County Monaghan Motor Club

Former National Champions, Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes took overall victory on last weekend’s Cavan Navigation Trial based in Maudabawn, Co. Cavan. The event was a counting round of the Border and National Navigation Championships. COC Andrew Wedlock laid out a challenging 75 mile route across some classic navigation terrain in the Mountain Lodge, Tullyvin and Maudabawn areas. Duffy/Hughes would emerge winners by a single penalty from reigning National Champions, Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes.

The opening section of the event stayed close to the Maudabawn area, including a trio of plot & bash timepoints on a straight line tulip between TP6-TP9. Only 6 crews managed to reach all the timepoints on this section. It was Duffy/Hughes who assumed the lead but dropped 9 penalties on this demanding section. Following a welcome time relax section near Mountain Lodge, a further two plot & bash timepoints were up next. Again these were on tulip diagram and many a crew were caught with a wrong approach.

By the midway control, Duffy/Hughes held the lead on 10 penalties. Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes were in 2^nd place on 13 penalties. The Novice pairing of Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon were a fine 3^rd on 14 penalties with Trevor O’Callaghan/Patrick O’Leary on 20 penalties, the only other crew to have reached all timepoints with right approach and departure.

Following a Speed Regulation Section near Clifferna, the event moved towards the Tullyvin & Kill Areas. Duffy/Hughes hit problems as their fan belt broke and required a quick repair to stay in the event. Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes had closed the gap to a single penalty but subsequently were caught with a wrong approach at Via3. Many crew dropped time to TP22 with a hard to find lane at the back of a wind turbine. Duffy/Hughes then missed TP23 which left the impressing Novice crew of Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon leading on 16 penalties total with the Expert pairing of Trevor O’Callaghan/Patrick O’Leary in 2^nd 1 penalty adrift.

O’Callaghan/O’Leary’s challenge faltered when a wrong slot on a lane resulted in them going over maximum lateness. Dixon/Lennon led until TP33 when they reached maximum lateness and had to skip a number of timepoints in the closing stages. Mackarel/Hayes and Duffy/Hughes were both on 37 penalties total going into the final five timepoints. Duffy/Hayes were able to shave a minute on the final plot & bash timepoint and finished on 41 penalties total to take the event win. Mackarel/Hayes finished 2^nd and put themselves back in the driving seat for the National Navigation Championship.

Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan recovered from an earlier missed timepoint to take 3^rd overall on 60 penalties. Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon were the only other crew to finish under 100 penalties to take 4^th overall and victory in the Novice class with a total of 86 penalties. Peter Deery/David McCrudden won the Semi-Expert class, taking 5^th overall in the process.

James McCabe/Shane Farrell & Noel Sherry/Oisin Sherlock completed the Semi-Expert class podium positions. Midlands duo, Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue took 2^nd place in the Novice class with Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna in 3^rd.

Local brothers, Aaron & Ben McIntyre won the Beginners class and were a very impressive 6^th overall to boot. Gene McDonald/Colm McKeevor took 2^nd and were 9^th overall with Colm Mohan/Aiden Sherry in 3^rd.

The National & Border Navigation Championships conclude with the Monaghan Navigation Trial on Saturday 30^th March.

Top 10:

1 Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 41 marks,

2 Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes (Subaru Impreza) 42m,

3 Mickey Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 60m,

4 Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon (Subaru Impreza) 86m,

5 Peter Deery/David McCrudden (Subaru Impreza) 112m,

6 Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre (Subaru Impreza) 118m,

7 Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue (Subaru Impreza) 120m,

8 James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody (Subaru Impreza) 134m,

9 Gene McDonald/Colm McKeever (Subaru Impreza) 142m,

10 Mac Kierans/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 150m.

 

Limerick Forestry Rally

 

The adverse turn in the weather last Sunday played havoc with the planned Motorsport fixtures. The Rockchapel based, Limerick Forestry Rally had to be abandoned midway through the second stage of the event. The arrival of snow resulted in a number of crews leaving the road and a decision was made to cancel the event on safety grounds.

Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan had made a great start to hold 2^nd overall on the opening stage while Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips were a remarkable 3^rd in their 2wd Escort. Calum Maguire was navigating for Peter McCullagh and they were 14^th. David Condell/Paul Kelly were 23^rd, Peter Beaton/Conor Boylan 55^th and Derek Mackarel/Grace O’Brien 64^th and last after spending many minutes stuck in a drain.