Damian Connolly’s defence of his traders club championship and Gary Nesbitt club navigation titles got off to the best possible start on Saturday night last with an overall win on the first Monaghan Motor Club night navigation trial of 2014. Damian along with regular Donegal driver, Gary Mc Elhinney dropped just 2 penalties at time point 22 to record the victory, this being their 3rd win in two seasons around the North Monaghan terrain surrounding Tydavnet, Bragan, Carrickroe and Emyvale. Coc’s for the event were Enda Sherry and Dessie Keenan and they laid on a compact yet very tricky route and coupled with icy road conditions it was a testing start to the new navigation calendar. Martin Tynan and Stephen Thornton also finished the event on 2 penalties but were relegated to 2nd overall on the furthest cleanest ruling. Ashley McAdoo and Laurence Keenan were 3rd overall on 3 penalties.
Tynan and Thornton took the expert class honours, followed by Pakie Duffy and Evin Hughes in 2nd. Trevor Farrell and Noel Hall rounded off the top 3 in expert class. McAdoo and Kennan were the semi-expert winners with Corks David Beamish and Muireann Hayes taking 2nd semi-expert. Drumlin CoC’s Sean McKenna and Gary Farrelly were 3rd in the semi-expert category and 7th overall. Damian Treanor and Jonathan Mc Govern had led the class for most of the night, but a puncture going to time point 22 dropped them 5 penalties and put them out of contention when an overall win could of been within their sights. Andy Mackarel joined forces with Raymond Conlon on the maps and they too had a great run with an overall win on the cards also until a wrong approach at Via 2 dropped them 15 penalties. The Donegal/Cork pairing of Trevor McConnell and Eoghan McCarthy made their long journeys to compete worthwhile taking the novice class honours and 5th overall to boot. South Monaghan men Keith McConnon and Michael McCluskey were runners up in novice class with Fintan McGorman and Derek Mackarel taking 3rd in class.
The beginners class went to local men Emmet McCooey and Michael Carbin, another great result for this new crew. Maudabawn cousins, Thomas and Andrew Wedlock took 2nd in class with Lindsay and Christine Boyd 3rd in novice.
So thats the navigation season under way for 2014, Cork Motor Club host a round of the national navigation trial this Saturday night with Donegal Motor Club hosting round 3 of the Squealing Pig Border Navigation championship the following weekend, Saturday 25th January. Entries form’s on Donegal Motor Club website. Well done to Enda and Dessie and all their team on a good event. Enda would like to thank his helper’s, all marshal’s and residents, Ballinode Community Centre, Maggies Bar, Maguire Transport, results team and the tea ladies on a job well done.
AGM
Monaghan Motor Club host their annual general meeting this Friday 17th January at 8.30pm sharp in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. All club members are asked to attend as this is your chance to contribute to the running of the club. Nomination forms are available on club website and all members are urged to submit a nomination form.
County Monaghan Motor Club 