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At an appreciation night for volunteers in motorsport, started by Caroline McGuinness a number of years ago, motor clubs from across Ulster nominated people they felt were deserving of recognition for their contributions to help events run.
The Trevor Purdy Lifetime Achievement award is for marshals who have dedicated their life to assisting at motorsporting events. Stephen Meehan was nominated by Monaghan Motor Club for his commitment over the years. The award was won by Caroline McGuinness.
The Manus Kelly Memorial Cup was introduced to recognise competitors who give back and volunteer at events, as a way to encourage competitors to don a bib on weekends when they are not in a car. Nominated by Monaghan Motor Club, Andy Mackarel was the winner of the cup.
The Spirit of Marshalling award was present to Victor Mehaffy.
Marshals were also recognised at the Motorsport Ireland awards gala in Dublin. Caroline was also on hand to receive the president’s award on behalf of all volunteers north and south who help at Motorsport Ireland events.

Ryan Treanor and Shane Dalton took a tie-break victory at the Midland Motor Club Navigation Trial ran out of Ballinamuck, Co Longford.

The pair finished joint top on 13 penalties along with Evin Hughes and Packie Duffy, with Treanor/Dalton getting the win on the furthest cleanest rule.

The 65 mile event set out by Sam Johnston and Colin Duffy was the third round of the National Navigation Trial Championship and the opening round of the Squealing Pig Border Championship.

Treanor/Dalton were first on the road to lead competitors away at 9.01pm. There was little time to settle into the trial, as at TP2 competitors were given a route card with the coordinates of the next three timepoints. TP3, TP4 and TP5 were located on three parallel lanes and required three uses of a road-goes loop around a farm to get the correct approaches. Plotting was made more difficult by the fact that two of the lanes had already been marked on maps to be used at the end of the night. All crews would drop at least one minute on each of these timepoints.

From there, the event went towards Drumlish and a farmlane near the Fr Manning Gaels GAA Club. The route out of the farm to TP6 required some nimble steering and eagle eyes to spot the exit between various pieces of farm equipment and round bales.

TP7 was at the end of a mucky lane at Lettergeeragh, where a tulip diagram would bring crews back in the same lane again before slotting left for TP8. Some crews would come across TP8 on their search for TP7, while others would miss either one or both of the sequence due to a blockage.

One and a half loops of the Edenmore Bog Walk was required to get the correct approaches to TP9 and TP10. A straight run to TP11 and then a welcomed Time Recovery Section at Control B. At the end of the first timecard, Treanor/Dalton were on four penalties with Hughes/Duffy on five. Ken Carmody and James Fitzgerald were next on eight. David McCrudden and Martin Tynan were holding fourth ahead of two Semi-Expert crews of Ciaran Coyle/Niall McDaid and Aaron McElroy/Declan Tynan.

Another tulip diagram at TP12 led competitors across a road-goes loop to TP13, the departure of which was to be found on the route card given at TP2 – and it wasn’t the last time that sheet would be needed.

Another loop of Edenmore Bog Walk was needed to get TP14 and then a farmlane to TP15. The marshal there informed crews that the information for TP16 had already been handed out – requiring another use of the route card given at TP2!

By the time crews made it to the second time recovery section of the night at the start of the ITC, many were close to or had gone over their allotted 15 minutes lateness at some point. The regularity section brought the route to the outskirts of Ballinalee before returning close to Drumlish and sections of road used earlier in the night. TP21 required a late slot left to avoid a wrong approach and TP22 was back on the same lane as TP6 but being approached from the opposite direction. This time the bales and trailers had been moved to give a different path to the exit. TP25 and Control 26 were back to the lanes of the first plot and bash and from there final control in Ballinamuck.

With Treanor/Dalton taking the overall win, Hughes/Duffy would take 1st Expert with Carmody/Fitzgerald second and McCrudden/Tynan third in Class.

McElroy/Tynan won Semi-Expert from Coyle/McDaid with Shane Maguire and Mickey Conlon 3rd.

