Category: Uncategorized

 New National autotest champion Stephen Ferguson carried on his winning ways on Sunday last as Monaghan Motor club hosted the final round of the Hewison National Autotest championship in the ideal surroundings of Wright’s Quarry, Swanns Cross. As always Brendan Flynn stepped in as CoC with 3 very demanding tests as the sun shone brightly over the venue with 19 drivers on the start list. Ferguson in a mini special posted 8 fastest times out of the 12 tests to take the win from Robin Lyons who won class A in a mini with Eamonn Byrne second and Christopher Byrne 3rd. Ferguson’s win promoted regular navigation competitor Sam Johnston to a class win also in a mini special with Patrick Power 2nd and Paul “Felix” Phelan 3rd. Class C was won by Simon Echlin while Mark King took the class E honours. In the popular and ever competitive club members category, Richard Cassidy pulled out all the stops to win by 2.5 seconds in his micra ahead of Andy Mackarel in his starlet special with Martin Tynan 3rd in their micra, one of four drivers to put this car through its paces! Declan Tynan was 4th with Ciaran Tynan 5th. Michael Carbin fought with the handbrake on his Peugeot throughout the day but managed 6th with Michael Tynan taking 7th in Mackarel’s starlet. An enjoyable day for all these guys but even more importantly some valuable points gained for the club championship. Well done to Brendan on another flawless event. He would like to extend his thanks to the generosity of David Wright for the use of his premises, the Northern Standard who sponsored the event, Aghabog GFC for refreshments and venue for prize giving and to all the marshals who turned up and anybody else who helped out in any way

Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally

 Experienced Monaghan navigator Enda Sherry guided Enniskillen man Darren Gass to an excellent win on the recent Circuit of Kerry stages rally last Sunday in his Impreza WRC by a slender 4 seconds. Things didn’t go their way for the entire day however as a fuel problem on stage 7 lost them 20 seconds to move Kevin Barrett into the lead but a super time on the penultimate stage meant they regained the lead where they remained through the final stage. This victory was made all the sweeter by the fact that Darren made a late decision to enter the event, his first since Cork last year, which sets him up nicely for the Circuit of Ireland on Easter weekend. Barrett finished 2nd ahead of teammate Niall Maguire and Barry Goodman both in WRC Imprezas. Shane Maguire also made the trip South but seems to have left his luck at home as an uncustomary visit to the scenery ended his assault on stage 3 although to Shane’s defence brake failure seems to have been a contributing factor. Smithboro man Anthony Hand with Laura Furey on the notes took his Escort out for a trial run ahead of the Monaghan stages and didn’t disappoint as he led the field home in the junior category of the event, 29 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals. A good clean run reported by Anthony who is now contemplating an attack on the National Junior championship.

Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally

 With the final week approaching ahead of the biggest event in the clubs calendar its all shoulders to the wheel as final preparations are put in place by CoC Conor Maguire and his band of merry men and women! The weather is the only thing not in his control in the lead up to the big day on 17th April. The entry list certainly hasn’t disappointed in what could be described as possibly one of the strongest in many years, surely a testament to the high regard this event is held among the top rally drivers in the country. A full entry of 140 cars has been received with local men Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry leading the event off from the ideal surroundings of the Hillgrove Hotel as number 1 seeds ahead of Tim McNulty and Paul Kiely with another Triton Showers backed Subaru 3rd in the form of Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally. Derek McGarrity and James Mc Kee are at 4 with Billy Coleman award winner Robert Barrable and Damian Connolly rounding off the top 5 fresh from their win in Cork. Adrian McElvaney makes a return to the Monaghan stages at 6 with Paul Kelly on the notes with Daragh O’Riordan at 7, all of the above in class 8 WRC spec cars. Colm Murphy and Don Montgomery lead the group N challenge, a class that sees an incredible 17 group N entries with Brendan Cumiskey, Sam Moffett and Shane Maguire all sure to be in contention for class honours. Gary McPhillips and Mark Tierney head the two wheel drive category in their powerful class 14 Escort at no. 11 but an array of Escorts behind are sure to entertain the crowds. Daniel Mc Kenna and Andrew Grennan are at 12 with the likes of Declan Boyle, Rodney Wilton, Manus Kelly and Wesley Patterson all inside the top 20. Washington James is sure to set the stages alight in his famous Darrian at no. 18. With large crowds expected for this event, a counting round of the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop National Rally Championship and Sligo Pallets Border Championship, anybody willing to help out in any way are asked to come forward and make themselves available. No fewer than 150 marshals are required for the 3 stages alone. Full preview of 2011 Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally will be in next week’s edition.

