny Keneally and Ken Carmody had a 2 penalty win from Gerard O’Connell and Denis O’Donovan.
Donegal Navigation Trial
Monaghan novice navigator Fintan Clerkin made a very worthwhile trip to Donegal recently as he navigated Donegal man Paul Reid to 1st overall in Donegal’s Lottie Reid navigation trial. This tough event saw 18 starters and it was Reid/Clerkin who managed to figure out the many plot and bash sections first to take a 3penalty win from Dermot McGroarty and Eamon Doherty. Paul Doherty and Ciaran Coyle were 3rd ahead of Monaghan October navigation winners Gary McElhinney and Damian Connolly. Macartan Kierans also made the trip Northwest worthwhile with a novice class win, navigating for Donegal driver James Greenan.
Glens of Antrim Forestry Rally
Gary Jennings is the new Valvoline Forestry Rally Champion after he finished ninth overall (and fifth of the Valvoline registered crews) on the recent Glens of Antrim Rally. However this doesn’t tell the full story. Arthur Kierans has made it a year to remember as he has been crowned champion forestry navigator following a successful year in the navigator’s seat with Colin Britton. Prior to this event it was a 4-way tussle for the championship although Jenning’s did hold the upper hand when dropped rounds were taken into account. Vincent & Jp McAree’s day was short lived with an off road excursion to end their title hope’s on the first stage. Vincent and Jp’s good overall results through the early rounds meant they had still done enough to finish 3rd on this years Valvoline Forestry championship. Stephen and Suzanne Wrights consistent year paid off when they finished fourth on the day and fourth in this years championship after some great results. Paul Sheridan won class 6 in this years championship along with driver Enda McNulty after finishing 6th overall in this event. Colin Britton and Arthur Kierans finished seventh on the day which consolidated his 2nd overall in this years championship but with Gary Jennings not having a regular navigator throughout the series, Arthur Kierans was promoted to 1st overall navigator. A tremendous feat considering he also lifted the 2012 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship title.
The event was won by NI rally champion Derek Mc Garrity in a Subaru S14 WRC. Second place was claimed by Martin Cairns in a Subaru WRC ahead of the Mini WRC of Derek Mc Geehan with Monaghans Damian Connolly on the notes. Josh Moffatt and Jason McKenna finished a tremendous 7th overall and won the battle of the Moffatts ahead of Sam and James O’Reilly who finished 11th. David Smith and Austin Hamill got their EVO back on all fours and finished 41st overall. This event also saw the return of Robert Moffatt to the rally scene in an EVO 9. Robert along with Ciaran McPhillips on the notes had a troubled day but set some credible times through the early stages.
Gerry McNamara Award
This perpetual cup will be awarded at Monaghan Motor Clubs annual awards ceremony in the Hillgrove Hotel on Saturday 1st December. All club members are urged to nominate a person for the Gerry MacNamara Memorial Award for 2012. The award is presented to a person who consistently works for the club or for motorsport in general. Competitors are eligible for the award but it will not be presented for event results. We would encourage you all to contribute by recognising those who work for the good of the club. Please send your nomination with your reason for the nomination to Malcolm Totten before Friday 16th November. Malcolm can be contacted at: totten@eircom.net
County Monaghan Motor Club 