County Monaghan Motor Club

There was mixed success for Clontibret brothers, Sam & Josh Moffett, on last weekend’s Sata Rally Acores. Sam & navigator, Karl Atkinson finished 7^th overall while Josh & co-driver, John Rowan retired on day two from 4^th position.

The event was the fourth round of the 2015 European Rally Championship and was contested over 17 gravel stages between Thursday and Saturday. At the end of Thursday’s three stages Josh held 4^th overall, 24 seconds behind event leader Craig Breen. Sam was in 9^th place overnight. Drama was to strike the Moffett/Rowan team on stage four. Josh was caught out over the flying finish and crashed the car ending their event. Sam had a steady drive and held 7^th overall at the end of the day, a position which he would hold until the end of the event. Waterford’s Craig Breen took the event win which was his third successive win in the Championship.

Both Josh & Sam intend to compete on the next round of the championship, the Ypres Rally in Belgium at the end of the month.

Laois Heartlands Rally

A number of Monaghan crews competed on the Laois Heartlands Rally last Sunday. Paul Sheridan was the top finishing CMMC member, guiding Vivian Hamill to 4^th overall and 1^st in class 14. James O’Reilly was sitting with Gary Kiernan and they took 5^th overall and 1^st in class 13. They had led after stage four but a delay on stage five dropped them back. Michael Conlon & Ciaran McPhillips were 7^th overall and 2^nd in class 13. Thomas Treanor guided Graham Kelly to 16^th overall and 4^th in class 14.

Duffy/Hughes Crowned National Champions

The National Night Navigation Championship prizegiving took place last Saturday in the Gandon Inn in Emo, Portlaoise. Winners Pakie Duffy & Evin Hughes collected the overall trophy and announced their intention to defend the title next year. This was Pakie’s first ever National title after many years of competing, while Evin has added to his first title won in 2012. Laurence Keenan’s Monaghan event was voted the best event of the 2014/15 Championship. Other club members receiving trophies were Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan, Laurence Keenan, Keith McConnan & Micheal McCluskey, Derek Mackarel, Paddy & Oisin Sherlock, Colm & Conor Mohan and Conor Boylan.

Upcoming fixtures:

June 19^th-21^st Donegal International Rally

June 28^th Carrick-on-Suir Raven’s Rock Rally

July 5^th ALMC Stages Rally

July 12^th Sligo Stages Rally