Author: monaghanmotorclub

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship, the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship and the Dacia Sandero Challenge all got underway last weekend.

The four tarmac championships got underway on Sunday last with the Mayo Stages Rally hosted by the Mayo & District Motorsport Club CLG.

Josh Moffett was the top placed Monaghan Motor Club finisher on the day as he and Keith Moriarty finished in 4^th place and 1^st in class 5.

Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty took their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to 6^th overall and 3^rd in Class 5.

Paul Barrett/Paddy Robinson finished 12^th overall.

Killian McArdle navigated Joseph Kelly to 15^th overall.

Pierce O’Callaghan guided Johnathon Pringle to 16^th overall and 3^rd in class 14.

Justin Smyth/Ciaran McGorman finished 28^th overall and 2^nd in class 12.

Jack Maguire/Ashling McArdle finished 30^th overall and 3^rd in class 11F.

Domhnall Lennon guided James Cassidy to 32^nd overall and 3^rd in class 12.

Anthony Hand/David McCrudden finished 35^th overall and 1^st in class 11R.

Kevin Reilly navigated Colin Flanagan to 44^th overall.

Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell finished 48^th overall.

Cathal Sheridan/Philip Donohoe finished 63^rd overall and 2^nd in class 10.

Callum Maguire navigating for Jack Brennan finished 86^th overall after returning under Super Rally rules.

Michael Conlon/Paul McPhillips finished 89^th overall after returning under Super Rally rules.

Both Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon and Gary McPhillips/Ger Conway retired after special stage 7.

Ryan Farrell navigating for Stephen Faughnan retired after special stage 1.

James McCarville/Arthur Kierans retired after special stage 3

Daniel McConnon navigating for Gavin McGivney retired after special stage 5.

The Samsonas Fivemiletown Spring Rally

took place on Saturday last. Derek Mackarel and Conor Boylan were the sole Co. Monaghan entrants. Unfortunately, they were forced to retire on special stage 3 with mechanical trouble onboard their Ford Fiesta R5.

The National Navigation Championship

comes to an end this weekend with the Monaghan March Navigation Trial.

Aaron McElroy and Declan Tynan have organised an 80-mile event based out of the Sean McDermotts GAA Complex in Threemilehouse.

 As ever, marshals are required for the successful running of this event.

Anyone who is available to help out on the night are asked to contact Co. Monaghan Motor Club.

Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy are provisionally the National Champions following the previous Cavan event, but they’ll be hoping to add the 2025/26 Squealing Pig Border Navigation Championship to this season’s success.  

Oisín Sherlock.

Monaghan Motor Club News

County Cavan Motor Club hosted the latest round of both the National Navigation Championship and the Squealing Pig Monaghan Border Navigation Championship last weekend.

Conor Lappin assisted by Anthony McDonald organised an 85-mile event based out of the Ballymac Inn in Ballymagauran.

Overall winners on the night were the Co. Monaghan crew of Conor Boylan/Derek Mackarel.

Second overall and 1^st in the Expert Class went to Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy.

This result has provisionally secured them the 2025/26 national navigation championship with a round to spare.

Last season’s national champions Ryan Treanor/Shane Dalton took a step back this year by not contesting the full championship.

They did however contest this event and finished 4^th overall and 2^nd in the Expert class.

Seán Marron/Aidan Keenan finished in 5^th place and took 2^nd in the Semi-Expert class.

David McCrudden/Peter Deery took 3^rd in the Expert class.

Isaiah and Aaron Dixon took 2^nd in the Novice class.

Domhnall Lennon/Michael Conlon finished 2^nd in the Beginner class.

3^rd Novice went to Ben Mohan/Damien Hagan.

Elijah and Abraham Dixon took 3^rd in the Beginner class.

Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG hosted their annual Autotest the following morning at McAree Engineering in Ballinode village.

Ciaran Tynan once again hosted the tough but enjoyable precision driving test.

Derek Mackarel made it two wins from two this weekend as he was the fastest to complete all eight tests.

2^nd overall and 1^st in class 2 went to Elijah Dixon.

3^rd overall and 2^nd in class 2 went to Andrew Mackarel.

3^rd in class 2 went to Abraham Dixon.

Fastest Junior on the day and taking the Junior win was Jack Treanor.

 

Oisín Sherlock.

Yeats Ridge Forestry Rally

The 2026 Trailer Parts & Spares Irish Forest Rally Championship got underway last weekend with the Yeats Ridge Forestry Rally. Connacht Motor Club CLG organised this event, which included four separate special stages, each ran twice in the forests between Geevagh (Sligo) and Manorhamilton (Leitrim).

