Author: monaghanmotorclub

Oisín Sherlock was back in Spain last week, taking part in Rallye Festival Hoznayo. He was once again navigating for Andrew McCourt, in his Ford Escort MkII. The event got underway on Thursday, with multiple runs of a 6.6km ‘Shakedown’ Stage, followed by a ceremonial start that night.

Three stages were on the cards on Friday, followed by a further seven stages on Saturday. The ten stage, festival event was untimed as it is not classified as a competition – just like ‘Andalusía Festival Legend’ event, in which they completed a fortnight earlier, it was a ‘show event only’, so its main purpose was to bring in huge crowds for to witness cars of yesteryear, rally around and do flamboyant manoeuvres. This time the event was based around the village of Hoznayo in northern Spain. The most memorable part of the event for Oisín, was the ‘human corridor’ from the end of the final stage to the Finish Ramp, back in the Hoznayo Service Park. It consisted of thousands of fans lining the roads, waving flags, dancing around, cheering and waving lit flares all under the cover of darkness.

Evin Hughes guided Karl O’Donoghue to 2nd overall on last weekend’s Skibbereen and District Car Club Endurance Trial. The pair narrowly missed out on the overall win by just two seconds. Arguably, they could have had a commanding victory, as they incurred a minute penalty for an error on the opening selective of the day. Unfortunately, Sean and Caolain McCaffrey retired at Selective 9, while sitting 1st in Class A2N. Their day had gotten off to the ideal start, as on the opening selective, they set the fourth fastest time overall. Unfortunately for them, their Nissan Micra grew weary on the following road section. They managed to get the issue sorted, and were able to complete Selective 2 and onward. However more mechanical gremlins arose later. This time the gremlins were unable to be repaired quickly, so this forced them to retire at Selective 9.

The Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship continued with Mayo Motor Clubs, Forest Rally on Saturday. Derek Mackarel/Eamonn Creedon finished the six-stage event in 5th place overall, and 2nd in Class 5. Steven Corey/Michelle Horan finished 24th OA and 2nd in Class 14. Killian McArdle navigating for Keelan Grogan retired after SS2. Tommy Moffett/Domhnall Lennon retired after SS4.

County Monaghan Motor Club are hosting their annual ‘Charity Static Car Show and Shine’ on Sunday, June 29th. The event is taking place in the Long Stay Carpark at Monaghan Town Shopping Centre. Car entries are €20. General admission will be by donation at the gate. The donations are going towards Crocus Monaghan Branch and SOSAD Ireland.

Oisín Sherlock.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes were victorious on the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally, held on Sunday last.

The reigning Triton Showers National Rally Champion had an 18.2s advantage over older brother Sam, navigated by Shane Buckley.  Kevin Eves/Chris Melly finished in 3rd place, a further 3.7s adrift.

Paul Barrett/Darragh Kelly finished in 8th place and 4th in Class 5. David Moffett/Conor Mohan finished 18th overall and 3rd in Class 14. David’s brother Richard, navigated by Ger Conway finished 22nd and 4th in Class 14.

Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan finished right behind them in 23rd place overall.

Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon finished in 25th place.

Raymond Conlon/Gavin Doherty finished 33rd overall.

Ryan Farrell guided Stephen Faughnan to 35th overall.

Damien Connolly navigated Oran England to 36th overall and 1st in Class 2.

Mickey Conlon/Adam Langan finished 39th and 1st in Class 12.

Justin Smyth/Ciaran McGorman finished 41st and 2nd in Class 2. Tommy Moffett/Paul McPhillips finished 44th overall and 3rd in Class 2.

Daniel McConnon guided Gavin McGivney to 47th place.

Domhnall Lennon navigated Vincent Collins to 50th and 3rd in Class 12.

Martin McPhillips/Paul Kelly finished 51st and 2nd in Class 11R.

Brian Cumiskey/Declan Campbell finished 75th overall and 1st in Class 15.

Squealing Pig Border Navigation champions, Pakie/Duffy/Evin Hughes finished 85th overall and 3rd in Class 3.

Peter and Eoghán Farrell finished 92nd and 2nd in Class 10. 

Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty retired after SS4.

Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan retired after SS6, while in 27th overall.

