County Monaghan Motor Club

Scotstown’s Damien Connolly clinched a 3^rd overall win in a row at last weekend’s Galway Summer Rally. The event was the penultimate round of both the Triton National Championship and Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. Connolly guided Warrenpoint’s Peader Hurson to a dominate start to finish victory adding to their overall wins in Cavan and Cookstown so far this year. Elsewhere, Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry secured 2^nd overall in the National Rally Championship after taking 2^nd place overall on the day.

Hurson/Connolly pulled out a massive 15 seconds lead over their rivals on the opening stage which they extended to over thirty seconds after the opening loop. Top seeds, Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle retired on the opening stage leaving Hurson/Connolly in complete control. Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry slotted into 2^nd place just ahead of Welshman Steve Wood. Pacesetters Hurson/Connolly continued to pull away on the second loop increasing their lead to 51.8 seconds. Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore slotted into a sensational 2^nd place after going fastest overall on stage five with Maguire/Sherry in third 2.8 seconds behind. As Hurson/Connolly reeled off the final stages, Maguire/Sherry snatched back 2^nd place from Gallagher.

Daniel McKenna debuted a Ford Fiesta R5 with Galway navigator Kevin Glynn. Daniel gradually got the hang of his new mount and took a fine 8^th overall and 1^st in class 5. Emmet Sherry guided Barry Ryan to 13^th overall and 3^rd in class in their Honda-engined Escort. Barry Treanor/Jonathan Treanor had a great run to 27^th overall and 1^st in class 11R. Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans came home 29^th overall and 3^rd in class 4. Mark Tierney guided Brian Armstrong to 33^rd overall and 2^nd in class 12. Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin took 58^th overall and 7^th in class 11R. Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey were back in 73^rd overall after a ten minute delay on stage three. Peter Farrell guided Martin McGuigan to 79^th overall and 4^th in class 10. Paul Crosby/James McEneaney took 4^th in the Junior class with Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan right behind in 5^th place.

Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor, Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden, Declan Connolly/Alison Hughes and Paddy Quinn/Keith McConnon all failed to make the finish.

The final round of the National Championship is the Skibbereen Fastnet Rally on 25th October while Donegal plays host to the final round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship a fortnight earlier on 10^th October.

Navigation Classes

Monaghan Motor Club launches the annual Navigation Classes on this Friday 4^th September at 8pm in Sean McDermott’s GAA complex at Threemilehouse. These classes are open to all members of the public interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in this popular discipline of motorsport. A training package will be provided to each participant for a nominal fee. It is planned to run these classes every Friday night until October.