Locals Fair Best in Midlands
Midlands Motor Club played host to the first of their two navigation trials for this season on Saturday night last. Expert crew of Sam Johnston and Colin Duffy were the CoC’s and laid on a challenging, yet enjoyable route through the Leitrim countryside surrounding Ballinamuck and Cloone. Local men Enda McLaughlin and Nigel McCloughry paired up for the night in Enda’s two wheel drive starlet which has had overall wins on endurance trials in the past and once again they were on the top step of the podium with a clean sheet on the night. The route proved to be ideal for these midlands men with 90% tight and twisty tarmac roads levelling up the playing field between the two wheel drive starlet and the more common subaru’s. Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy have also teamed up for this years border campaign and they too had a clean sheet on the night, but unfortunately had to settle for 2nd overall on engine cc ruling. 3rd overall went to another local novice crew with Andrew Stewart and Robert Howard finishing on 2 penalties. A great run for this crew who have only been competing a short while and indeed their only fault of the night was 2 penalties on the ITC section which ultimately cost them the overall win.
In the expert class, Pakie and Evin took the class honours with Noel Hall and Trevor Farrell following up on their good run last time out to claim 4th overall and 2nd in expert class. Michael and Ciaran Tynan were 5th overall and 3rd in expert class. Drumlin CoC’s, Gary Farrelly and Sean McKenna obviously used the experience of setting a 120 mile route to good effect with a semi-expert class win and 7th overall. Laurenec Keenan and Ashly McAdoo were 2nd semi expert after a small error leaving Via1 cost them dearly. Bobby Sharkey and Mac Kierans took 3rd in semi-expert after a troubled night and glad to make the finish with silverware.
The novice class was won by the aforementioned Stewart and Howard on 2 penalties, but Derek Mackarel and Fintan McGorman were also on the boil, finishing up on only 5 penalties to take 2nd in class and 6th overall. Indeed it was the ITC section which also cost them dearly, dropping 3 penalties to their rivals. Donegal men, Dessie Dorrian and Ciaran Coyle had another good run after coming out of retirement for the Drumlin and took 3rd novice and 9th overall. Michael Carbin and Emmett McCooey teamed up once again with Michael proving he can sit on both sides of a navigation car after a successful few years driving for Evin Hughes to take the beginners class on the night and 10th overall. Shane Sorohan and James Canning were 2nd in beginner, ahead of Maudabawn’s Thomas and Andrew Wedlock.
Skibbereen Carbery Navigation is on this Saturday night which is a reserve round of the National Navigation championship. Then its a short break until after Christmas on the night navigation scene with Monaghan Motor Club kicking off their 2014 club championship with a night navigation on 11th January.
Midlands MC Night Navigation Top 12
1/ Enda McLoughlin/Nigel McCloughry 0 penalties
2/ Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes 0pens
3/ Andrew Stewart/Robert Howard 2pens
4/ Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall 2pens
5/ Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan 4pens
6/ Fintan McGorman/Derek Mackarel 5pens
7/ Sean McKenna/Gary Farrelly 7pens
8/ Stephen Wright/Daire Hayes 8pens
9/ Ciaran Coyle/Dessie Dorrian 13pens
10/ Emmet McCooey/Michael Carbin 16pens
11/ Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan 25pens
12/ David Moffett/Martin Connolly 26 pens
Monaghan MC Night of Champions
All roads lead to the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan this Saturday night where Monaghan Motor Club will host their annual awards dinner. This years event will celebrate the outstanding achievements of its club members on both the national, international and BRC motorsport scene in what is billed as “A Night of Champions” Come along to meet and greet the champions and also get a glimpse of their winning trophies. All award winners will be notified but why not come along and show your support for all award winners in what’s is guaranteed a great night. MC on the night will be Sean McCaffery with dinner followed by music. Tickets are available from any committee member or by contacting 087 2558957 with dinner served at 8pm sharp in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan.
County Monaghan Motor Club 