Author: monaghanmotorclub

Michael and Ciaran Tynan led the field home on Saturday night last after a mammoth Drumlin navigation Trial which lived up to its billing as one of the most demanding trials of the navigation season. Coc’s Noel Hall and Trevor Farrell along with Gary Hall and their team set out a route of over 100 miles and 50 timepoints which covered an area from Analore to Scotshouse, Treehoo Cross, Bunnoe, Drum, Rockcorry and Swanns Cross before arriving back to the Acorn Centre, Newbliss after almost five hours of competition.

Midlands men Colin Duffy and Sam Johnston led the event for the whole of the first half, managing to keep a clean sheet up to timepoint 25. Timepoint 16 was the first to claim some of the expert crews with a wrong approach on the cards as up to 17 of the starting 38 crews slotted in a lane too early for a wrong approach. Duffy and Johnston were to slip down the leader board at time point 25 where a wrong departure in a tricky farm yard cost them dearly. Incredibly only four crews managed to depart in the correct way and this would ultimately narrow the field down to a winner. After timepoint 25 it was a two horse race as Michael and Ciaran Tynan, along with Packie and Colin Duffy were both on four penalties but there was still a long way to go. Things went a little ward ward for the Tynan duo through the middle third , dropping a costly 7 minutes from tp 18 to 30 with the Duffy/Hughes pairing going into the lead, only dropping 3 minutes in the same section.

But through the last third of the event the Tynans managed to settle themselves and record a clean sheet to finish on 8 penalties with Duffy and Hughes dropping 3 more in the run for home to finish on 8 also but it was Michael and Ciaran’s win on a furthest cleanest ruling. Incredibly this was Michaels first Drumlin navigation victory in 31 years of trying as the pairing were second overall on three of the last four Drumlins.

The race for the traders trophy also went to the wire as Damien Connolly, driven by Fintan McGorman managed to take the slenderest of wins from Martin Tynan and Stephen Thornton. Prior to the event it was a two horse race with a winner takes all scenario but Connolly did just about enough to take the traders title, finishing in 6th overall on 29 penalties, with Martin Tynan and Stephen Thornton just behind in 7th overall and on 33 penalties. This is Connolly’s 2nd traders win in as many years.

Packie Duffy and Evin Hughes 2nd overall merited them the expert class win ahead of Colin Duffy and Sam Johnston with Richard Cassidy and Paul Phelan in 3rd, all in subaru’s. Ashley McAdoo and Laurence Keenan are the dominant force in the semi-expert class and once again had a good run through the Drumlins to finish 3rd overall and a another convincing class win. The Donegal/Cork pairing of Trevor McConnell and Eoghan McCarthy were 2nd semi followed by another Donegal/Cork Pairing of Bobby Sharkey and Muireann Hayes in 3rd.

The novice class was also a tight affair as the Cavan cousins Thomas and Andrew Wedlock held off stiff competition from Michael Carbin and Darragh Kelly to take a well deserved class win from Carbin

/Kelly. Derek Mackarel and Seamus McTigue paired up again and took 3rd in novice and 15th overall. On what is generally a tough night for the beginners class it was Donal McArdle and Alan Cullinan who persevered to take the class win ahead of Paddy and Oisin Sherlock in 2nd. Colm and Conor Mohan took third place crystal in the beginners class, and more importantly for all beginners the accolade of a drumlin navigation experience under their belts.

That’s the Drumlin done and dusted for another year, midlands motor club is next up on Saturday week, 22nd November with their first navigation trial of the season. Well done to all involved in running such a big event as the Drumlin and CoC Noel Hall would like to thank his organising team for all their help, too many to name along with all residents along the route, especially those who offered up their private lanes and property, all marshal’s who helped out on the night, Acorn Centre Hall committee, results teams and the tea ladies who all did a great job.

 

 

MOFFETT TAKES SECOND ON GLENS FORESTRY RALLY

A fantastic three way battle lay in store for the eager spectators in Derry today as the Glens Forestry Rally played host to the final round of the Valvoline Irish Forestry Rally Championship. Josh Moffett led the series coming into the event with Desi Henry and Owen Murphy also in contention for the win. With drop scores still to be taken into account it couldn’t have been closer! The event consists of two stages repeated three times with service after each loop being held at the event sponsors’ premises, the “River Ridge Recycling” complex in Ringsend.

