Author: monaghanmotorclub

Derek Mackarel & Conor Boylan took overall victory on last weekend’s Cavan Navigation Trial, Round 7 of the National Night Navigation Championship & Round 4 of the Border Navigation Championship.

The pair negotiated the 80-mile route 7 penalties clear of the opposition. Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin boosted their Border hopes with 2nd overall with the Semi-Expert crew of Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue finishing a fine 3rd overall.

COC Thomas Wedlock mixed some old with the new with the first half of the event in familiar territory near Maudabawn before moving to some new terrain near Shercock. The first half of the event was fairly straightforward until a plot & bash section at TP15 & TP16. Any crew who overshot the intended lane would pass within 50 metres of the timepoint and there were some surprised faces at the finish who incurred double visit penalties. By CB, all crews were down time penalties but there was only a handful of penalties separating the top 10. A herringbone tulip diagram covering three timepoints would decide to the event. A multitude of ‘roads’ within very short distances of one another meant any slight deviation from the intended route would result in some very confused navigators as they attempted to get back on track. A number of crews missed timepoints here and those that did get them dropped considerable time.

Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan faired best to take the lead and they negotiated the remaining miles unscathed to take the event win on 9 penalties. Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin dropped 13 penalties on the plot & bash section but importantly got all the timepoints to move into 2nd place. Semi-Experts Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue secured 3rd overall on 17 penalties with class rivals James McCabe/Shane Farrell just behind in 4th on 22 penalties. 5th overall went to another Semi-Expert crew of Bob Graham/Ryan Treanor.

Local men Aaron & Ben McIntyre took victory in the Novice class and 6th overall. Aiden Keenan/Sean Marron & Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna completed the podium. Damien Hagan/Ryan Farrell took victory in the Beginners class.

The Navigation seasons concludes with the Monaghan Navigation Trial on Saturday 4th April. Cork crew Derek Butler & Denis O’Donovan have won the National title while the Border title is up for grabs between a number of crews.

Top 10 Results:
1st Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 9m,
2nd Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 16m,
3rd Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue (Subaru Impreza) 17m,
4th James McCabe/Shane Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 22m,
5th Bob Graham/Ryan Treanor (Subaru Impreza) 31m,
6th Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre (Subaru Impreza) 45m,
7th Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 47m,
8th Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 63m,
9th James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody (Subaru Impreza) 66m,
10th Aiden Keenan/Sean Marron (Subaru Impreza) 72m.

Josh Moffett took a start to finish victory on last weekend’s Birr Stages Rally. The event was a round of the West Coast and Midlands East Rally Championships but was an ideal shake up for the upcoming Mayo & West Cork Rallies in March. Moffett & regular navigator Andy Hayes dominated throughout the event and finished 27 seconds clear of their nearest rivals.

The rally consisted of two long stages done three times. Moffett was one of only two cars to complete the first stage 4.3 seconds ahead of Desi Henry/John Rowan. He increased his advantage to eight seconds on the 19km Stage 2. Moffett put in a stunning drive on the repeated run of that stage where he was 14 seconds faster than nearest rival Henry. Although Henry was fastest on stage 5, Moffett flew to another fastest time on the last to secure the overall win. Behind Henry, English visitor Ollie Mellors/Max Freeman finished 3^rd overall in their Proton.

Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming had a great run to 9^th overall, 2^nd two wheel drive car and class 13 winners. Jack McKenna guided Marty Toner to 10^th overall and 2^nd in class 13. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden were an impressive 12^th overall and class 11R winners. Arthur Kierans guided Donegal’s David Kelly to 15^th overall and a class 2 win.  Aisling McArdle guided Des Lyons to 26^th overall and 3^rd in class 11F.

