County Monaghan Motor Club

It was a weekend of success for Monaghan Club Members as they took overall honours on the opening rounds of both the Northern Ireland Rally Championship and National Rally Championship. On Saturday, Stephen Wright & Keith Rainey took victory on the Kirkistown Rally in their Fiesta R5. The following day, Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes got their National Championship title bid off to the perfect start with overall victory on the Birr Stages Rally.

Kirkistown Stages

The six stage Kirkistown Stages Event was based entirely within the confines of Kirkistown racecourse in Co. Down. Competitors enjoyed the unseasonal warm weather as they competed over the tarmac tests. Multiple Northern Ireland Championship, Derek McGarrity, was the pacesetter from the off.

Stephen Wright/Keith Rainey slotted into 2^nd place but a spin on stage two dropped them back to 6^th. A charge through stage four resulted in a fastest time and promoted them back to 2^nd. McGarrity was sidelined on the final stage after a small engine fire and Wright/Rainey posted a 2^nd fastest time to take the victory by a six second margin. Darren & Nathan Gass debuted a Skoda Fabia R5 and claimed 2^nd place. Derek & Mark McGeehan completed the podium places.

Matthew McKenna guided Liam McFall to 13^th overall. Jack Maguire/Keith McConnan set some good times during the day but a long delay on the opening stage meant they could do no better than 49^th overall. Ciaran & Paul Maguire finished 53^rd overall and 4^th in class in their Honda Civic.

Birr Stages Rally

 Last Sunday, the 2019 National Rally Championship kicked off with the Abbeyleix based Birr Stages Rally. The event consisted of a 3×3 format including some stages in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. A capacity entry made the start including a strong entry of local crews.

Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes immediately set the pace on the short opening stage near Rathdowney. They were two seconds quicker than reigning National Champion, Declan Boyle, in 2^nd. Moffett rapidly extended his lead on stage two and three which were fog affected. They arrived in service with a 27 second lead over Boyle with Peader Hurson and Monaghan’s Damien Connolly nearly a minute behind in 3^rd overall. Suspension problems had delayed Sam Moffett/James Fulton in their Fiesta R5 while Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor were getting reacquainted after nearly 20 years since they last competed together.

Boyle only trimmed two seconds off Moffett/Hayes on the second loop while Roy White displaced Hurson for 3^rd. Sam Moffett was motoring better now and was involved in a close battle with the R5 Skoda of Scotland’s David Bogie.

Moffett/Hayes took no chances on the final loop to secure the event win 24.8 seconds ahead of Boyle. Roy White/James O’Brien were a distance 3^rd ahead of Hurson/Connolly in 4^th. Sam Moffett/James Fulton finished 6^th overall in their R5 Fiesta while Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor came home in 7^th overall.

David Moffett/Martin Connolly finished a fine 14^th overall and took victory in class 13. Shane Maguire/Donal Balfe took 3^rd in Group N and 16^th overall. Shane was making a return to the series after a year’s absence. Emmet Sherry guided Stuart Darcy to 24^th overall and 5^th in class in his new Escort. Conor Mohan guided Eamon Kelly to 33^rd overall and 1^st in class 2. Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming and Des Moore/Arthur Kierans failed to finish.

The National Rally Championship will continue with the Midlands Stages Rally on Sunday 24^th March.