 Top 25 Seeded Entry List

 1/ Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 8 2/ Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 8 3/ Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 8 4/ Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 8 5/ Robert Barrable/Damian Connolly (Fabia S2000) 6/ Adrian McElvaney/Paul Kelly (Impreza) 8 7/ Daragh O’Riordan/ Tony McDaid (Impreza) 8 8/ Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery (Impreza) 4 9/Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Impreza) 8 10/ Liam McCarthy/Dennis O Mohoney (Corolla) 15 11/ Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Escort) 14 12/ Danial McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Escort) 14 14/ Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Escort) 14 15/ Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Escort) 14 16/ Manus Kelly/Donall Barrett (Escort) 14 17/ Wesley Patterson/Martin Mc Garrity (Escort) 14 18/ Washington James/TBA (Darrian) 14 19/ Brendan Cumiskey/TBA (Lancer) 4 20/ Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (EVO) 4 21/ Shane Maguire/Charlie McEnery (Impreza) 4 22/ Stuart Darcy/Eamonn Walsh (EVO 8) 4 23/Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fiona Foley (EVO 9) 4 24/ Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard (EVO 9) 4 25/ John Stone/Rob Fagg (Fabia) 8

 Marshal’s Training Night

All marshals willing to help out at this year’s event are kindly asked to attend a short training night on Friday 15th April (Friday night before the event) in the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan at 8.00pm sharp. This is necessary to maintain a high standard of safety on our event, which is imperative for the future of the sport. All sector marshals already appointed are expected to attend along with his or her respective teams, as well as anyone else available to marshal on the day.

Daniel Mc Kenna and Andrew Grennan got their rally season off to the best possible start on Sunday last with a 17second win on the Midlands Moto Stages Rally based around the Roscommon/Leitrim town of Rooskey. This win was made all the more difficult given that Daniel hasn’t sat in his now famous blue Scanbitz escort for almost 7 month’s and coupled with the tricky gravel strewn stage’s they led the event from start to finish pulling out a nine second lead after the first stage alone. Not to be outdone Donegal men and current border rally champions Declan and Brian Boyle kept the pressure on McKenna and Grennan all day, ready to capitalise on any half spin but their efforts were only enough for 2^nd overall after 9 demanding stages, followed in 3^rd by Wesley Patterson and Martin McGarrity, all in class 14 escorts.

            A host of other Monaghan men made the start ramp but they all seemed down on their luck a little. Raymond Conlon and Emmett Sherry had a steady run through the gravely stages to finish 10^th and 3^rd in class 13. Maurice Moffett and Jason McKenna got caught out on a series a gravel bends to slip off the road momentarily on the 1^st stage, dropping a minute or so but managed to soldier on and finished 14^th and 2^nd in class, Maurice the first of 5 Moffett’s on the entry list with the rest not having much luck either!  Richard Moffett and Martin Connolly finished back in 28^th overall but this is not quiet a true reflection of his day. Electrical problems on the first stage cost them 7 minutes but from stage 2 onwards they set about climbing the leader board with some very impressive times, some of which were inside the top 5 so the omens are good for Richard and will surely be one to watch out for in the highly competitive class 13.

            Sam Moffett and James O’Reillys rally came to an end on stage 6 with engine trouble while lying 5^th overall. Sam’s brother Josh hit trouble on stage 2 to end his day. David Moffett with Patrick Brides on the notes held a comfortable lead in the Junior rally almost a minute ahead of his nearest rival’s but hit trouble on the road section with a broken drive to end their good run. Martin Tynan and JP McAree also made the trip but their luck was short lived too with differential trouble on stage 3 just as they were getting used to the new EVO 8.

Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally Preview

Niall Maguire with Barry Goodman on the notes head to Kerry this weekend for round 2 of the West Coast rally championship, seeded at number 2 behind close rivals Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally. Current champion Shane Maguire is at no. 7 with Clare native Charlie McEnery calling notes. Anthony Hand gets his rally season underway in Kerry with Laura Furey navigating in his escort while Enda Sherry will make the trip to navigate for Enniskillen man Darren Gass in his S11 WRC Impreza. Report next week. 

 Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally
The annual Hillgrove Hotel Stages Rally gets under way on the 17^th April – which is fast approaching. The club are currently receiving a large number of entries but competitors are reminded that entries are due to close on 4/4/11 – which is next Monday.