Fivemiletown Forestry Rally

On last weekend’s Fivemiletown Forestry Rally, Emmet Sherry guided Alan Smyth to 9^th overall in their Lancer. Kaine Treanor was navigating for Andrew Bustard and they finished 11^th overall and 2^nd in class. Just behind them were David Condell/Paul Kelly in 12^th overall and 1^st two wheel drive car. Calum Maguire guided Peter McCullagh to 18^th overall in their Fiesta.

Stephen Wright began the defence of his Northern Ireland Rally title with victory on the Kirkistown Stages Rally based at the Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Wright was partnered by Gary McKenna for the event.

After 6 stages, Wright held off the Mini WRC of Derek McGeehan by 5.2 seconds to claim the win.

Wright/McKenna made a cautious start due to the slippery stages but nevertheless they moved into the lead on Stage 3. They continued to increase their lead to 7 seconds by Stage 5. There was late drama when they caught another competing car on the final test. They were relieved that they were still 3^rd fastest and retained their lead. The father & son team of Derek & Mark McGeehan took 2^nd place with former NI champion Derek McGarritty/Paddy Robinson in 3^rd. Matthew McKenna guided Liam McFall to 18^th overall.

James Wilson & Arthur Kierans took overall victory on last weekend’s Carrick-on-Suir Forestry Rally. The event was round 1 of the 2020 Irish Forestry Championship. Wilson, the 2018 Billy Coleman Award Winner, led the event from start to finish to take a convincing victory. Ballinode duo Michael Carbin & Conor Mohan secured 2^nd overall in their Lancer.

Wilson/Kierans set the pace on the opening test, opening a six second advantage ahead of Carbin/Mohan. Top seed Andrew Purcell retired. Wilson/Kierans were fastest on each of the first four stages and increased their advantage to 27 seconds. Carbin/Mohan were holding a steady 2^nd place with a nine second advantage over Liam Ryan/Keith Moriarty in 3^rd. Michael Conlon/Grace O’Brien were involved in a big fight with Gary Kiernan/Darren O’Brien for the two-wheel drive lead.

Stage 5 was the longest of the rally and proved to be the final test as Stage 6 was cancelled. Another fastest time secured the win for Wilson/Kierans. Championship regulars Carbin/Mohan were 2^nd. Conlon/O’Brien lost out on the two-wheel drive win but they were 7^th overall and 2^nd in class on their first event together. Australia based Monaghan man Pauric Duffy made a switch to the woods and brought his Fiesta home 10^th overall and 2^nd in class.

The Irish Forestry Championship continues with the Limerick Forestry Rally on March 1^st.

 Evin Hughes was the top finishing club member on last weekend’s ALMC Endurance Trial. The event was Round 1 of the 2020 Endurance Trial Championship. Hughes was navigating for regular driver Karl O’Donoghue.

The event featured some classic selectives in Luttrelstown, Fairy House & Stanley’s with most of the second half tackled in darkness, O’Donoghue/Hughes had led throughout the day closely followed by Peter Barrable/Kevin Fagan. A broken driveshaft put paid to their chances on the very last selective, resulting in them received a maximum time and demoting them to 2^nd place.

Emmet Sherry/Ciaran Geaney had a great run to finish 4^th overall and win class B for navigation cars. Danny McKenna guided Peter Cummins to an impressive 6^th overall and 1^st in class A1. Shane Farrell guided Mark Reilly to 9^th overall and 1^st in the Expert class. Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly had been top seeds but an off on the opening selective put paid to their chances. They recovered from that setting some fastest times throughout the day and finished 22^nd.

The Son & Father team of Shane & Conor Maguire were pleased with 24^th overall and 1^st Beginner. Ciaran & Pauric Duffy took 29^th overall and 2^nd in the same class with Darragh & Josh Kelly in 32^nd making it a Monaghan 1-2-3. Eoghan Corr/Niall Hughes won class F in their Mazda MX5. Robert Graham/Ryan Treanor finished 37^th overall while Alan Langan/Martin McPhillips were 48^th.

Cavan host Round 2 of the Endurance Championship on March 22^nd.