It was Strabane’s Martin Cairns navigated by Peter Ward who set the pace on the opening 5.2km test in their Subaru Impreza S14 setting a time of 5:49.4 to lead the event from Josh Moffett and Jason McKenna who were 2.5 seconds behind in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. Rallying regular Kenny McKinstry and Noel were a further 0.2 seconds adrift in third in their S14 with championship contenders Desi Henry / Liam Moynihan and Owen Murphy / Anthony Nestor 3.7 seconds and 5.2 seconds off the lead respectively, both in Mitsubishi s.

Into the second stage and in was bad news for Cairns, a tough stage dropped the Northern Irishman to fourth overall. Desi Henry set a time of 7:28.6 to win the stage and take the lead of the event. Moffett trailed in second but only by a mere 0.3 seconds with McKinstry in fourth 3.6 seconds off the lead. In Group N it was Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly in their Evo IX who held an eleven second lead over Colm McFall and Paddy McCrudden in a similar machine.

Forestry Rally regulars Marty McKenna and Martin McGarrity were involved a frightening off on stage 2 but thankfully the crew escaped with minor injuries.

After the break and it was Josh Moffett who went on the attack snatching the lead from Desi Henry who lay just 1.7 seconds behind in second with the recovering Martin Cairns in third 5.8 seconds behind. However on stage four Henry retook the lead by winning stage four setting a time 8.2 seconds faster than Moffett who was 5.7 seconds behind in second. McKinstry was third with Owen Murphy moving up to fourth, another tough stage for Cairns had dropped him to fifth.

Heading into the final service it was Sam Moffett who lead Group N by 22.6 seconds from Niall Henry and John Rowan. The last two stages saw Desi Henry maintain his lead to win the Glens Forestry Rally by 5.9 seconds from Josh Moffett. Martin Cairns recovered from his early dramas to take third. McKinstry took fourth while Owen Murphy took fifth which, with drop scores taken into account, was enough to seal the Valvoline Irish Forestry Rally Championship.

Sam Moffett took the Group N win while Shane McGirr was able to hold off the charge of Frank Kelly to win the modified section by a mere 0.3 of a second. Andrew Greenan navigated Seamus O’Connell to second in class 5A in an Escort.

Josh will now swiftly change his focus to his WRC debut on the final round of the championship this weekend, Wales Rally GB.

1. Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan 38:08.0
2. Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna +5.9
3. Martin Cairns/Peter Ward +41.0
4. Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr +43.2
5. Owen Murphy/Anthony Nestor +53.5

Monaghan Motor Club Night of Champions

Monaghan Motor Club will host their annual night of champions awards dinner dance on Friday night, 5th December in the Hillgrove Hotel so keep it free! More details to follow.

MCKENNA AIMS FOR JWRC SEASON IN 2015

The 2014 British Rally Champion Daniel McKenna has set his sights high for his 2015 season by announcing he is aiming to tackle the Junior World Rally Championship next year. The 2012 Billy Coleman Award winner says he wants to aim big for the next stage of his rallying career.

Speaking last week the Monaghan man has said he has spent the last few months trying to secure the funding to attack the JWRC next year. “I’ve been working very hard over the last while talking to people and trying to convince them to back me for the championship next year. It would be a fantastic challenge to compete against some of the best young talent in the world. Securing the funding is going to be my main focus for the next few months.

When you look at the likes of Keith Cronin, Robert Barrable and Alastair Fisher you can see that the level of funding required can be sourced and there are people out there willing to back you. I just have to try and convince them now.”

The BRC champion was speaking ahead of the final round of the World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB, which he and Arthur Kierans are to compete in. “It’s important to put in a good performance in Wales as a good result could prove important for our 2015 plans. We’ll be on the attack.”