Once again, we are delighted to be associated with our long-term sponsors the Hillgrove Hotel, who have provided us with tremendous support over the past years, not to mention one of the finest Rally Head Quarters in the country.

This year’s event promises to see one of the best entry lists the club has published in years. With competitors travelling from as far a field as Wales with WRC spec cars we are sure to see some top class competition, not to mentions those rare Darrian RWD cars!

The event will boast a quality field including many local crews, and competition between these chaps will certainly be worth watching. For 2011, the club are also adding an extra stage for the junior category, which will bring their total stages up to 6.

The scheduled timetable for entering for the event includes:

• Entries Open 07/03/11
• Border Championship Priority Closing 21/03/11
• Entries Close 04/04/11 Final Instructions Posted 08/04/11

 Autotest Preview

Monaghan Motor Clubs annual Autotest will run this Sunday at Wright’s Quarry, Swanns Cross with Brendan Flynn as CoC. This is a counting round of the Hewison National Autotest championship so a large entry is expected. This event also has a popular club members section so great days entertainment is guaranteed with valuable points up for grabs for the club traders championship. Sign on is from 11 o’clock with competition starting at 11.30 sharp. Entry forms available on club web site.

New names appeared on the Squealing Pig Border navigation trophy for the second year running as Michael Carbin and Evin Hughes’ 2^nd place result on last Saturday night’s Cavan Motor Club Navigation Trial handed them the coveted prize just pipping Andy Mackarel and Liam Higgins at the post while Arthur Kierans and Ashley McAdoo’s 10^th place was just enough to clinch the Motorsport Ireland National navigation championship for a 4^th consecutive year by 2 points after 8 demanding rounds. Deserved winners of the event were Declan Tynan and Andrew Grennan with the only clean sheet of the night to end on a high after a somewhat subdued season by their standards. The Errigal Country House Hotel in Cootehill was an excellent HQ for this the final event of the 2010/11 navigation season with Domnic McArdle, ably assisted by Mervin Wedlock and their team laying out one of the best routes of the year with smiles all round at event finish.

            The first half of the event headed west from Cootehill straddling the Monaghan border towards Trehoo cross and Scotshouse then back again through the Drung and Lisnageer areas to Tullyvin. Border series contenders Chris Kelly and Sam Johnston dealt themselves a massive blow at time point 6 with a wrong approach while National championship leaders Arthur and Ashley lost 5 minutes at tp7 with a jammed gearbox, indeed this was their only penalties of the night but it was heart in mouth stuff to the end as only a top 10 finish would ensure them the National title once again.  Tp12 known locally as Gillespies lane saw some time loss but Kinkades lane out to tp 15 was essentially where the event was won and lost as Declan and Andrew cleaned this tightly timed section while everyone else in contention dropped time.

            The second half of the event headed south up through the famous Knobby’s junction towards the Mountain Lodge windfarm with lanes coming thick and fast. Little changed at the front through the final 10 time points and it was back to the finish ramp down through the Kill area. Once the results sheets went up the calculators were out in earnest to figure out overall and class awards in both championships. Andy and Liam’s efforts weren’t enough on the night to take the Border Championship and they had to settle for an expert class win on the night and 2^nd over-all in the Border. Carbin and Hughes took the semi-expert class win on the night ahead of Darren Babbington and Francis Keenan with Longford’s Kelly and Johnston in 3^rd. Kevin Keenan and Barry Garvey had a great run to finish 4^th over-all and take the novice class award ahead of local Cavan men Warren Carleton and John Hetherington with the Scotstown duo of Gerry Cassidy and Paul Sheridan 3^rd. Midlands men Peter Hagan and Michael Reilly made their trip to Cavan worthwhile with a beginners class win from father and son team Jim and Thomas Wedlock with Darren Quinn and Nigel Cloughry 3^rd. Once again well done to Cavan Motor Club and especially Bart, Mervin and all there helpers on a good, entertaining and straightforward navigation trial.

So that’s it for another season on the night navigation scene and well done to Arthur and Ashley on their National title and Michael and Evin on their Border navigation success. Also well done to all class award winners in both championships. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for final championship results, which will be posted on the net, and also the dates for prize giving for these two popular championships. You made the effort to go to the events, please try and make it to the prize giving nights, even if there is no crystal to be lifted!        