Cavan pairing Anthony McDonald and Sean McConnell took their second national Novice class victory in as many weeks. Aaron and Ciaran McGorman were just behind them taking second, with Keith and Damien Sheridan third.

Emmett Sheridan and Sean Og Cahill won the Beginner class. Eoghan Farrell and Peter Deery were second with Joe Finneran and Gerry Kelly third.

The Toyota Starlet crew of Brian Duggan and Denis O’Donovan took win on the Carbery Navigation Trial on a tie-break. 

James Fitzgerald and Ken Carmody, in a four wheel drive Subaru Impreza also finished on one penalty but had to settle for second on the 2WD rule. 

The Longford crew of Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston finished the 80-mile route with just two penalties. 

Monaghan’s Andy Mackarel and Limerick’s Greg Shinnors finished with seven penalties and taking fourth on a tie-break with Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan. 

Ray and Stephen O’Neill were sixth overall and first semi-expert on nine penalties. 

20 marks on Via 1 put Expert crews Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes and Shane Dalton/Ryan Treanor out of contention. They would finish tenth and 11th overall respectively, both with 23 penalties. 

Eoghan Corr/Ruaidhri Nash were 3rd semi-expert. 

Cavan’s Sean McConnell/Anthony McDonald won the Novice category and were ninth overall, with Owen Murphy and John McCay winning Beginners. 

The next round of the National Navigation Trial Championship and opening round of the Squealing Pig Border Championship is hosted by Midlands Motorclub on Saturday 2 December. 

Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty are the overall winners of the 2023 Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

The Hyundai i20 pair beat Callum Maguire and Noel O’Sullivan to the top spot by just three points after dropped scores were taken into account.

Daniel Cronin and Donnacha Burke finished third in the championship.

The prizegiving for the championship took place recently to celebrate a year of exciting and competitive rallying.

Those who the motorsport community lost during the year were remembered at the event and the organisers and supporters of the championship rounds were thanked for their efforts.

The eight round championship took competitors to all corners of Ireland and there was local success throughout the classes.

Justin Smyth & Gregory McQuillan are the overall winners of the 2023 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.

The Monaghan pair were the class of the field in Class 12 winning the category on each of the four rounds of the series.

They faced a huge battle each event to do that and only once were more than 30 seconds ahead of their pursuer.

The pair have been competing together for over a decade and this is their biggest Motorsport success to date.

Conor Smith also reached the forty point margin but missed out on the title on countback.

He guided Michael Cahill to the Class 11R win in Midland and then guided Craig Rahill to class wins in Cavan, Sligo and ALMC.

Fermanagh brothers, Ruari & Martin McGarritty took 2^nd driver and 3^rd navigator thanks to one win and three second places in Class 3.

3^rd overall driver was Donegal’s Ryan McHugh who racked up four 2^nd place finishes in Class 2.

Among the class winners were Gary Cassidy and Killian McArdle in Class 11F, Peter Farrell was the top navigator in 11R.

Brian Comiskey and Declan Campbell took Class 15 and Michael Carbin won Class 20 with navigator Dean O’Sullivan.

Jack McKenna and Damien Doherty were Class 16 Junior winners.

Midland, Cavan, Sligo and ALMC hosted rounds this year running their first events since 2019 and 2017 in the case of ALMC.

At the prize-giving, the championship team thanked all the supporting organisers for running the events and remembered Gene McDonald and Daire Maguire who passed away after an accident on the Sligo round.

Class 1 Champion Simon Love & Deirdre Brosnan

Simon Love and Deirdre Borsnan claimed the class 1 title after scoring consistently throughout the year.

Class 2 Champions Cian Caldwell & Declan Boyle

Declan Boyle navigated Ryan McHugh to four second place finished in class 2 to be the winning navigator. Cian Caldwell/Liam Egan with a win in Sligo and 3^rd in ALMC claimed 1^st driver and 2^nd navigator respectively. Matthew Boyle/Gary Byrne were 2^nd driver/3rd navigator thanks to three fourth places with Dylan Eves 3^rd driver.