McKenna will compete in Wales in the Citroen DS3 he and Arthur Kierans win the BRC title in and the Monaghan man is feeling confident he can put in a performance. ” We haven’t been able to have a pre-event test but I’m very happy with my gravel set up for the car, we managed to perfect it on the gravel rounds in the BRC this year. We are going to give the car a hard run on the shakedown before the event to make sure it’s just right. Arthur and I will be going over the notes from the last year and DVD ahead of the recce at the start of next week just to make sure we are totally prepared so we can have a clear mind for the event itself. ”

Speaking about his preparation for the event McKenna says he has learned from last year and is ready to attack the rally. “Last year when we did the event our preparation was very rushed as we weren’t guaranteed the entry until we knew we had the Pirelli Star Driver Award so we were caught off guard with certain things on the event but we got through it in the end, this time we are going into the event in a better place mentally so our confidence is higher.”

So with a round of the World Rally Championship on the horizon and some exciting plans on the horizon McKenna will be a busy man ” I’ve been working hard over the last couple of months and I’ll have to work as hard over the next few months to try and get the funding in place. We have a number of fall back plans in place just in case we don’t secure enough funding for the JWRC. It’s an important point in my career and I’ll be doing everything I can to progress in the right direction.

KERRY MINI STAGES

Well done to David Smyth who took third in class 11R with Leitrim’s Johnny Rooney on the notes in their Corolla.

The 2014 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship Awards ceremony took place last Saturday night and saw the Monaghan duo David Moffett and Fintan Sherry crowned champions. The pair dominated the very competitive class 11R taking class wins in each of the four events they contested in their Maurice Moffett Engineering backed Toyota Starlet.

Pushing them all year were former champions (although not together) Brian Armstrong and Monaghan’s Mark Tierney. This pair came out on top of the class 12 battle and were just one point behind Moffett and Sherry at season end. 3rd overall went to the Cavan pairing of Gene McDonald and Kevin Reilly who competed in class 9. No fewer than 7 crews still had a chance of winning the championship going into the final round, showing just how open this class-based championship is. In the end there can only be one winning crew and Moffett and Sherry snatched it after an awesome run over Atlantic Drive to clinch the class win they needed by just two seconds!

Other local crews who finished the Sligo Pallets Border Championship with class awards include Laurence Sherry and Mark Sheridan who won class 9. Cathal Sheridan took the class 10 honours with John Kelly finishing second driver, and Niall Kelly topping the navigators category in class 10. Justin Smyth was 3rd driver in class 12. Jack Maguire was top driver in class 14 with Paul Sheridan 2nd Navigator. Michael Carbin and Emmet McCooey took the class 20 awards for their seasons efforts.

DRUMLIN NAVIGATION TRIAL

All roads lead to Newbliss this Saturday night where Monaghan Motor Club will host what is widley considered the biggest night navigation trial of the season, known as the Drumlin navigation. This is the first counting round of the 2014/15 Squealing Pig Border navigation championship and the 2nd round of the national navigation championship. CoC’s for the event Noel Hall and Trevor Farrell, along with their team have laid on a mammoth 100 mile route in the surrounding areas of Ture, Drum, Rockcorry, Aghabog to name but a few. As always marshals are needed in abundance so please make yourself available by calling or texting Noel on 086 8555883 to pre-book a timepoint and be in Newbliss before 8pm on Saturday night. Full report next week.

SHERRY TAKES FIFTH ON OMAN INTERNATIONAL RALLY

It was rallying of a different sort for Monaghan’s Enda Sherry as he headed for the Middle East last weekend for the Oman International Rally. Sherry navigated Qatari driver Abdullah Al-Kuwari to fifth overall in their Ford Fiesta R5. The crew were comfortably inside the top five for most of the rally and finished eleven and a half minutes behind winners Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Mayo’s Killian Duffy.

It was yet another good weekend for Combilift Rallying and Josh Moffett as the Monaghan man, along with co-driver John Rowan, took third place on the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Stages Rally. Moffett had borrowed the Fiesta WRC off his brother Sam to compete in for only the second time this year and having taken victory on his first outing in the car in Sligo he was certainly capable of a result. It was a steady start for the Combilift Rallying crew over the first three stages as the crew they gradually built their experience in the car, after the third test Moffett and Rowan lay in fifth place 58.6 seconds off leader Darragh O’Riordan and Tony McDaid but crucially they were only 6.2 seconds off a top three position. More steady runs followed on stage four and five but on stage six the crew’s speed was building as moved into fourth place. With the demise of second placed Kevin Kelleher on stage seven Moffett moved into third and a podium finish looked a real possibility. Moffett and Rowan completed the final stage to take third place and another impressive performance in WRC machinery. The event was won by Darragh O’Riordan and Tony McDaid. Attention will now shift to the final round of the Valvoline Irish Forestry Rally Championship which takes place in a couple of weeks.

