Monaghan Motor Club hosted its annual awards presentation on Saturday night last 26th November in the Hillgrove Hotel, with Sean McCaffrey as MC. Following dinner, Club Chairman Paul Hughes summarised the achievements of club members in competition at International, National and local level throughout 2016.
Josh Moffett had a very successful year culminating in his being nominated for the Billy Coleman Award for the third consecutive time. His name is included in the final shortlist of 3, from which the winner will be picked. Josh took overall victory in the Cork 20 International, Wyedean Rally in Wales, Limerick Forestry as well as the Monaghan Stages Rally. His brother Sam was victorious in the Cavan Stages, Carrick-on-Suir Forestry, Lakelands and Omagh Spring rallies. Stephen Wright was also a main contender for the Irish Tarmac Championship.
Seamus Connolly and Gary McCrudden had their most successful year to date, winning the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship as well as taking a class win in the Triton Showers National Stages Championship, in which Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry were 3rd overall.
Shane Maguire and Mac Kierans won the West Coast Rally championship, while Ciaran McPhillips was the winning navigator in the South East Stages championship, where his driver Mickey Conlon was the runner-up. Mickey and Ciaran also won the two wheel drive category in the Irish Forestry championship.
Monaghan club members continued to dominate the Navigation Trial scene, with Evin Hughes, driven by Pakie Duffy winning both the National and Border Navigation championships.
On the local club scene, Derek Mackarel won the driver category in the Gary Nesbitt Memorial Navigation championship, with Fintan Clerkin the winning navigator. Conor Boylan won the Novice Navigator Award, while Pamela McMahon was a runaway winner of the Ladies Award.
The premier award on the night, the Traders Trophy, was presented to Clones driver Martin Tynan as overall Club Champion. This is Martin’s first Traders victory and it came after many years of trying. Even this year the win looked unlikely, until the results of the October Navigation Trial changed the points table completely. In the end, Martin proved to be a worthy and popular champion.
There was a special presentation to Cora Maguire to mark her retirement form the club committee after 18 years. During that time, Cora had served both as Club Secretary and Event Secretary. Her contribution to the club has been phenomenal and she is wished every happiness for the future.
As part of its charity programme, the club presented a cheque for €1500 to Michael Kissane representing the Monaghan Branch of the Red Cross to assist with the provision of a second ambulance for the area.
Forestry Championship Prizegiving
The 2016 Valvoline Irish Forestry Championship Prizegiving took place last weekend at the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore. Michael Carbin received his award for 2nd driver in class 20 with his navigator Darragh Kelly taking 3rd navigator in the same class. Michael Conlon was 3rd in class 13 with navigator Ciaran McPhillips 2nd in class 13. Michaela McGinn took 3rd navigator in class 13.
Carbery Navigation Trial
A number of Monaghan crews made the trip to Leap, West Cork for the second round of the Munster Night Navigation Championship. The 80 mile event proved to be a very challenging event with multiple sections on unmapped roads and 60 timepoints. Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes finished up 4th overall after a trying event, with Derek Mackarel and Muireann Hayes in 5th. Emmet McCooey/Christopher McMahon put in a brilliant performance to take 7th overall and 1st in the Beginner’s class by a massive margin. Caolan & Ryan Treanor finished 3rd in the same class. Mac Kieans/Conor Boylan survived a broken ball-joint to take 3rd in the Semi-Expert class.
County Monaghan Motor Club 