Author: monaghanmotorclub

Monaghan’s Ryan Treanor guided Co. Longford man Shane Dalton to the Carbery Navigation Trial victory on Saturday night last.

Skibbereen and District Car Club hosted the latest round of the National Navigation Championship. The event which was originally due to take place on the 23^rd of November had to be postponed because of a storm. The Trial was organised by Iarla and Eoghan McCarthy. Kilmurry GAA Club was headquarters for this event. The 85-mile event took place between, Kilmurray GAA, Ballineen, Shanlaragh, Kilmichael, Teerelton and Tooms, with a majority of the event taking place in the vicinity of Kilmichael and Teerelton. The event began, just north of Cobblers Crossroads at Timepoint one (Tp1). Next up was Via one (V1), at a road island in Clearagh which had to be approached from the south, meaning traveling a very bumpy private lane in Knockaboy. The Via was strategically positioned as its location on the road island, left it parked unseen on the approach leaving it very easy to miss the turn left into the check point and continuing onward and possibly receiving a double visit if the competitor returned. Public roads between here and to the east of Tooms brought competitors through each of Tp2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The first farm lane of the night was used on the approach to Tp8 in Teerelton. The first Supplementary route instruction was received here to lead competitors to the location of Tp9. The route instruction received here was in the form of a box tulip diagram, with intermediate distance between each junction. It was turn left out of Tp8 drive past the entrance to the farm lane that just after being used for Tp8. Navigators had to warn their drivers to not automatically follow the car in front here. Tp9 was located in a farm yard in Ballina, that was approached and departed from using a series of long farm lanes. On returning to the public road, it was over Ahaclaur bridge and taking yet another farm lane for to reach V2 in the farm yard. On reaching the public road, Tp10 lay a few hundred meters away. The event began to get really tricky here as there was a plethora of the next checkpoints within a few squared kilometres of each other, meaning there was cars traveling in all directions and a slight wrong turn could easily lead crews to arrive at the wrong checkpoint or receiving double visit penalties.  After leaving Tp10, the next road on the left had to be taken as Tp13 lay just around the corner. V3 was up next which was located in a farm at Coolaclevane. A farm lane had to be used over the road from the Via to avoid passing by Tp11 which lay just around the following corner. Tp11 and Control 12 (C12) were both located in Kilmichael. After leaving C12, the next farm lane on the left had to be taken to arrive at Tp13. Tp14 was located out of the area. After leaving here however, the event returned in the direction of Kilmichael for everything between Tp14 and Tp19. This area included four Tp’s and three Via’s. This area also included three supplementary route instructions for the location of V5, Tp18 and V6. The instruction for V5 and Tp18 were received at Tp17. Both instructions here were full grid references typed out in both upper and lower case, mixed and without spaces. Example, Tp18 was as follows TiMePoInTeIgHtEen,tWoSeVeNfOuRpOiNtFiVeSiXfOuRnInEpOiNtFiVe App. SSE (South South East) Dep WSW (West South West). The route instruction for V6 was received at Tp18. Competitors had to use tracing paper for to reveal the route to and the location of the Via. All three previously unknown checkpoints were all on neighbouring roads just to the west of Kilmurray. The checkpoints were laid out in a way that competitors had make sure and not pass by a previous checkpoint on the way to the next one. Tp19 was located to the north west of Shanlaragh. Tp20 and Tp21 just down the road from Tp19, was the location of the second relaxed section of the night and marked the beginning of the Speed Regularity Section. Usually, these sections are set at an average speed of 30mph, but the section this time was set at an average of 28.8mph. The secret check was located at Ahapadeen Cross Roads, before the section ended at C22 at the Ahanasoe Bridge, over the river Blackwater. Tp23 lay a mile away, and was approached by using a farm lane in Ahakeera. Tp25 which was located in Gortaleen, was where the final supplementary route instruction of the night was received for the location of Tp26 and Tp27. The route instruction here was a standard route card, only with the checkpoints out of order and the approach/departure of both Tp’s simply reading ‘Same as Tp??’, meaning competitors had to look and see what the approach/departure was for the particular Tp mentioned. The event then moved north of the R588 for V7 at Aghnaloobaun Bridge. Tp29 was approached using a farm lane in Lackanashinnagh. Something slightly disorientating here was that the farm lane on the map was on the south side of the road. However, the lane had to be entered using an underpass, which meant turning off the road north, turning immediately acute hairpin left and travelling under the public road and travelling south on the cattle track. The event then crossed over the R585 at Moneynacroha Cross Roads where C31was located. The final six Tp’s and penultimate Control were all located on public roads between here, Lisacuddy and Curraghclogh Cross Roads. Tp33 was where the only non-finishing crew on the night stopped. Despite having not picked up a puncture, Oisín Sherlock/Colin Duffy were forced to retire, when mechanical trouble struck their Subaru Impreza.  From the penultimate Control, it was two-mile relaxed road Trip back to the final Control in Kilmurry GAA Hall. When results were totted up, it was a very tight affair. Two crews finished the event acquiring two minutes of lateness over the 85 miles. Ultimately it came down to who got the furthest into the event without being late. Luckily for the Monaghan/Longford duo of Ryan Treanor/Shane Dalton, they got the ‘furthest cleanest’ tiebreak over Denis O’Donovan/Michael ‘Bones’ O’Connor. 3^rd OA went to Patrick Corcoran/Patsy McDonagh, who acquired 5 minutes of lateness. In the classes, it was Denis O’Donovan/Michael ‘Bones’ O’Connor 1^st in the Expert class, Patrick Corcoran/Patsy McDonagh finished 2^nd and Greg Shinnors/Andrew Mackarel 3^rd. Shinnors/Mackarel took a ‘Further cleanest’ tiebreak over Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy as both crews had finished on 7 marks (penalties). 1^st in the Semi-Expert class went to Stephen and Ray O’Neill. 2^nd went to Ruaidhri Nash/Brian Oakes and 3^rd went to Eoin Longworth/Declan Burke. In the Novice class, it was Derek O’Donoghue/Tony O’Keeffe who finished 1^st. Ciaran and James French secured 2^nd and Kieran Hayes/John Cooney finished 3^rd. In the Beginner class, it was Susan Smyth/Brian Duggan 1^st, Gary Kelleher/Seamus McHugh finished 2^nd, and Becky Hollinshead/David Forde finished 3^rd.

