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Christopher McMahon and Damien Treanor secured the overall victory on last Saturday nights Navigation Trial, based out of Aughnamullen GAA. The event was the final round of the 2023/24 club Navigation Championship and the overall club Traders Championship. Christopher and Damien were the only crew to complete the 85 mile event without dropping a single penalty. The trial began at 10pm due to a number of crews also doing the Clare forestry rally earlier in the day. The first five timepoints all took place between Shantonagh and Corduff with both timepoints 4 and 5 requiring the use of farm lanes in Bocks Lower and Bocks Middle. The event then crossed the R180 towards Lisdoonan, Broomfield and the south side of the R181 for Timepoints 6 to 17 including Via 1, Via 2 and Control B.  Farm lanes in Drumlurg, Annahaia, Rathmore and Lisnamuck were used for the location of Tp’s 6 and 7, Via 1 and Tp10. A farm yard in Drumherriff North, the location of TP11 was where the first supplementary route instruction was handed out for the location of Tp’s 12 and 13. The supplementary route instruction was in the form of a straight line herringbone tulip diagram, which brought crews through farm and private lanes in Lackafin and Kednagullion. The next supplementary route instruction was received at TP16. This route instruction was in the form of a route card containing the locations of all previous check point locations, including the unknown TP17. The trick here was that the approach and departure were swapped around, quarter way down the page. Any crew failing to spot this would be met with a wrong approach and possibly a departure at TP17. Eighteen out of the thirty four starters failed to find TP17 or were met with a wrong approach penalty.

From here the event crossed the R181 for the second half of the event, with the remaining checkpoints located between Lough Egish, the R183 at Ballybay, Creeve, Latton and Shantonagh.

Tp18 was located on a farm lane in Tossy before heading to TP19 in Drumhawn where a further supplementary route instruction was received for to find the location of TP 20. A box tulip with cumulative distance brought crews to the location of TP20 via farm lanes in the townland of Tonyglassan. The Intermediate time check section took place between Tp23 in Agheralane and Tp24 in Lackan. At Tp24, the final supplementary route instruction was handed out for to reveal the direction of travel and location on TP’s 25 and 26. Competitors had to be very accurate on their Tripmeter here as they were passing very close by TP26 on their way to TP25. The slightest error would end up with arriving at TP26 first and having to skip TP25 and go directly to TP27. TP27 was located at Crossduff Lough. This was the final Time point of the night as next up was the penultimate Control (CC) in Drumillard which was accessed via a long farm lane through Knocktornagh and Aghmakerr. At Control C it was just a short trip back up the road to the final Control, back in Aughnamullen GAA.

When the results were totted up Christopher and Damien were the only crew who did the entire event faultlessly. So achieved a rare zero penalty victory.  It was a very close event as one crew finished on 1 penalty, three on 2 and two on 4 penalties.

In the classes, Eoghan Farrell/Mickey McNelis finished 1^st in the Beginner class, with Ben Mohan/Damien Hagan finishing 2^nd and Caolain McCaffrey/Sean McCaffrey finishing 3^rd. In the Novice class it was Molly Maguire/Ciaran Duffy 1^st, Aaron and Ciaran McGorman 2^nd and Gareth Kelly/Shane Laverty 3^rd. In the Semi-Expert class it was, Patrick Corcoran/Mickey Conlon who finished 1^st, Danny McKenna/Francie McElvaney finished 2^nd and Anthony McDonald/Sean McConnell finished 3^rd.

The Expert class was a tight affair as no tiebreaker could separate who finished 2^nd, as both Conor Mohan/Michael Carbin and Conor Boylan/Derek Mackarel were down 2 penalties picked up at the exact same place and both cars had the same engine CC’s. Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy finished 1^st in class, down just one penalty for being one minute late to TP12. David McCrudden/Martin Tynan would have possibly been on for a clean sheet also, but their car developed a mechanical issue on the way to Tp11, this issue caused them to pick up two penalties for late arrival. As their penalties were picked up at TP11 rather than at TP12 as had happened both Conor Mohan/Michael Carbin and Conor Boylan/Derek Mackarel they lost out on 2^nd in class because of the furthest cleanest tiebreak rule. On a positive note for David, he finished 5^th OA which was enough to finish 1^st OA in the prestigious club Traders Championship for the second year in a row. Derek and Conor became the 2024 Gary Nesbitt club Navigation Trial champions by 2.3 points over Tynan/McCrudden, showing just how competitive the championship is. 