Fastnet Stages Rally Top 5

1. Darragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid 1:15:40,7
2. Dennis Cronin/ Coleman Hurley +1:24
3. Josh Moffett/John Rowan + 2:12
4. Rob Duggan/Noel O’Sullivan + 2:14
5. Ed Murphy/John McCarthy + 5:02

DRUMLIN NAVIGATION TRIAL ENTRY FORMS RELEASED

Entry form’s and regulations are available for the Monaghan Motor Club Drumlin Navigation Trial which runs on Saturday 8th November. This is round two of the National Night Navigation Trial Championship as well as the opening round of the popular Squealing Pig Border navigation championship. Coc for the event is Noel Hall and the Acorn Centre, Newbliss is HQ. As always marshals are needed in abundance so please be in Newbliss before 8pm on Saturday night, 8th November if you are available to marshal. This is one of the most challenging night navigations in the country and is not one to be missed

Last year’s winner of the Garda Siochana stages Rally, Richard Moffett led the field away from the start ramp in his Toyota Starlet looking to make it two in a row in Baltinglass Co. Wicklow last Sunday. With regular co-driver Martin Connolly on the notes he was going to have his work cut out, having to withstand the pressure from Cavan’s Chris Armstrong and James Fulton in a Mark II escort.

Into stage 1 and it was Moffett and Connolly who set the pace over the 16.5 kilometre test leading their Cavan rivals by three seconds by the end of the stage, setting up a great battle for the day. Mike Quinn and Tony Healy held third a further five seconds behind in their Mk2 Escort. After service it was into stage 2 and Armstrong went on a massive charge to win the stage by eight seconds over Moffett to take the lead by five. He extended his advantage by a further three seconds on the third test, to head into service with an eight second advantage.

Armstrong extended his lead to 13 seconds through stage 4 as his chances of victory were growing quickly while Moffett had to contend with a half spin. Quinn appeared safe in third place. Stage five was cancelled due to a delay so they crews headed back to the final service stop. With one stage to go it appeared Armstrong only needed to get through the stage to win the event but an overshoot near the end of the test nearly ruined his chances of victory but the Cavan man along with co-driver James Fulton did enough to win the rally by nine seconds from Monaghan’s Richard Moffett and Martin Connolly.

Mike Quinn and Tony Healy took third place, 49 seconds behind the winners. It was a good day also for JP McAree who navigated Jack Newman to the class 13 win and 4th overall in their Ford Escort. Barry McKenna and Macartan Kierans took second in class 13 and 7th overall, also in an Escort. Declan Tynan navigated Leitrims Enda McLoughlin round the Wicklow stages to take 12th overall in their newly built millington powered mark II escort. Jim McKenna and Thomas Treanor also made the trip South but their day was to get off to a bad start with a visit to the scenery but they managed to get back on the road and complete the event.

Garda Siochana MC Mini Stages Rally Top 10

1/ Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Escort) 38m 05s
2/ Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly (Starlet) 38m 14s
3/ Mike Quinn/Tony Healy (Escort) 38m 54s
4/ Jack Newman/J P McAree (Escort) 39m 11s
5/ Aaron MacHale/Paul McGee (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 39m 13s
6/ Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Manta) 39m 35s
7/ Barry McKenna/Mac Kiernan (Escort) 39m 36s
8/ Sam Smyth/Alan Smyth (Escort) 39m 39s
9/ Graham Scallan/Jim Scallan (Impreza Gp N) 39m 45s
10/ David Leonard/Darragh Mullen (Lancer) 39m 52s

 

JOSH MOFFETT TO MAKE WRC DEBUT IN WALES

Josh Moffett will make his WRC debut next month when he takes his Group N Mitsubishi Lancer across the Irish Sea to tackle the final round of the championship, Wales Rally GB.