After the awards, Both the OA winners, and the organisers expressed their appreciation to all the landowners and marshals who, without their understanding and help, the events could not take place.

The National Championship resumes on January 18^th with Cork Motor Club’s 1000 Shakes Navigation Trial.

Oisín Sherlock

The 2024 Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards day took place in the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel last week.

There were a number of County Monaghan Motor Club members in attendance.

Josh Moffett was the 2024 Triton Showers National Rally Championship winning driver for the fourth year in a row, while Greg Shinnors and Andrew Mackarel were the 2023/24 National Navigation Championship winners.

Andrew’s son Derek and his Co. Cork Navigator, Eamonn Creedon were the 2024 Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship, winners for the first time.

Shane and Ciaran Maguire were the 2024 National Endurance Championship, winning crew.

Co. Monaghan Motor Club was awarded a Presidents Award for ‘Youth Encouragement’ in recognition for their work in getting youth involved in the sport.

Club member, and stalwart within the entire motorsport scene, Caroline McGuinness was awarded a prestigious ‘FIA Volunteer pin’ in recognition of her outstanding dedication and commitment to our sport.

Co. Monaghan Motor Club’s 2025 club membership in now available on the club website and Facebook page. The National Navigation Championship continues this weekend with the Skibbereen and District Car Club, Carbery Navigation Trial.

Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy scored the overall victory on the Midland
Navigation Trial on Saturday night last. The pair had a nine-mark (penalty) win
over fellow Co. Monaghan Motor Club members Ciaran Maguire and Mickey
McNelis. Tydavnet man Ryan Treanor and his Granard based driver Shane
Dalton organised the latest round of the National Navigation Championship.