Josh Moffett was the highest placed Monaghan MC member on the day, as he and navigator Andy Hayes took their Hyundai i20 R5 home in 5^th place and 2^nd in class 5.

Derek Mackarel and his navigator Eamonn Creedon finished the day right behind them in 6^th place and 3^rd in class 5.

Killian McArdle navigated Aoife Raftery to 12^th overall and 3rd in class 4.

Last years Sligo Pallets Border Tarmac Rally Champion Michael Conlon switched to the forests this year and finished 21^st overall and 2^nd in Class 14.

Martin and Ciaran Tynan made a return to the stage rallying at the event. They took their Mitsubishi Evo 8 to 33^rd overall and 3^rd in class 15.

The national navigation championship continues this Saturday night in county Cavan.

Conor Lappin and Anthony McDonald have organised an 85-mile event, which will be based out of The Ballymac Inn Bar and Restaurant in Ballymagauran.

County Monaghan Motor Club CLG are hosting their annual Autotest event this Sunday.

CoC Ciaran Tynan has laid out a series of tough but enjoyable tests in the yard of McAree Engineering in Ballinode village.

Regulations and entry are available on the County Monaghan Motor Club App/Website.etc

Oisín Sherlock.

Clerk of the Course Barry O’Sullivan assisted by Brian O’Mahony organised this event based out of the Skibbereen Mart.

County Monaghan driver Andrew Mackarel alongside his Co. Cork navigator Denis O’Donovan were the overall winners of the 100 Isles Navigation Trial last weekend.

Current national navigation championship leaders, and Monaghan Motor Club CLG members Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy finished the event in 2^nd place and took the Expert class win.

Ray and Stephen O’Neill finished in 5^th place and took the Semi-Expert class win by a considerable margin.

Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG and Skibbereen & DCC member Ruaidhri Nash navigated Brian Oakes to 10^th overall, a result that claimed them the Barnett trophy for being the top finishing Skibbereen and District Car Club member crew.

The Co. Monaghan Motor Club Autotest event is fast approaching.

Please note the recent change to the rules and regulations to encourage more youth entrants.

The Autotest event will take place on Sunday February 22nd. Membership for Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG 2026 can be purchased on the club’s app. Just search Co. Monaghan Motor Club on your smart phones app store to download the app.

Co. Monaghan Motor Club News

The opening round of the 2026 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship took place last weekend.

County Galway Motor Club CLG organised the two-day Galway International Rally on Saturday and Sunday.

Co Derry ace Callum Devine and his Co. Kerry navigator Noel O’Sullivan took a start to finish victory, taking the win by 37.1 seconds over Eddie Doherty/ Tom Murphy who were using a similar Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to that of Devine.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes debuted their new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 on the event.

They were in 4^th place overall after the penultimate special stage, but set a fastest stage time on the final Windfield test to move into 3^rd at the expense of David Kelly/Shane Buckley.

Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty took their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 home in 12^th place overall.

Paul McPhillips guided Cian Caldwell to 14^th overall and 1^st in Class RC3.

Killian McArdle guided Michael Cahill to 15^th overall and 1^st in Class 14.

and Paul Maguire made it three in a row for Co. Monaghan motor club members, by taking their Citroën C3 Rally2 home in 16^th overall and 2^nd in Class 24.

John McQuaid and Thomas Treanor took their Ford Escort MkII to 19^th overall and 3rd in Class 14.

James McCarville and Arthur Kierans finished right behind them in 20^th overall and 1^st in Class 13.

Jack Maguire and Keith McConnon finished 28^th overall and 1^st in Class 11F using their Honda Civic.

Daniel McConnon guided Gavin McGivney to 31^st overall and 4^th in Class 13.

Nigel Brennan/Mark Sheridan took their Honda Civic home in 35^th overall and 4^th in Class 11F.

Andrew Mackarel/Richard Cassidy took their beautiful Opel Ascona to 47^th overall and 7^th in Class 13.

Unfortunately, Conor Mohan navigating for Eamonn Kelly retired on special stage 2

Enda Sherry navigating for Darren Gass retired after special stage 5.

The National Navigation Trial Championship continues this weekend with the Skibbereen and District Car Club ‘100 Isles Navigation Trial’. Regulations and Entry are available now.

The Co. Monaghan Motor Club Autotest event is fast approaching. Please note the recent change to the rules and regulations to encourage more youth entrants.

The Autotest event will take place on Sunday February 22^nd.

Jack Treanor was rallying at Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly Co. Derry recently. Jack took his Škoda Citigo to 5^th place out of a total of fourteen in his class. 

Membership for Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG 2026 can be purchased on the club’s app. Just search Co. Monaghan Motor Club in your smart phones app store to download the app.

Oisín Sherlock.