Class 4 Champions Tomas O’Rourke & Tomas Scallan

Wexford’s Tomas O’Rourke and Tomas Scallan dominated class 4 in their Lancer to take their class for the second successive year.

Class 5 Champions Jason Mitchell & Shane Buckley

Shane Buckley was the winning navigator in class 5. His best result was guiding David Kelly to 2^nd in class in Cavan. Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden were 1^st driver and 2^nd navigator with Sligo producing their best result. Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrest were 2^nd driver and 3^rd navigator with Kevin Wilson 3^rd driver.

Class 9 Champions Lloyd Hutchison & Willie Fitzpatrick

Lloyd Hutchison/Willie Fitzpatrick won the class 9 title with a win in ALMC and 2^nd in Cavan their best results. Sean Og Cahill/Ryan Graham finished runners-up.

Class 10 Champions Brian Rudden & Eamon Rudden

Brian & Eamon retained their title through consistency fending off Cathal Sheridan & Peter Deery whose retirement in Cavan dropped them to 2^nd.

Class 11F Champions Gary Cassidy & Killian McArdle

Gary Cassidy & Killian McArdle took the hotly contested class 11F with wins in Sligo & ALMC and 2^nd in Cavan. Reigning champion, Sam Johnston had to settle for 2^nd in class winning in Midland. 2^nd navigator was Aisling McArdle. 3^rd driver was David Healy and 3^rd navigator was Keith McConnan.

Class 11R Champions Craig Rahill & Peter Farrell

Craig Rahill proved to be one of the stars of the year as he claimed three class 11R wins from three starts to take the title. Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell were 2^nd driver and winning navigator respectively. 2^nd in Cavan was their best result. Paul Crosby/Eoin Lennon were 3^rd driver and 2^nd navigator with 2^nd in class in ALMC their best result. Andrew Wedlock was 3^rd class 11R navigator.

Class 12 Champions Ryan McArdle & Conor McLoughney

Ryan McArdle & Conor McLoughney won class 12 after Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan moved into the overall awards. They edged out James Cassidy/Domhnall Lennon on a tie-breaker. Declan Campbell/Kevin Creighon placed 3rd. 

Class 13 Champions Tim Flood & Anthony Smith

Tim Flood & Anthony Smith scored consistently and often to take the class 13 championship title. Aaron McIntyre/Paul McPhillips were runners-up with a win in Sligo their best result. John Warren/Ruthann O’Connor placed 3^rd overall.

Class 14 Champions Kevin Gallagher & Ryan Moore

Donegal Engine Builder Kevin Gallagher & navigator Ryan Moore took the class 14 trophy with wins in Sligo and ALMC. Chris Armstrong/Darren Curran finished 2^nd with Richard Moffett/Paul Lennon placing 3^rd overall. 

Class 15 Champions Brian Comiskey & Declan Campbell

Brian and Declan retained class 15 honours in their Subaru. 

Class 20 Champions Michael Carbin & Dean O’Sullivan

Championship regulars, Michael Carbin & Dean O’Sullivan won class 20 with three class wins to their name. His old car now in the hands of Gerry McIntyre/Paul Clarke finished as runner-up. 

Class 18 (Historic) Champions Paul McDevitt & Ray Fitzpatrick

Paul McDevitt/Ray Fitzpatrick won the Historic title from championship regulars Malcolm Pedlow/John Henderson.

Class 16 (Junior) Champions Jack McKenna & Damien Doherty

Jack McKenna & Damien Doherty had some scintillating drives to take three class wins and the Junior class title. Jack Kelly was 2^nd overall driver.

Team Champions Campbell Contracts Rally Team

It was a family affair in the Teams Championship with the Campbell Contracts Rally Team taking the title from Trees or Trophies and Anti-lag Association.

Malton Forest Rally

Over in Yorkshire, UK, Arthur Kierans was alongside Barry McKenna in the Malton Forest Rally in a historic spec Ford Escort RS1800 MK2. There was stiff competition, with many using it as a shakedown for the RAC Rally at the end of the month. Barry and Arthur had a strong run to claim 3rd in the H2 Class.