The pair organised an 85-mile event based out of Ballymore GAA Club outside
Granard, Co. Longford. Checkpoints, Timepoint 1 (Tp1), ViaA (VA), and Tp2
all took place between Coonfin and Anneville before the event moved north of
Granard for Tp3 in Aghnagarron Upper. After leaving Tp3 it was into the first
farm lane of the night for the location of VB in Cloghchurnel. Tp4 was located
at the N55. At the point the event crossed to the east side of the N55, where all
of Tp5, 6, 7 and 8 took place south of Kilcogy. The first supplementary route
instruction of the night was received at Tp8 for the route to and location of Tp9.
The supplementary route instruction was in the form of an intermediate
distanced, box tulip diagram. The tulip diagram took crews to Tp9 which was
located on a long since disused road or layby on the far side of the N55 at
Carnagh Upper. From here it was loop back around, travel half a mile before
taking another farm lane which was also in Carnagh Upper for to arrive at Tp10.
The first relaxed section of the night took place between Tp12 and Tp13 in
Cloonagh. The next supplementary route instruction was received here for the
route to and location of VC and Tp14. The route instruction was in the form of
ten images of a digital watch. Competitors were instructed to depart each yellow
(public) road in the direction of the second hand. Example 30 being South, 12
being North, 50 being North West ect ect. This section proved extremely
difficult as only five of the thirty starting crews arrived to both checkpoints.
Control B located beside Ballinrooey cross roads, marked the completion of the
first half of the event and the beginning of a just as tough second half. A
circular herringbone intermediate distance tulip diagram was received at Tp16
in Crannally for the route to and location of TP17. An extra trick here was that
the tulip diagram did not begin immediately, navigators had to plot where the
tulip began, get there first, before using the tulip to guide them to the location
on Tp17. Only sixteen crews arrived to the Tp after using a farm in Coolcor. Of
those sixteen, only three avoided a wrong approach penalty. Another trick was
on the cards after leaving Tp19. Via D was plotted in the middle of a farm in the
townland of Molly. To reach the Via, a long farm lane with lots of direction
changes had to be negotiated. The trick here was that the Via was purposely left
unmanned. Competitors may think on reaching the end of the lane that they took
a wrong turn in the farm causing them to miss the Via, so they may drive the

lane again and waste a lot of time. Car 3 and 4 were through the farm bumper
to bumper and on reaching the end of the lane, stopped and discussed with each
other what to do. They ultimately decided that there was no other possible way
through the farm, so proceeded to Tp20. The penultimate route instruction was
received at Tp22, just north of Ballinalee for to locate VE and the approach
direction of the pre-plotted Tp23. Once again, this route instruction was an
intermediate distance, box tulip diagram. The box tulip contained thirteen box’s
which were all mixed around and each containing a letter. Competitors were
back in primary school here reciting their A,B,C’s as they had to arrange the
box’s alphabetically. The thirteen boxes contained, in this order,
N,S,O,Q,R,P,T,U,X V,W, and Z. Once at the end of the tulip there was only one
possible way to Tp23 on the R194 at Cloonoose. The Speed Regulatory Section
took place between Tp24 and Tp25. The final supplementary route instruction
was received at Tp26, which was at the end of a long farm pass between
Firmount and Kilcourcey. This time competitors received a list of map gridlines
that had to passed through for to arrive at the location of Tp27. Although Tp27
was only two miles away, eleven gridlines had to be crossed, leaving a lot of
work for navigators to do. The final farm lane of the night took place in Cartron
after departing Tp29 for the approach to the penultimate Control in
Ballymacroly. From here it was just a short, relaxed trip over the road back to
the final Control at Ballymore GAA Club.

When results were declared final, it was announced that

Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy were outright winners on a total of 15 marks. The 15 marks were acquired for lateness. 1m at Tp10, 7m at Tp14,6m at Tp17 and 1m at Tp27.

