Four expert crews proved inseparable last Saturday on the first night navigation trial of 2015 hosted by Monaghan Motor Club. First time CoC Lyndsay Boyd with the help of Mark Hamill, Christine Boyd and their team laid on a 70 mile route which departed Cremartin GAA complex at 9.01pm and headed Northwards through Clontibret, Ardaghey and Tyholland before its return through Bryanlitter and Shanmullagh. Frosty and Snowy weather conditions left things even more difficult for the 34 starters. In the end it was Gary McElhinney/Damian Connolly, Michael & Ciaran Tynan, Andy Mackarel/Fintan Clerkin and Colin Duffy/Muireann Hayes who managed to keep a clean sheet throughout the night to record a four way tie for overall honours, all experts and all driving similar cars.
The novice class was also a tight affair with a three way tie for the class win and 5th overall. Eoghan Corr/Ruaidhri Nash, Derek Mackarel/Seamus McTigue and Keith McConnon/Micheal McCluskey all dropped 1 penalty into timepoint 26 and could not be separated on engine size so were deemed joint class winners. The semi expert class was won by Brendan Treanor and Gary Farrelly from Michael Carbin and Emmet McCooey in 2nd with Damien Treanor and Jonathan McGovern in 3rd, despite some problem’s through the second half of the night.
Shane Maguire and Conor Boylan had a convincing win in the beginners class, ahead of Colm and Conor Mohan in 2nd. Paddy and Oisin Sherlock had a good run to third in beginners class and are gaining experience with every event.
That’s the 2015 navigation calendar kicked off as Cork motor club host a national round this coming weekend, followed by Donegal next weekend which is a round of the Border Championship. Well done to Lyndsay and all his team on a good tricky yet concise event which proved enjoyable for all competitors. Lyndsay would like to thank all residents along the route, marshals, result’s team, Cremartin GAA committee, McChesneys garage and all who help out in any way, big or small.
Co. Monaghan MC Navigation Results Top 12:
1 (tie) Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza), Colin Duffy/Muireann
Hayes (Subaru Impreza), Andy Mackarel/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza), Gary
McElhinney/Damien Connolly (Subaru Impreza) 0 marks,
5 (tie) Eoin Corr/Ruadhri Nash (Subaru Impreza), Derek Mackarel/Seamus
McTigue (Subaru Impreza), Keith McConnon/Micheal McCluskey (Subaru Impreza)
1m,
8 Ashley McAdoo/Laurence Keenan (Subaru Impreza) 1m,
9 Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 2m,
10 Fintan Larmer/Sean McCaffrey (Subaru Impreza) 2m,
11 Martin Tynan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 8m,
12 Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan (Subaru Impreza) 15m.
Monaghan Motor Club Annual General Meeting
County Monaghan Motor Club will hold their Annual General Meeting this Friday night, 16th January at 8.30 sharp in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. All club members are asked to attend this worthwhile meeting where you can have your say in the running of the club. All 2014 club members are eligible to vote for the incoming committee who will represent its members for the coming year. Nomination forms for the election of officers to the incoming committee are available on the club web site at http://www.monaghanmotorclub.net and once again all club members are asked to fill these in and return to club secretary before Tuesday 13th January. So please come along and share your views.
Triton Showers National Rally Launch
Irish rallying began a new chapter with the launch of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship at the Glen Royal Hotel, Maynooth on Saturday last January 10th. The series will consist of eight rounds with the best six scores to count. It will begin from the heritage town of Abbeyleix in County Laois in February and conclude at the maritime town of Bantry in West Cork in late October. In between, the Triton Showers journey will cascade throughout county towns of Roscommon and Monaghan, the medieval town of Kilmallock, Waterford City, Sligo town and the penultimate round in Ballinasloe. The series will herald a new era for the Midland Motor Club, who join the national series for the very first time. Next year’s eight rounds will include the return of the Dublin based ALMC Rally to the championship.
Speaking at the launch, Kevin Barrett, Managing Director of Triton Showers said, “Although Triton Showers have been involved in rallying for several years through the support of events such as the renowned Circuit of Ireland and the Lurgan Park Rally along with a regional championship, our sponsorship of the National Rally Championship adds a new and important dimension.” “We look forward to encompassing the unique variety of the eight events that will unite under the umbrella of Triton Showers to showcase Irish motorsport at its very best. The fact that eight different organising clubs and locations are gearing up for the 2016 Triton Showers series is another illustration of the diversity of the National series.” Kevin added, “The Triton Showers livery will also continue on our own car and those of Niall Maguire and Shane Maguire as we begin an exciting era in Irish motorsport and together with underpinning the National campaign, Triton Showers is set to become an even more familiar name in motorsport. “
MCKENNA PREPARES FOR JWRC DEBUT
Daniel Mc Kenna and Andrew Grennan set sail for Monte Carlo over the weekend to embark on a junior world rally championship campaign starting on Friday 23rd January. The formidable pairing have joined forces once again and have worked tirelessly over the past six months to make it happen , albeit one event at a time but the motions are in place to cross the start ramp in Monte Carlo. Monaghan Motor Club and all its members wish Daniel and Andrew the very best of luck in Monte Carlo. A full report on Daniels preparations as well as an insight into the Monte Carlo rally itself will feature in next weeks edition so watch this space
County Monaghan Motor Club 