12 months on and we are still in the same situation in relation to COVID-19 restrictions in our sport.
It’s very strange and who would ever have predicted it, and indeed there are still unknowns for the
year ahead. However, there are most certainly more positive times ahead, and we must look
forward to these with a new energy particularly with the ongoing roll out of the vaccine throughout
our communities.
In 2020 we only managed to run one single MI permitted event – our January Navigation Trial, as all
other events were postponed and subsequently cancelled in line with HSE guidelines. In contrast to
this, we introduced a new discipline into the club in the form of Virtual Navigation Trials. Our club
organised 2 such events – one in April and another in October.
Both were exceptionally well supported and indeed have continued to grow in popularity.
2020 will also stay in our thoughts as in November we lost our friend Ronnie Hawe – a dedicated
Club organiser and administrator. For more than five decades Ronnie was involved in Monaghan
Motor Club and was the driving force behind the growth and development of our events –
particularly our annual Stages Rally.
In normal times, we would currently be busy preparing for our annual stages rally and Ronnie would be organising and mentoring us all for the task ahead.
We will remember him dearly.
To date in 2021 – and restrictions still in place, we have organised two Virtual Navigation Trials with
another one planned for mid-April and possibly more to follow. No other MI permitted events can
be secured at this time and we will continue to take guidance and direction from the HSE and
Motorsport Ireland in relation to when the individual disciplines might get started again.
As a result, all club championships are suspended until further notice.
We still have a very active Motor Club committee, who have continued to meet virtually each month
to discuss any changes in HSE guidelines and what measures we must consider going forward when
restrictions are eased.
Our current (2020) committee has agreed to continue until we resume normal activities and convene our AGM.
Our Club Membership fee has been reduced until the end of April and is available to submit digitally through our web site and Facebook page.
Looking forward, we wish all our members, supporters, sponsors and friends well for the year ahead
and hopefully we will resume our sport in the not too distant future.
Conor Maguire
Chairman
Monaghan Motor Club
County Monaghan Motor Club 