The first round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship took place last weekend with the Mayo Motorsport Club’s Mayo Stages Rally. The eight stage event based around Claremorris was also the first round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship and was won by none other than Clontibret’s Josh Moffett, with his brother Sam’s regular navigator Keith Moriarty on the notes. They recorded a start to finish win to end the day with 27.9 seconds to spare over Robert Barrable/Paddy Robinson. Stephen Wright with Ger Conway in the navigator’s seat finished 3rd overall to make it two Monaghan drivers in the top three.
Donegal man Eamonn Kelly stepped up from his Ford Fiesta Rally4 into his father’s VW Polo GTI R5 for the first time. Navigated by Conor Mohan, he finished 5th OA in what was an excellent debut for the young driver. Brendan Cumiskey/Darragh Mullen finished 6th OA and 3rd Class 5. Michael Carbin with new navigator Dean O’Sullivan finished a brilliant 8th OA and 1st in class 20. A great bounce back from a small off in Fivemiletown a week previous. Niall Maguire/Conor Foley made the switch from their trusty S12b Subaru to a Ford Fiesta R5 and ended the day in 15th OA after battling with no brakes in the early part of the rally.
Sam Moffett with Darragh Kelly on the notes recently bought his cousin David Moffett’s Toyota Starlet for a new challenge. They finished 19th OA and 2nd Class 13. Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon finished one place behind them in their Mk2 Escort. They also finished 2nd in class 14. Gary McCrudden navigating for Ed O’Callaghan finished 21st OA and 3rd Class 14. Kaine Treanor navigated Chris O’Callaghan to 22nd OA and 4th Class 14.
Trevor Burke navigated Mervyn Deane to 35th OA and 3rd Class 13. Arthur Kierans/Conor Maguire finished 36th OA and 4th Class 13 in their Mk2 Escort. Mickey Conlon/Paul McPhillips finished 2nd Class 12 and 42nd OA. Peter Farrell navigating for Jason Roche finished 49th OA and 7th Class 13. Nigel Brennan/James Sherry finished 69th OA in their Honda Civic, while Shane Farrell navigated Quintan Park to 73rd OA in their Escort after an eventful day which included a spin and also clipping a rock resulting in a puncture. Damien McKenna calling the notes for Hazel O’Callaghan finished 76th OA.
Unfortunately, Gary McPhillips/Liam Brennan would crash out on SS1. Jack Maguire/Keith McConnon would retire after SS7 while sitting 49th OA. Ashling McArdle navigating for Des Lyons retired after SS6
In the Junior section of the Rally, Jack McKenna/Anthony McDonald finished 3rd OA, narrowly missing out on 2nd by just 1.8s. Going into the last stage McKenna/McDonald had been in 2nd place, but a last stage charge by Dylan Eves/Damien Sheridan seen the Donegal crew overtake them.
Top 3 Results:
1st Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) 55:43.4,
2nd Robert Barrable/Paddy Robinson (VW Polo R5) 56:11.3,
3rd Stephen Wright/Ger Conway (Ford Fiesta R5) 56:43.6.
Junior
1st Jack Brunton/Sean Brunton (Honda Civic) 35:46.7,
2nd Dylan Eves/Damien Sheridan (Honda Civic) 36:35.2,
3rd Jack McKenna/Anthony McDonald (Honda Civic) 36:37.0.
ALMC ENDURANCE TRIAL
Tydavnet man Emmet Sherry was the highest placed Monaghan finisher on the opening round of the Endurance Championship which took place last Saturday.
The Mad March Hare Endurance Trial was based out of Luttrellstown Golf Resort in Co. Dublin and organised by ALMC Motor Club.
After a gruelling 16 selectives Emmet Sherry with Elisha Knox navigating finished an excellent 2nd overall in their Navigation spec Toyota Starlet. They finished just 6s slower than Kevin O’Rourke/David McAuley but a comfortable 87s quicker than Graham O’Donoghue/William Kelly who finished the day in 3rd.
Karl O’Donoghue with Ballybay man Evin Hughes navigating had been leading the event from SS1 until SS8. O’Donoghue/Hughes set the fastest time on SS1 by a huge 15s over 2nd fastest Sherry/Knox. O’Rourke/McAuley finished the stage 4th fastest a huge 40s down on O’Donoghue’s time. However, over the next seven stages O’Rourke would set the fastest time on each to eventually overhaul Sherry/Knox on SS7 and O’Donoghue/Hughes by 3s on SS8 to go from 3rd to 1st. Disaster would strike O’Donoghue/Hughes on SS13 when the engine in their starlet cried enough spelling instant retirement. The only consolation being that they had over 75% of the event completed so they were still classified as finishers. Eventually finishing 22nd overall.
O’Rourke would have a scare on SS15 when Sherry set a time some 28s faster to take the lead with just two selectives to go. However, O’Rourke wasn’t going to let his amazing fight back earlier on in the day go to waste and immediately hit back at Sherry setting a time 15s quicker on SS16 to turn a 9s deficit into a 6s advantage. Unfortunately, SS17, the last stage would be cancelled giving Emmet no chance to fight for last minute overall win.
Ciaran Maguire navigating for Andrew Wedlock finished 11th OA and 2nd Class A2S. Abraham Dixon/Luke Connolly finished 19th OA and 3rd Class A2B. Aaron McElroy navigating for Nicole Drought finished 25th OA after an eventful day which included a small off on SS7 resulting in a stage max and missing SS8 while waiting to get towed back onto the track. Craig McPhilips making a return to motorsport after a long layoff finished 26th OA with Shane Maguire navigating. They had been sitting 16th OA and 3rd in Class B but unfortunately, they broke the exhaust on their Toyota Starlet and had to skip the last two selectives. Cathal McGlone navigated by his daughter Emer didn’t make the finish after a rear wheel hub came off at a stop box on the penultimate selective. A very unfortunate end to their day after some brilliant driving where at one point they lay in 8th position overall.
March Navigation Trial
Monaghan Motor Club host the penultimate round of the National and Border Navigation Championships this weekend. The 90 mile event is based out of the Carn Centre in Aghabog. As ever, marshals are needed for the event and those available should make themselves known to Clerk of the Course Sean McCaffery.
PRO: Oisín Sherlock oisinsherlock97@gmail.com
County Monaghan Motor Club 