The 22-year-old Monaghan driver, who is a nominee for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Young Rally Driver of the Year Award, has been a front-runner in the Valvoline Irish Forestry Championship this season and is hoping to try and build on his gravel experience on the challenging Welsh stages. “I really enjoy driving on gravel,” said Josh speaking last week. “I suppose the only downside is that forestry rallies in Ireland tend to be quite short which is no fault of their own, that’s just how it is. I’d love to challenge myself by doing a full 3-day gravel rally and gauge my pace against new Group N competitors. Competing against professional drivers on the Circuit of Ireland this year has given me the confidence to try and push myself and I’m really looking forward to Wales. It might be my last rally in a Group N car for a while so I’d love to get to the finish and gain as much experience as possible.”

Josh will be the second Combilift Rallying driver to sample the WRC this season after elder brother Sam finished 15th overall on Rallye Deutschland in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC back in August. Josh has already driven the Fiesta WRC in competition himself when he won the Sligo Stages in July and this weekend he plans to use that Fiesta again on the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally. ”I was actually surprised how quickly I adapted to the Fiesta in Sligo and I’m really looking forward to driving it again in Skibbereen. There may be more outings next year but nothing is set in stone yet.”

MOFFETT and SHERRY are Border Rally Champions

It was a great weekend for local crew David Moffett and Fintan Sherry as they were crowned the 2014 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Champions at the Donegal Harvest Rally on Saturday in their Toyota Starlet, bringing the title back to Monaghan for the third year in a row. Having won their class in three of the four previous rounds the crew knew that victory in class 11R would guarantee them the title but they wee going to have to fight for it. While a good run of form over the course season plus victory in the Junior Rally of the Donegal International earlier in the year inspired confidence it would count for nothing today if things went wrong.

Stage one saw Moffett and Sherry set the second fastest time sitting just 1.8 seconds behind Paul Carron and Andrew Browne in a Toyota Corolla. On stage two the action really kicked off as Donegal’s Paul and Patrick Gallagher set fastest time in their Mk1 Escort by almost twenty seconds to lead the class as Moffett and Sherry slipped to third 8.3 seconds off the lead. But on stage three things changed again as the Monaghan crew won the stage setting a time over ten seconds faster than anyone else to shoot into the lead, they now led the class by just 2.2 seconds heading into the first service stop.

After the break the pair extended their lead on the fourth test until an impressive time form the Gallaghers saw them share the lead of the class with Moffett and Sherry with an equal overall time of 46:54.6 setting things up for a cracking battle going into the afternoon. Stage six saw the Monaghan crew really put the power down and ended the stage 8.5 seconds ahead of the Gallaghers who held second heading into the final service stop.

Moffett and Sherry extended their lead of stage 7 but a lightning time from their Donegal rivals saw Paul and Patrick Gallagher take the lead by 11 seconds heading into the final stage. The lads responded magnificently and set fastest time on stage 9 by 12.2 seconds to win class 11R by a mere 1.2 seconds. A fantastic performance to back up a deserving victory in the championship. Well done lads!

 

Maguire and Thornton take the Group N National Title in Donegal

It’s a weekend to remember for Monaghan’s Shane Maguire and Stephen Thornton as they wrapped up the Dunlop National Group N title on the Donegal Harvest Rally. With championship rival Josh Moffett not starting the event things were made a lot easier for Maguire who came into the rally with a commanding lead in the championship.

Stage one went to Border Rally Championship regulars Martin Doherty and Conor Foley who

led Maguire and Thornton by ten seconds with Trevor Bustard and John McCafferty in third.

By the first service Maguire had dropped to fifth in the standings almost 44 seconds off the class lead. Doherty led a hard charging Gary Cairns and Justin Coyle by 28.7 seconds with Bustard in third and Aidan Wray and Kieran McGrath in fourth,

The second loop of stages saw the demise of Cairns retiring on stage 5. Doherty was in a commanding lead at this point and led Bustard by almost 76 seconds with Maguire in Third.