2 nd overall (OA) went to Ciaran Maguire/Mickey McNelis on 24 marks.

3 rd OA was the Sligo/Monaghan pair of Patrick Corcoran/Mickey Conlon.

In the classes, it was Brian Harkin/Jack Brunton whfinished 1 st in the Beginner class,

Jack McKenna/Sean McConnell finished 2 nd
and Joey Finneran/Gerry Kelly 3 rd .

Eoghán Farrell/Peter Farrell finished 1 st in the Novice class,

with Gretchen and Martin Swinburne finishing 2 nd and Adam Langan.

Damien Hagan finished 3 rd .

The Semi-Expert class went to Ciaran Maguire/Mickey McNelis.

2 nd in the class went to Ruaidhri Nash/Eoghan Corr
and 3 rd went to Stephen and Ray O’Neill.

Patrick Corcoran/Mickey Conlon were winners of the Expert class.

2 nd went to Greg Shinnors/Andrew Mackarel and

3 rdto David McCrudden/Martin Tynan.
After receiving their awards, both Evin and Pakie praised Shane and Ryan for
such an excellent and enjoyable event and thanked all the landowners for
allowing the event to use their property. Shane and Ryan also thanked the
residents along the route and the landowners as without their cooperation events
such as this would be unable to happen. They also thanked the plethora of

marshals who appeared on the night for to man all the checkpoints throughout
the event.
The Postponed Skibbereen and District Car Club, Carbery Navigation Trial has
been rescheduled for Saturday 14 th December. The Co. Monaghan Motor Club
CLG, 2025 club membership is now available on the website and Facebook
page.

Killarney Historic Rally

The Killarney Historic Stages Rally also took place on Saturday. The Star
attraction on the day was Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen two-time World
Rally Champions. The pair were driving a 2.5ltr Toyota Starlet belonging to
Jason Black. Unfortunately for the Flying Finn’s, their Starlet developed
electrical problems on the very first special stage (SS). The issue forced them to
stop but after a loss of five minutes, they did get going again and completed the
stage and the remainder of the event.
In the Modified Section, Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon finished 6 th OA. David
Moffett/Martin Connolly finished 8 th OA. Kaine Treanor navigated Chris
O’Callaghan to 10 th OA. Maurice Moffett took his car back off Richard and
finished his rally in 47th place. Pierce O’Callaghan guided Jonathan Pringle to
52 nd OA.
In the Historic Section, Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty finished 4 th OA and
Damien Connolly guided Keith Lyons to 16 th OA
Conor Mohan navigating for Eamonn Kelly had been leading the rally until they
unfortunately went off the road on SS3. Killian McArdle navigating for Michael
Cahill retired after SS5.

The Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship prizegiving took place on Saturday night last in the Sligo Park Hotel.

Monaghan man Derek Mackarel along with his Co. Cork navigator Eamonn Creedon were presented with their Cup’s and trophies for being crowned this year’s Champions.

On the six-round championship, Derek and Eamonn finished 4th on the opening round in Killarney. Eamonn had to miss Round 2, the Willie Loughman Forest Rally due to family commitments. Derek had Darren Curren on the notes for that weekend and scored his first ever stage rally victory, finishing the six-stage event 20.6s faster than 2nd placed Jordan and Paul Hone who were in a similar Ford Fiesta R5. Eamonn was back in the passenger seat for Round 3, the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally and once again Derek finished on the podium with a 3rd place finish, 22s off the win.