Brian Hoy navigating for Gary Jennings, retired on SS4. Killian McArdle navigating for Michael Cahill, retired after SS6 while 26th overall. James McCarville/Arthur Kierans retired after SS1. John McQuaid/Thomas Treanor retired after SS2.

On Saturday last, Maiden City Motor Club held their Eakin Bros Rally. Arthur Kierans navigated David Kelly to 3rd place overall. Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty retired after SS7 with an electoral issue.

The Squealing Pig Border Navigation Trial Championship prize-giving was held last week, where Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy lifted the overall title once again.

Aaron McElroy and Declan Tynan finished 2nd OA and David McCrudden/Martin Tynan were third.

Greg Shinnors/Andrew Mackarel finished 1st in the Expert class, Oisín Sherlock/Derek Mackarel finished 2nd, and Conor Boylan/Shane Dalton finished 3rd.

Ciaran Maguire/Mickey McNelis finished 1st in the Semi-Expert class, and Michael Sheridan/Cathal McGlone finished 2nd.

Darren Lavery/Aaron McGorman finished 1st in the Novice class and Adam Langan finished 2nd Novice navigator. Martin Swinburne finished 3rd Novice driver. Gretchen Swinburne finished 4th Novice navigator. Jack McKenna finished 5th Novice Navigator and Aaron Dixon finished 6th Novice driver.

Conor Mohan was navigating for Eamonn Kelly on the latest round of the 2025 Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC). Conor and Eamonn travelled to Portugal, for to take part in Vodafone Rally de Portugal, round 2, of this year’s JWRC.

The event began on Thursday night, with a Super Special Stage, where Conor and Eamonn finished the 2.94 km stage in 5^th place, just 2.4s off the fastest time. The 2.4s deficit was largely due to “one pacenote was too conservative which cost us some time”

The rally got underway properly, early Friday morning, with the first of that day’s ten stages. On the opening stage (SS2), the lads had a “bit of a moment” near the start which knocked their confidence slightly, but they still finished 3rd fastest, which promoted them to 3^rd overall. On the fourth stage of the morning (SS5), they set the 2^nd fastest stage time, just a tiny four tenths of a second slower than fastest. On SS6, after a regroup followed by a ‘Service’ break, the lads unfortunately picked up a puncture, but continued onward for around six kilometres, which saved them time, that would have been incurred, had they stopped and replaced the punctured wheel.

Did you know, in the past, excessive use of commas was considered a serious crime? It usually resulted in a long sentence. The puncture on SS6 cost the team around 30s, which dropped them from 2^nd to 3^rd place in the standings. However, by the end of that loop of stages, they had clawed most of them 30s back, and were sitting just 6.2s adrift of a podium place. Unfortunately for the lads, they would be feeling very deflated at the end of Fridays stages, as the once again picked up a puncture. This time however, they had no choice, but stop and change it. This stoppage cost them just shy of four minutes and dropped them right out of contention for a podium finish.

This was a big blow to morale, as they had been as high as 2^nd earlier in the day. Saturday’s stages got of to a great start, with excellent times on the opening two and a half stages, but midway through the third stage, they had to put their car into ‘Road mode’ as it began to overheat. Eamonn commented, at the end of Saturday’s rallying, that the day had been a huge disappointment for him, as apart from the overheating car earlier in the day, he felt that he just lacked a lot of pace.

Things improved almost immediately on Sunday’s final leg, as on SS20, he set the fastest time overall in the JWRC, which gave himself mixed feelings, as it showed, what could have been possible, if it wasn’t for the punctures and an overheating issue. Conor and Eamonn finished the event in 7^th place overall. The next event in the JWRC is the EKO Acropolis Rally of the Gods, which takes place at the end of June.

Oisín Sherlock was taking part in Andalusía Festival Legend last weekend. He was navigating for Andrew McCourt in a Ford Escort MKII. The festival event, had no timed stages, as it’s a ‘Show event only’ and its main purpose is to bring in huge crowds to witness cars of yesteryear, rally around and do flamboyant manoeuvre’s.

The event was based in southern Spain, around the town of Ubrique. The pair of lads had a wonderful time during the events nine stages, one of which was a 2.2km superspecial in the centre of the town, with thousands of spectators.

