Clones man Eoghan Corr teamed up with Cavan’s Ruaidhri Nash on last Saturday nights Monaghan navigation trial and came away with their maiden victory. The novice pairing had a faultless run all night and kept a clean sheet to take the spoils. The first navigation event of the new season was undertaken by first time CoC’s Micheal McCluskey and Keith McConnon with Corduff GFC complex used as HQ. These lads laid on an enjoyable route which headed South towards Magheracloone, then veered North West towards Latton and Ballybay before making its way back towards Corduff via Shantonagh taking in almost every farm lane and narrow road along the way.
Corr and Nash were one of four crews to keep a clean sheet on the night but were deemed winners as a novice crew. Ashley McAdoo and Laurence Keenan were the only semi-experts to clean the event and thus finished 2nd overall and semi expert winners. Martin Tynan/Stephen Thornton along with multiple champions from last season Colin Duffy and Sam Johnston were the only experts to finish with no penalties and took joint winners of the class. Trevor Farrell and Noel Hall dropped one penalty to finish 3rd expert and 5th overall. Bobby Sharkey and Mac Kierans had a good run to 2nd semi-expert with Ciaran McElroy and Damien McCabe 3rd. With the overall winner coming from the novice class, this promoted Michael Carbin and Darragh Kelly to first, ahead of Jonathan Treanor and Martin Swinburne with the Wedlock cousin’s, Thomas and Andrew in 3rd.
Conor Boylan had a great first night on the maps, navigating Emmett McCooey to a beginners class win and only down a very respectable 24 penalties on his first night out. Second beginner went to Cavans Alan Cullinan, driven by Peter Deery on his first night also. Third beginner went to Steven O’Neill and Shane Stevenson. This navigators seat was kindly offered up by the O’Neill brothers Raymond and Steven to help young beginners get onto the first step of the motorsport/navigation ladder and Shane was selected for this event so well done to all.
That’s the navigation season kicked off for another winter, well done to Micheal McCluskey and Keith McConnon on a great event and thanks to Corduff GFC, all residents along the route, results team and the many marshals who turned up on the night. Next up is the first round of the National Championship in Cork on 2nd November, followed by Monaghan’s Drumlin navigation on 9th November where the traders title will be decided. Its very much a two horse race with Martin Tynan and last years winner Damien Connolly locked in a close battle with only half a point separating them so all is to play for.
Monaghan Navigation Trial Top 10
1/ Eoghan Corr/Ruaidhri Nash (Subaru Impreza) 0 marks,
2/ Ashley McAdoo/Laurence Keenan (Subaru Impreza) 0m
3/ (tie) Martin Tynan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) and Colin Duffy/Sam
Johnston (Subaru Impreza) 0m
5/ Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 1m
6/ Michael Carbin/Darragh Kelly (Subaru Impreza) 2m
7/ Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 2m
8/ Jonathan Treanor/Martin Swinburne (Subaru Impreza) 3m
9/ Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan (Subaru Impreza) 3m
10/ Gary McElhinney/Damien Connolly (Subaru Impreza) 3m
11/ Thomas Wedlock/Andrew Wedlock (Subaru Legacy) 6m
12/ Fintan Larmer/Sean McCaffrey (Vauxhall Vectra) 8m
MOFFETT AND ROWAN TAKE GROUP N TITLE IN CORK
It was a great weekend for Monaghan’s Josh Moffett and Cushendall’s John Rowan as the crew claimed the Clonakilty Black Pudding Irish Tarmac Group N title at the Cork 20 last weekend, the pair went into the last round of the championship leading the category over Cavan’s Stephen McCann. The battle for the title was over almost before it had begun as McCann and co-driver Breen McNamee crashed on the first stage and blocked the road. They were able to rejoin later in the event but weren’t able to score points which handed the title to Moffett. The Monaghan man didn’t have things all his own way as an off on the first stage of Day 2 put Rowan and himself out of the event. Nevertheless it’s been a great year for Josh Moffett. The ITRC Group N title win is one of a number of accolades he is in contention for. He is currently in a great battle with Ballinode’s Shane Maguire for the National Group N title, he is also leading the Irish Forestry championship and has been nominated for the Billy Coleman Award. Not a bad year! He wasn’t the only driver to taste success in Cork last weekend as Stephen Wright took his Peugeot 208 R2 to third overall in the rally a fantastic achievement. Co-driven by Mike Galvin the 2013 Billy Coleman Award Winner took third spot on stage eight and never looked back. There was disappointment for Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly who retired on day one while running in third overall. The pair were battling Cork’s Keith Cronin for second when their Fiesta WRC was forced to pull off the road with rear differential problems. In the National Rally Pauric Duffy had a great weekend in his newly acquired Fiesta R5. The Castlebaney man who is now based in Australia took his new machine to fourth overall in the National section. It was also a good event or J P McAree who navigated Meath’s Jack Newman to the class 13 win.
MAGUIRE AND MOFFETT SET FOR DONEGAL GROUP N BATTLE
The Dunlop National Group N battle finale is set to be a Monaghan affair this weekend at the last round of the championship in the North West. The Donegal Harvest Rally is the setting for Shane Maguire and Josh Moffett’s battle for Group N honours. Moffett lead the championship early in the year but a couple of missed rounds has allowed Maguire to catch up. With just a handful of points separating them it will be a fantastic battle to watch!
County Monaghan Motor Club 