Top 10 Overall

1^st Christopher McMahon/Damien Treanor (Subaru Legacy) 0 marks

2^nd Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy (Subaru Impreza) 1m,

3^rd Conor Boylan/Derek Mackarel (Subaru Impreza) 2m,

4^th Conor Mohan/Mickey Carbin (Subaru Legacy) 2m,

5^th David McCrudden/Martin Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 2m,

6^th Patrick Corcoran/Mickey Conlon (Subaru Impreza) 4m,

7^th Molly Maguire/Ciaran Duffy (Subaru Impreza) 4m,

8^th Danny McKenna/Francie McElvaney (Subaru Impreza) 12m,

9^th Anthony McDonald/Sean McConnell (Subaru Impreza)13m,

10^th Eoghán Farrell/Mickey McNelis (Subaru Impreza)19m,

After the event the winning crew thanked the Marshalls, residents and land owners for all their help and support. Peter Farrell and Conor Maguire who organised the event also thanked all the land owners and residents for their support.

The opening round of the Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Trial Championship begins this weekend with the Cork Motor Club Startrek Navigation Trial. Regulations and Entries are available now.

The final round of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forestry Rally Championship took place on Saturday last.

Having won the drivers title on the previous round Derek Mackarel needed to take a top six finish to secure the navigators title for his codriver Eamonn Creedon. The six stage event took place in the forests on the Galway and Clare border. Derek finished his rays rallying in 3^rd overall, just 10.1s down on 1^st and 4.3s off 2^nd overall. Once his event was complete, it was into the car and back to Monaghan for to do the Navigation Trial. Another man doing the forest rally and the Navigation Trial was Michael Conlon. Himself and James McEnaney suffered numerous punctures throughout the day but still went home in 13^th overall and 1^st in class 14.  Killian McArdle navigated Joseph Kelly to 14^th OA and 4^th in class 2. Steven Corey finished 21^st OA and 2^nd in class 14.

Monaghan Motor Club’s annual awards night takes place on Sunday night the 27^th of October in the Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan.

Paul Barrett and Conor Mohan were the top Monaghan Motor Club Finishers at last weekends Munster Car Club Cork 20 International Rally.

The pair finished the shortened five stage event in 18^th overall (OA). The event had to be cancelled after just five stage due to the treacherous weather conditions. Paul Kelly guided Co. Limerick man, Paul Purtill to 19^th OA and 1^st in class 13. Domhnall Lennon navigating for Cian Caldwell finished 23^rd OA. Killian McArdle guided Matthew Boyle to 28^th OA. Damien Connolly navigated Oran England to 31^st OA.  Arthur Kierans was navigating for Johnny O’Sullivan, they retired after Special Stage 3.

Greg Shinnors was the only club member taking part in Mayo and District Motorsport Club’s Loose Surface Autocross on Sunday. He finished his event in 9^th OA.

Navigation season begins this Saturday night with our own October Navigation Trial.

The event is also the final round of the club Navigation and Traders Championship. Clerk of the Course Peter Farrell and Conor Maguire have organised an 85 mile event, based out of Aughnamullen GAA in Lough Egish. 

First car away at 22:01. As ever marshals are required for to run this event, so if you’re available to help out, please make contact with any club member.

Derek Mackarel became the 2024 Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship, Champion driver with one round to spare, after taking maximum points home at the Bushwhacker Forestry rally which was hosted by Omagh Motor Club. Amazingly this is Derek’s fourth National title to date as he previously won the Autograss, Autocross and Navigation Trial National titles. While Derek has secured the drivers title, he still will be looking for a good result on the final round in Clare as his Co-Driver Eamonn Creedon has yet to secure his title. Dereks title is the second National title going to the Mackarel house this year as Derek’s father Andrew secured the 2023/24 Navigation Trial title back in March. Club Members, Patrick and Stephen O’Brien won the event overall (OA) with Cathan McCourt finishing 2nd. James McCarville/Conal McNulty finished 8th OA and Killian McArdle navigated Craig Rahill to 17th OA. Tommy Moffett/Domhnall Lennon were out in their Rally4 Fiesta and finished 25th OA.
The result on this weekend’s Bushwhacker rally also secured Derek the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK, Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge title.
Shane and Ciaran Maguire also became the National Endurance Trial champions on Sunday as the pair finished 1st OA on the Birr Endurance Trial, the final round of the 2024 National Endurance Trial Championship. Going into the final round the pair were sitting 2nd in the championship, 5 points adrift of Karl O’Donoghue and Ballybay navigator Evin Hughes. After a challenging Birr event, Karl and Evin finished 8th OA and 1st in class A2M. This 8th place finish compared to the Maguires 1st, left that the Maguires made up the 5 points deficit and took the National title on the very last event. Team Maguire was competing in a Mitsubishi Colt and taking the National title broke a 15 year dominance of the Toyota Starlet. Ciaran and Roisin McGorman finished 25th OA and 1st in class F.
David McCrudden and Jack Maguire were competing in Cavan Motor Club’s Autocross on Sunday the event was a counting round of our clubs Traders championship.
The 2024/2025 Navigation Trial Season is fast approaching and the first event of the season is hosted by ourselves. Clerk of the Course Peter Farrell assisted by Conor Maguire have organised an 85-mile event, based out of Aughnamullen GAA on Saturday night the 5th of October. Regulations and Entry are available now and must be submitted and paid online before Monday the 30th September. The event is the final round of both the 2023/24 Club Navigation Championship and the overall Treaders Championship.

Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh brought their newly acquired Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 to overall victory on last weekend’s two day, Wexford Volkswagen Stages Rally. The pair had a 12.8s win over second placed David Kelly with Michael Carbin’s usual navigator Dean O’Sullivan on the notes.
Pierce O’Callaghan guided Jonathan Pringle home in 8th OA and more importantly 1st in class 14, the top modified class. Killian McArdle navigated Michael Cahill to 15th OA and 6th in class 14.
Johno Doogan and Paul Lennon finished their event in 10th OA and 3rd in class 14.
Ryan Farrell navigated Gavin McGivney to 45th OA and 6th in class 13.
Gerard McGivney/Donal Crossan finished 73rd OA and 8th in class 13.
Daniel McConnon navigated Francis Rafferty to 70th OA and 7th in class 11F.
Brendan Cumiskey and Martin Connolly unfortunately retired their VW Polo on SS9, and Barry McKenna/Thomas Treanor retired on SS16.

Monaghan Motor Club’s annual Navigation classes continue this Friday night at 8pm in Aughnamullen GAA, Eircode A75 CY82.

The Lakelands Forest Stages Rally took place on Saturday hosted by Enniskillen Motor Club.

The six-stage event took place on the gravel tracks of Conagher, Big Dog and Ballintempo forests. There were Monaghan Motor Club members on each step of the podium at the end of the event, as Patrick and Stephen O’Brien finished 1^st OA in their R5 Skoda Fabia, Conor Mohan guided Eamonn Kelly to 2^nd OA in their Rally3 Fiesta, and Derek Mackarel took his R5 Fiesta home in 3rd OA. Michael Conlon took his Escort home in 2^nd in class 7. Killian McArdle navigated Joseph Kelly to 2^nd in class 2. Calum Maguire navigating for Cian Caldwell finished 5^th in the same class.  Cathan McCourt and Brian Hoy retired on the final stage while sitting in 2^nd OA. Steven Corey and Thomas Treanor retired on SS5 while 3^rd in class 7.

The next morning Derek was at McAree Engineering’s yard in Ballinode taking part in our Autotest with was organised by Clerk of the Course Ciaran Tynan.

Derek finished on the podium here too, only this time two steps up as he took his Toyota Starlet home with 1^st overall.

Kieran McCarra finished in 2^nd place. Dereks father Andrew finished in 4^th place. David McCrudden finished 5^th, Martin Tynan finished 6^th and Shane Maguire finished 7^th. Shean McCaffery took his Navigation spec Nissan Micra home with 1^st in class and 8^th OA. Molly Maguire making a change to driving, finished 9^th overall.

Kaine Treanor went to Belgium last week for to take part in the B-Short de Momignies Rally. Kaine was navigating once again for Christopher O’Callaghan and the pair finished the eight stage event in 1^st place overall.

 Monaghan Motor Clubs Annual Navigation Trial classes began last weekend and continue for the next four weeks in Aughnamullen GAA Clubhouse, Eircode A75 CY82. It’s not too late to sign up. This course will teach you all about Navigation Trials, Endurance Trials and Special Stage Rallying.

Message Monaghan Motor Clubs social media pages or contact any committee member if you’re interested in learning more about this fun and cost effective form of motorsport. Monaghan Motor Club host four Navigation Trials a year as well as an Endurance Trial.