Josh Moffett made it two wins from two in the 2019 National Rally Championship thanks to overall victory on the Midlands Stages Rally. Moffett and co-driver, Andy Hayes, took a start to finish victory on the Longford based event. They also picked up an additional bonus point for the fastest time on the power stage. The results sees them extend their championship lead from Roy White/James O’Brien who finished 2nd. 3rd overall went to Peader Hurson & Scotstown navigator Damien Connolly.
Moffett/Hayes immediately set the pace on the short opening test at Killashee, taking 1.4 seconds out of main rivals Declan & Brian Boyle. The pair slightly extended their advantage with another pair of fastest times to lead by 5.2 seconds at service. Roy White/James O’Brien were already a distant 3rd almost 30 seconds down on the leaders. Peader Hurson/Damien Connolly had a difficult morning with two overshoots and they were down in 8th. Darren Gass/Enda Sherry were acclimatising to their new Skoda Fabia R5 to hold 7th.
Stage 4 would prove pivotal as Boyle retired after hitting a chicane leaving Moffett over 30 seconds in the clear. White trimmed 0.1 second back on stage five but an overshoot up a bank on stage six cost him 30 seconds and any hope of catching Moffett. Hurson/Connolly had caught up to 4th overall and were closing fast on 3rd placed James Stafford in the Darrian. Gass/Sherry held a solid 6th.
Moffett/Hayes maintained their pace with another trio of fastest times to cement overall victory by over a minute. White/O’Brien and Hurson/Connolly completed the podium places. Darren Gass/Enda Sherry finished in 6th place.
David Moffett/Martin Connolly took another class 13 win and 12th overall. Shane Maguire/Anthony Nestor finished 15th overall and 2nd in class. John McQuaid/Thomas Treanor took 20th overall and 7th in class. Vincent McAree/David McCrudden were 22nd overall and 4th in class. Jack Maguire/Keith McConnan finished 23rd overall and 4th in class 20.
Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming finished down in 43rd overall after a long delay on stage six proved costly. Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin took 60th overall and 5th in class 12. Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes finished 66th overall and 2nd in class 3. They also won the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship drive of the day award. Peter Farrell/Shane Farrell overcame early problems to take victory in class 10. Colin & Mark Maguire finished 15th in the Junior class in their Honda Civic.
Des Lyons/Aisling McArdle, Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan and Arthur Kierans/Mac Kierans failed to finish during the day.
The National Rally Championship will continue with our own Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally on Sunday April 28th.
Monaghan Navigation Trial
The final Night Navigation of the season takes place this Saturday night with the March event. Aghabog is the venue with COC Mac Kierans hoping to have 85 miles of competitive actions for competitors. The event is the final round of the National & Border Championship as well as a round of the Trader’s and Club Navigation Championships.
Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes are favourites to retain their National crown but Cork’s James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody will be hoping to upset the odds. Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan hold a narrow lead in the Border series but Mackarel/Hayes are hot on their heels as they aim for a championship double.
Marshals are required for this event and those available are asked to present at Aghabog Community Centre at 8pm.
Stages Rally Launch
The countdown is on for Monaghan’s biggest annual sporting event, the Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally. The committee are delighted to welcome back the Four Seasons Hotel as overall sponsors for the 2019 event. The event well be a counting round of the National & Border Championships this year. Eoghan Corr has taken on the role of COC and has picked three testing and challenging stages mixing some new and previously used terrain.
The buzz will start with the official Launch in the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday April 5th. The evening should be a fantastic night where you can meet some of the top drivers with their cars, see some classic and competition films and get into the swing for the stages.
County Monaghan Motor Club 