Podiums continued on the following round, the Trailer Parts & Spares Lakeland Stages Rally. There was actually a Monaghan Motor Club member on each step of the podium that day as Patrick and Stephen O’Brien finished 1st, Conor Mohan navigated Eamonn Kelly to 2nd and Mackarel/Creedon finished in 3rd. The McKelvey Asbestos Bushwhacker Rally was the penultimate round. A 7th place finish overall here was enough to secure the drivers title for Derek but as Eamonn had missed Round 2 he had not claimed the navigators title, so it would come down to the final round in Clare. The pair had an excellent event here and once again finished on the podium which secured the navigators title for Eamonn.Derek and Eamonn will be hoping to defend their title in the 2025 Sligo Forest Rally Championship, which begins in Co. Donegal in February. Domhnall Lennon finished 2nd navigator in class 2 and Tommy Moffett finished 3rd driver in the same class. Mickey Conlon and James McEneaney finished 1st in class 14. Down in Australia, Macartan Kierans navigated Richie Dalton to 5th overall in the Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania.

Derek Mackarel was also crowned the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge champion driver for 2024.

The Carbery Navigation Trial due to take place on Saturday last had to be postponed due to the heavy rainfall the previous night. Skibbereen and District Car Club are working with Motorsport Ireland and the Navigation Sub-Commission to try and fix a new date before years end.

The next Championship event will be Midland Motor Club’s Navigation Trial, this Saturday night the 30th. Tydavnet man Ryan Treanor and his Granard based driver, Shane Dalton have organised an 80-mile event based out of Ballymore GAA Club. First competing car begins at 21:01.

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship Awards Night took place over the weekend in the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone. Josh Moffett and his Co. Limerick navigator Keith Moriarty secured the overall championship title. Amazingly, this is Josh’s forth consecutive National Rally Championship title and his navigator Keith’s third consecutive title as Andy Hayes navigated Josh to his maiden national title in 2019. Second overall in this year’s championship went to Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly. Josh and Keith’s title defence got off to the worst possible start after retiring on the opening round in Mayo. Sam and James took victory on that event. Fortunes changed on round 2 for Josh and Keith. Round 2 was our own Ronnie Hawe Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally and Josh and Keith took victory over Sam and James here. This result was repeated on Round 3 in Birr, with Josh/Keith taking victory over Sam/James. Carlow was Round 4 and this event was a disaster for both Moffett brothers as retirement was the result. Sam/James retired completely but Josh/Keith managed to rejoin but finished 91^st. The Circuit of Munster (Limerick) was round 5, Sam/James didn’t compete on this event and Josh/Keith finished 5^th. On Rounds 6 and 7, Stonethrowers (Tipperary) and Galway Summer, Josh and Keith finished 1^st overall with Sam and James Finishing 2^nd on both occasions.

The final round was the Donegal Harvest Stages Rally and as it stood, Josh and Keith were 4 points behind joined leaders Daniel Cronin/Donnchadh Burke and Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy. Sam and James were 4^th in the Championship. When dropped scores were taken into account, Josh and Keith would move to 1^st OA and Sam and James would move to 2^nd OA, just two points adrift of his younger brother. It was still all to play for, leaving service and heading to the final three stages of the 2024 Triton Showers National Rally Championship. Cronin/Burke retired on Stage 7 and Doherty/Murphy were down in 12^th OA, so It was looking increasingly likely that the championship title would be decided by the power stage times. However, it would not come down to the power stage times as Sam and James picked up a puncture on the penultimate stage, while just 3.5s down on Josh. The puncture dropped Sam and James over four minutes, meaning Josh and Keith just had to finish the last stage in their current position to secure the championship title once again.

Anthony Hand/David McCrudden finished 2^nd in class 11R and Martin McPhillips finished 3^rddriver. Michael Conlon/James McEnaney finished 2^nd in class 12. Pierce O’Callaghan finished 2^nd navigator in class 14. Brian Cumiskey finished 1^st driver in class 15. Cathal Sheridan/Coel Leonard finished 1^st in class 10.

Michael Carbin, completed his first year in his Ford Escort with the overall MkII Challenge title and 10^th OA. Darragh Kelly navigating for Paul Barrett finished 10^th OA.

The Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Trial Championship continues this weekend with Skibbereen and District Motor Club’s Carbery Navigation Trial. Iarla and Eoghan McCarthy have organised an 85-mile event based out of Kilmurry GAA Club. The first car begins Saturday night at 21:01.

Oisín Sherlock