Oisín said after the event, that he had been taking Spanish lessons for four weeks in preparation for the language difference, but that he never learned to say ‘please’. Personally, I think that’s poor for four.

The National Navigation Championship, prizegiving night took place on Saturday night last, in the Athlone Springs Hotel.

Tydavnet man Ryan Treanor was crowned champion navigator for a second time. Ryan’s driver, Shane Dalton was crowned champion driver for the first time. Shane missed out on the title alongside Ryan the first time, as he and Ryan did not compete on all events together. Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy finished in 2^nd place overall.

Andrew Mackarel finished in 3^rd place overall in the driver’s category. Oisín Sherlock finished 3^rd Expert navigator, while Greg Shinnors finished 1^st. Ciaran Maguire/Cathal McGlone finished 3^rd in the Semi-Expert class. Gretchen and Martin Swinburne finished 1^st in the Novice class, and Darren Lavery/Aaron McGorman finished 2^nd in the Beginner class.

The Monaghan Drumlin Navigation Trial, organized by Conor Boylan and Derek Mackarel was voted the best event of the season by competitors who attended the prizegiving.

The Squealing Pig Border Navigation prizegiving takes place this Friday night, May 23^rd in The Squealing Pig Bar and Restaurant in Monaghan tow. Everyone welcome.

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship resumes this weekend with Cavan Motor Clubs, ‘Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally. Josh Moffett leads the cars off, seeded 1 on the road, back in his trusty Hyundai i20 R5.

Oisín Sherlock

Derek Mackarel and Eamonn Creedon took a 5^th place finish, on last weekend’s, Tipperary Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally.

The event was organised and promoted by the Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club, and was Round 4 of the 2025 Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship.

The event’s three separate Special Stages, (each ran twice) took place in the Galtymore Mountain and Glensheskin Forest.

Derek and Eamonn finished 46.7s, in arrears of the outright victors, Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden. Greg Shinnors navigated James Dunphy to 6^th overall and 3^rd in Class 5.

Tommy Moffett/Domhnall Lennon retired after SS3, when a wheel bearing on their Ford Fiesta Rally4 collapsed.

Killian McArdle was navigating for Casey Jay Coleman on Rally Hungary last weekend. Their event was going great until SS6, where they picked up a puncture, causing the tyre to wrap around the suspension. They did eventually get the tyre cut away from the suspension, but had dropped considerable time. It would get worse on SS9, as they picked up another puncture. This was followed by clipping a concrete lip which damaged a wheel hub too seriously for to be able to continue, so retirement ensued.

The National Navigation Championship,

Prizegiving will take place this Saturday evening, the 17^th of May. At the event, Monaghan’s Ryan Treanor and Co. Longford’s, Shane Dalton will be crowned the 2024/25 national champions. The event is taking place in the Athlone Springs Hotel from 6pm. Everyone welcome.

Oisín Sherlock

The Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes International Rally, took place around Killarney last weekend. The event was Round 4 of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

Killian McArdle guided Joseph Kelly to 22^nd overall and 1^st in Class RC4. Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon finished 45^th overall after finishing the event under Super Rally rules. Arthur Kierans, navigating for David Kelly retired after SS3 with mechanical trouble.

At the Campbell Contracts May Day Rally held at Enniskillen St Angelo Airport on Bank Holiday Monday, Damien Connolly guided Peadar Hurson to 4^thoverall in their VW Polo R5.

Conor Mohan was in Portugal last weekend, taking part in Rali Terras d’Aboboreira 2025. Conor and his driver Eamonn Kelly were using this event for a test ahead of the next round of the Junior World Rally Championship, Vodafone Rally de Portugal, which takes place next week. Conor and Eamonn had a fantastic event, winning nine out of the ten Special Stages, which left them in 9^th place overall and 1^st in Class RC3 and 1^st in Junior ERT. Eamonn found a great set-up for the car ahead of the world round next week, an event that is one of the toughest on the calendar.

The National Navigation Championship prizegiving will take place on Saturday the 17th of May at 6pm in the Athlone Springs Hotel. Everyone welcome.

The Squealing Pig Border Navigation Championship prizegiving will take place in the Squealing Pig Monaghan, on Friday May 23rd, Everyone welcome.

Oisín Sherlock