 Cavan Motor Club Navigation Trial Results

1 Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan (Subaru Impreza) 0 marks

2 Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes (Subaru Legacy) 1m

3 Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Subaru Impreza) 1m

4 Kevin Keenan/Barry Garvey (Subaru Impreza) 2m

5 James Greenan/Ciaran Coyle (Nissan Almera) 2m

6 Ray O’Neill/Stephen O’Neill (Ford Mondeo) 2m

7 Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 3m

8 Garreth Beagan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 3m

9 Warren Carleton/John Hetherington (Toyota Carina) 5m

10 Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo (Subaru Impreza) 5m

11 Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 6m

12 Gregory McQuillan/Conor Maguire (Vauxhall Vectra) 9m

 Semi-experts:

1 Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes

2 Darren Babbington/Francis Keenan (Subaru Impreza) 10m

3 Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza) 16m

Novices:

1 Kevin Keenan/Barry Garvey

2 Warren Carleton/John Hetherington

3 Gerry Cassidy/Paul Sheridan (Subaru Impreza) 20m

 Beginners:

1 Peter Hagan/Michael Reilly (Proton) 12m

2 Jim Wedlock/Thomas Wedlock (Vauxhall Vectra) 19m

3 Darren Quinn/Nigel McCloughry (Toyota Sprinter) 23m

West Cork Rally

Monaghan man Damian Connolly guided Dubliner and Billy Coleman award winner Robert Barrable to an exciting victory in the West Cork Rally last weekend. After 2 days and 18 stages they took a slender 1 second win in their Skoda Fabia S2000 from Darragh O Riordan and Tony McDaid in a Subaru WRC with Colm Murphy and Don Montgomery 3^rd in a group N Impreza. Club member Thomas Treanor also made the trip south to navigate for Graham Kelly in his G4 Escort but their rally ended on Stage 6.

Midland Moto Stages Rally Preview

Sunday next sees Midland Motor Club host their annual stages rally based around the town of Rooskey on the Roscommon/Leitrim. With this being considered a local event, a host of Monaghan crews are on the entry list, using it as a shakedown for our upcoming Monaghan Stages Rally and are sure provide excellent entertainment on one of the first local tarmac events of the year. Donegal men and last year’s winners Declan and Brian Boyle head the field with Daniel McKenna and Andrew Grennan at 2 in their trusty Scanbitz Escort. Sam Moffett and James O’Reilly are 4^th with Maurice Moffett sure to provide some sideways action at 5. Martin Tynan with JP McAree on the notes is at 8 and out to test the water in his new EVO 8 while Raymond Conlon and Emmett Sherry are 9^th in their twin cam. Damian Hagan and Janice Mackarel are next up in 14^th with Richard Moffett and Martin Connolly at 24. Josh Moffett and Domhnall Lennon are in 39^th in there 106 while David Moffett and Patrick Brides are 2^nd on the road in the junior category. Full report next week. 

Autotest

The recently postponed Monaghan Motor Club autotest has been re-scheduled for Sunday 3^rd April at Wrights Quarry, Swann’s Cross. Entry forms available on club web site.

Mayo Motor Club kick started the 2011 Sligo Pallets Border Rally campaign in earnest on Sunday last with a compact 3-stage loop in the Claremorris area of Co. Mayo. With weather forecasts of freezing temperatures and a light scattering of snow on Friday night, tyre choice was a bit of a lottery and grip levels were virtually non-existent. The stages suffered throughout the day with rain leaving junctions very slippery. It was Maynooth’s Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally who held their nerve in the tricky conditions to record a 51 second victory over close rivals Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry with Omagh’s Seamus Leonard in 3^rd, all driving Subaru WRC’s. The two wheel drive category was a close affair with Camillus Bradley and Crawford Henderson taking a 17 second win from Donegal’s Declan Boyle with Trevor Mulligan in 3^rd a further 3 seconds adrift. 

            No fewer than fourteen Monaghan crews made the trip west and it was a case of mixed fortunes with only five of these making it to the finish ramp. Adrian McElvaney and Damian Connolly started this event at number 4 in their Subaru WRC, this being Adrian’s first event in almost 2 years but their run was short-lived with gearbox trouble on the 4^th stage forcing their retirement while lying 5^th overall. 

Michael Conlon and Aidan Boyle had a good steady run to 10^th o/a and 2^nd in class 13. Jack Maguire with Emmett Sherry on the notes were 14^th o/a and 4^th in class 13. Local Mayo man James Culliney had Andrew Grennan on the notes and they finished 23^rd o/a and 3^rd in class 12 despite a 2-minute time loss on stage 3. Martin McPhillips and Nicola McKenna had a difficult day on the slippery stages and finished 55^th o/a.

