The final Navigation Trial of the 2018-2019 season took place last Saturday night in Aghabog. The event was the final round of the National and Border Navigation Championships. The National Championship was to be decided between reigning champions, Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes and Cork crew James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody. Michael & Ciaran Tynan were leading the Border championship. COC Mac Kierans and his team laid out a tricky and challenging 85 mile event which tested even the most experienced of Expert crews.
As early as TP3 many crews were in trouble with a herringbone tulip diagram catching some crews out including top seeds Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes. A series of tightly looped lanes followed with all crews dropping time. By the first time relax section at TP10, Mackarel/Hayes were putting in a championship winning performance to lead on 4 penalties. Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (6 penalties), Emmet McCooey/Conor Mohan (8 penalties) and Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (8 penalties) were in hot pursuit.
The next section of the event took crews over towards the Drum and Newbliss areas with some new lanes incorporated. Mackarel/Hayes had a setback when they got caught with a wrong approach at TP14. Luckily for them, Fitzgerald/Carmody were having a dreadful night going over maximum lateness and missing multiple timepoints. Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan were now out front on 6 penalties with Tynan/Clerkin in 2nd place on 8 penalties.
A further tricky section followed, the departure from TP20 had been given on an earlier plot & bash which many crews failed to realise incurring wrong departure penalties. TP21 and TP22 were plot & bash timepoints near Swan’s Cross as the event moved towards the Stranooden and Corcaghan areas. Tynan/Tynan powered home their advantage and were well clear of the opposition. Mackarel/Hayes were back up to 2nd place after Tynan/Clerkin missed a pair of timepoints.
Michael & Ciaran Tynan finished with aplomb to take overall honours on a fine total of 15 penalties given the tricky navigation throughout the night. The result secured them the Border Navigation Championship. Mackarel/Hayes had a late scare when they missed a plot & bash timepoint on a clockface tulip diagram but such was the gap behind them they still finished in 2nd place to win a second consecutive National Championship.
Semi-Expert class winners, Peter Deery & David McCrudden finished 3rd overall just ahead of class rivals James McCabe/Shane Farrell. Jack McKenna/Ryan Treanor made it three Semi-Expert crews in the top five.
The Novice class was won by Shane Dalton & Seamus McTigue in 6th overall. Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon and Noel Sherry/Danny McKenna completed the class positions. Beginner class honours went to Sean McConnell/Anthony McDonald. Cathal Croarkin/Marco Lennon and Aiden Keenan/Sean Marron secured 2nd and 3rd in class.
COC Mac Kierans would like to extend his thanks to all the contributed to the event particularly the landowners and residents along the route. That concludes the Navigation season until the end of September. Congratulations to Derek Mackarel & Muireann Hayes on their National success and to Michael & Ciaran Tynan for taking the Border again after a few years.
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 