Positions remained unchanged over the final loop and Martin Doherty crossed the finish line to win Group N 1:40 but it was Shane Maguire and Stephen Thornton that were in celebration mood as the lifted the trophy to win the National Group N championship bringing the title to Monaghan along with the Irish Tarmac Group N title won by Josh Moffett.

Elsewhere in the rally it was a mixed day for other Monaghan crews. Niall Maguire continued his comeback from injury in his Subaru S11 with Paul Goodman on the notes finishing eight overall and second in class eight. Michael Carbin and Emmett McCooey had a good run to second in class 20 in their Subaru Impreza N12. Richard Moffett and Eamon Hayes finished third in class 13. Dessie Keenan had an eye catching return to rallying in class 13 with Enda Sherry on the notes, he led the modified section and held fourth overall at one point until a puncture dropped him down the order where he eventually finished 19th overall and sixth in class. Raymond Conlon and Gary McKenna finished fifth in class 13. John and Niall Kelly performed brilliantly to win class 10 in their Corolla. Lawrence Sherry and Mark Sheridan finished fourth in class 9 while Arron Duffy and Keith McConnon finished behind them in fifth. Cathal Sheridan and Peter Deery finished third in class 10, enough to claim the class 10 title in this years Sligo Pallets Border Championship.  while Declan Connolly and Alison Hughes finished eight in class 9. There were retirements for Sa Moffett and James O’Reilly, Brendan and JP McAree and Barry Treanor and Colm Connolly.

The event was won by Donegal’s Declan and Brian Boyle who were crowned Dunlop National Rally Champions

 

Moffett and McKenna Take Maiden Forestry Win In Carrick On Suir

To round off yet another fantastic weekend of results for Monaghan Motor Club members, Josh Moffett and Jason McKenna claimed their first outright victory on the Willie Loughman Memorial Carrick Forest Rally. Based in the Suir Valley, the six stage event was the penultimate round of the Valvoline Irish Forestry Championship and what a battle it turned out to be.

Stage one saw Andrew Purcell and John Rafter set the pace with a time of 8:01.0 over the 13km test which was 2.3 seconds faster than forestry regular Owen Murphy and James O’Reilly. Moffett and McKenna sat a further 7.5 seconds behind in third with Desi Henry and Liam Moynihan 2.1 seconds adrift in fourth. Shane McGirr and Jackie Elliot held the lead in the modifieds 1.9 seconds ahead of Mickey Conlon and Ciaran McPhillips.

Andrew Purcell lost approximately 13 seconds on stage 2 due to an overshoot and stall at a hairpin dropping him to third. Josh Moffett set the fastest time on the test to hold second overall. Owen Murphy was third fastest but did enough to move into a 3.5 second lead. Desi Henry was second fastest to hold station in fourth. Stage three saw Purcell set the fastest time to leave the top four separated by 7.7 seconds. In Group N it was Sam Moffett who led the way while McGirr had extended his modified lead to 16.5 seconds over Conlon.

Josh Moffett and Desi Henry tied on stage 4 with a time of 7.46, the pace had gone up a gear as times were 15 secs quicker than the first run. Moffett took the lead as Murphy dropped to second, the Cork man was 4.6 seconds off the pace and now trailed the Monaghan man by 2 secs. Henry moved up one place to third 5.3 seconds off Murphy while Andrew Purcell slipped to fourth a further 2.3 secs back. On stage five things got really tight as Murphy set the second fastest time to close within a second of Moffett and with Purcell winning the stage the top four were now separated by just 5.7 seconds heading into the final test. Moffett knew what he had to do on the final stage and set the fastest time to win the rally by five seconds over Desi Henry who leapfrogged Owen Murphy on the last test. Murphy ended the rally 7.8 seconds off the lead with Andrew Purcell a further 5.7 seconds behind in fourth.

Sam Moffett took fifth overall and the Group N win to make up for the disappointment of the Donegal Harvest the day before. In the modified section Shane McGirr won by 30.7 seconds from Mickey Conlon. Martin and Declan Tynan made a return to the gravel stages in their EVO 8 after a few years absence and quickly git back into the swing of things, finishing 12th overall and take the class 6 win.