            Raymond Conlon and Darren McCague’s day ended at first service with gearbox trouble while Sean Agnew and Seamus Connolly retired within 3 miles of the start of stage 1 with mechanical issues. Aaron McQuaid’s season didn’t get off to the best start as he broke a drive shaft on ss1 while Michael Carbin and Evin Hughes’ engine gave up the ghost on the finish line of stage 8 whilst lying a comfortable 2^nd in class 10. David Smyth and Austin Hamill battled the elements all day with a range of problems including a burst brake pipe but a visit to the scenery on stage 6 resulting in loosing a wheel was the final nail in their coffin while Ciaran King and Mickey Brennan left their Civic in the hedge on a square left corner with Barry Treanor and Colm Connolly not even making it out to stage 1 as mechanical gremlins set in. Stephen Rushe and Liam Fleming didn’t make it through ss8, again with mechanical trouble.

            Next up for the Border Championship is our own Monaghan Stages Rally on 17^th April. Entries are now open and forms can be downloaded from the club website. www.monaghanmotorclub.net

 Autotest

 The recently postponed Monaghan Motor Club autotest has been re-scheduled for Sunday 3^rd April at Wrights Quarry, Swann’s Cross. Entry forms available on club website.

 Cavan Motor Club Night Navigation Trial

 Saturday next sees the final round of the 2010/11 National and Squealing Pig Border navigation championships take place with HQ at the Errigal Country House Hotel in Cootehill. Monaghan’s Domnic McArdle has taken on the role of CoC assisted by Mervin Wedlock with entry forms available on the Cavan motor club website. There is a two way battle for the National title between Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo and Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes with Ashley needing to finish in the top 8 to ensure he regains the title for a 4^th consecutive year. The Border Championship is a much tighter affair with 4 crews in with a shout of winning once dropped scores are accounted for. Andy and Liam hold a small advantage but Michael and Evin, Chris Kelly and Sam Johnston, Michael and Ciaran Tynan are all in with a shout of an overall championship win and mathematically a host of other crews can also win should results go their way, so the competition will be fierce on Saturday night. Anybody willing to marshal should be at the hotel by 8 o’clock.

 

Saturday night last 5^th March saw the penultimate round of both the National and Squealing Pig Bar and Restaurant Border navigation championships take place from St. Mellans GAA Centre, Truagh. CoC Donal McArdle and his team set out a compact and challenging route, which seemed to go down a treat with all competitors. At the finish, things were tight at the top with three crews finishing on a total of 2 penalties. It was the semi-expert pairing of Michael Carbin and Evin Hughes who took their second overall win this year ahead of expert crews Michael/Ciaran Tynan and Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall, also on 2 pens.

             As an entry of 42 cars departed HQ at 9.01, the route looked pretty straight forward on the maps but things couldn’t be taken for granted.  Midlands men and two times winners this season Chris Kelly and Sam Johnston found this out as early as time point 4 where they miss-plotted a plot and bash timepoint to rule themselves out of the podium places. Tp 9 was next to cause trouble (or head scratching) for all crews with a lane around well known stages driver Mac McKenna’s house, garage and fields! It was very tricky to find the route with every make of car and van imaginable blocking the obvious paths out. Only five crews managed to clean this section, none of them experts and by tp 15, the results sheets suggest that James McCarville and Fintan Clerkin held the event lead from Dessie Keenan and Enda Sherry with Jason McKenna and Matthew Mc Kenna 3^rd.

            Tp16 was next to cause all crews to drop penalties once more, a familiar lane through a section of the Bragan forest meant at least 1 penalty dropped. The event then headed even further north over the fog covered Bragan mountain and it straddled the border towards Aughnacloy into new territory with lanes and narrow roads coming thick and fast. Crossing the N2 at Blackwatercottage and southwards again past Emyvale to the final time point onto the main road at Corracrin school, surviving crews gave a welcomed sigh of relief after a very enjoyable but intense event.

            Results sheets were awaited with anticipation as any one of 4 or 5 crews seemed in with a shout of the win. Keenan and Sherry undid all there good work with a wrong departure at tp 33 whilst Arthur and Ashley ran into car trouble late on forcing them to miss the last time point which dropping them back as far as 13^th overall, meaning the national title will go down to the wire in Cavan in a fortnight.

 In the end Michael and Evin took the overall win with Michael and Ciaran Tynan sharing the expert class honours with Trevor and Noel while Andy Mackarel and Liam Higgins took 3^rd in the expert class. Darren Babbington and Francis Keenan took the semi-expert class with Damian Treanor and Johnathan Mc Govern 2^nd. Local knowledge paid off for Jason & Matthew McKenna who took a convincing novice class win ahead of Dessie and Enda with Gerry Cassidy and Paul Sheridan 3^rd. Colin and Packie Duffy must be considered one of the most consistent crews of the year with another fine performance to win the beginners section, but more importantly with another top 5 finish, an overall win is surely not far away. Darren Quinn and Nigel McCloughry  were 2^nd beginnesr with Damian Hagan and Macartan Kierans taking 3^rd on the furthest cleanest rule from Niall Kelly and Adrian Treanor.

            Well done to Donal Mc Ardle and Raymond Conlon along with their band of helpers on a well run and entertaining event. So with just one round left, all is still to play for in the Squealing Pig Border championship in Cavan on Saturday week as 6 points separate four crews after a dropped round is considered while Arthur and Ashley must finish within the top 8 to ensure they retain the National title. 

           Monaghan Motor Club Navigation Trial Results

 1 Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes (Subaru Legacy) 2 marks,

2 (tie) Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) and Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 2m,

4 Pakie Duffy/Colin Duffy (Subaru Impreza) 3m,

5 Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Subaru Impreza) 3m,

6 Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan (Vauxhall Vectra) 3m,

7 Garreth Beagan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 4m,

8 Jason McKenna/Matthew McKenna (Subaru Legacy) 7m,

9 Ray O’Neill/Stephen O’Neill (Ford Mondeo) 7m,

10 Darren Quinn/Nigel McCloughry (Toyota Sprinter) 13m,

11 Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza) 17m,

12 Gerry Cassidy/Paul Sheridan (Subaru Impreza) 23m.

Semi-experts:

1 Darren Babington/Francis Keenan (Subaru Impreza) 23m

2 Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza) 27m

3 Damien Treanor/Jonathan McGovern (Subaru Impreza) 42m

 Novices:

1 Jason McKenna/Matthew McKenna

2 Gerry Cassidy/Paul Sheridan

3 Kevin Keenan/Martin Connolly (Subaru Impreza) 36m

 Beginners:

1 Pakie Duffy/Colin Duffy

2 Darren Quinn/Nigel McCloughry

3 Damien Hagan/Macartan Kierans (Subaru Impreza)

 Willie Loughman Carrick-on-Suir Forest Rally

 

Two young Monaghan crews made the journey South for the second round of the National Forest rally championship last weekend. Cousins Vincent and JP Mc Aree had an excellent result to finish 2^nd overall in what would be considered a strong entry list. This is easily their best finish to date with 3 fastest stage times for good measure in their Evo 9. Brother and sister team of Stephen and Suzanne Wright brought their Evo 6 home to a fine 6^th place overall on only Stephen’s second gravel event in this car and he seems to be adjusting to the loose very well following on from his 8^th overall finish in Fivemiletown. The rally was won by Owen Murphy & James O’Brien in an Evo 9.

 Mayo Stages Rally Preview

 

Sunday next sees the opening round of the ever popular Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship and in keeping with tradition, Mayo Motor Club play hosts to the first round as the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris takes on the role of Rally HQ once again. There are four WRC cars on the entry list with Maynooth’s Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullally heading a very strong field as Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry head the Monaghan attack at no. 3 with Adrian McElvaney and Damian Connolly listed at no. 4 also in a WRC Subaru. Raymond Conlon and Darren McCague are at 16 in their twin cam with Michael Conlon and Aidan Boyle just behind at 17. Jack Maguire and Emmet Sherry are at 23 with Martin McPhillips and Nicola McKenna 57. As always class 10 is very competitive among the Monaghan men with Aaron McQuaid and Aidan Coyle starting at 68, Michael Carbin with regular night navigation partner Evin Hughes next up at 69 with Barry Treanor and Colm Connolly hoping to pick up where they left off in class 10 last year at 86. Full report next week and competitors are urged to contact club PRO with an update on how they get on at  tynaneng@gmail.com before Monday evening 6pm.

 

Autotest 

The recently postponed Monaghan Motor Club autotest has been re-scheduled for Sunday 3^rd April at Wrights Quarry, Swann’s Cross. Entry forms available on club web site.

 Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally

 

With preparations at an advanced stage for the running of the annual Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally on 17^th April regulations and entry forms are available to download from the club web site at www.monaghanmotorclub.net. This years rally is both a counting round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship, so competitors are urged to send their entries in early to avoid disappointment.