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Stephen Wright began the defence of his Northern Ireland Rally title with victory on the Kirkistown Stages Rally based at the Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Wright was partnered by Gary McKenna for the event.

After 6 stages, Wright held off the Mini WRC of Derek McGeehan by 5.2 seconds to claim the win.

Wright/McKenna made a cautious start due to the slippery stages but nevertheless they moved into the lead on Stage 3. They continued to increase their lead to 7 seconds by Stage 5. There was late drama when they caught another competing car on the final test. They were relieved that they were still 3^rd fastest and retained their lead. The father & son team of Derek & Mark McGeehan took 2^nd place with former NI champion Derek McGarritty/Paddy Robinson in 3^rd. Matthew McKenna guided Liam McFall to 18^th overall.

James Wilson & Arthur Kierans took overall victory on last weekend’s Carrick-on-Suir Forestry Rally. The event was round 1 of the 2020 Irish Forestry Championship. Wilson, the 2018 Billy Coleman Award Winner, led the event from start to finish to take a convincing victory. Ballinode duo Michael Carbin & Conor Mohan secured 2^nd overall in their Lancer.

Wilson/Kierans set the pace on the opening test, opening a six second advantage ahead of Carbin/Mohan. Top seed Andrew Purcell retired. Wilson/Kierans were fastest on each of the first four stages and increased their advantage to 27 seconds. Carbin/Mohan were holding a steady 2^nd place with a nine second advantage over Liam Ryan/Keith Moriarty in 3^rd. Michael Conlon/Grace O’Brien were involved in a big fight with Gary Kiernan/Darren O’Brien for the two-wheel drive lead.

Stage 5 was the longest of the rally and proved to be the final test as Stage 6 was cancelled. Another fastest time secured the win for Wilson/Kierans. Championship regulars Carbin/Mohan were 2^nd. Conlon/O’Brien lost out on the two-wheel drive win but they were 7^th overall and 2^nd in class on their first event together. Australia based Monaghan man Pauric Duffy made a switch to the woods and brought his Fiesta home 10^th overall and 2^nd in class.

The Irish Forestry Championship continues with the Limerick Forestry Rally on March 1^st.

 Evin Hughes was the top finishing club member on last weekend’s ALMC Endurance Trial. The event was Round 1 of the 2020 Endurance Trial Championship. Hughes was navigating for regular driver Karl O’Donoghue.

The event featured some classic selectives in Luttrelstown, Fairy House & Stanley’s with most of the second half tackled in darkness, O’Donoghue/Hughes had led throughout the day closely followed by Peter Barrable/Kevin Fagan. A broken driveshaft put paid to their chances on the very last selective, resulting in them received a maximum time and demoting them to 2^nd place.

Emmet Sherry/Ciaran Geaney had a great run to finish 4^th overall and win class B for navigation cars. Danny McKenna guided Peter Cummins to an impressive 6^th overall and 1^st in class A1. Shane Farrell guided Mark Reilly to 9^th overall and 1^st in the Expert class. Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly had been top seeds but an off on the opening selective put paid to their chances. They recovered from that setting some fastest times throughout the day and finished 22^nd.

The Son & Father team of Shane & Conor Maguire were pleased with 24^th overall and 1^st Beginner. Ciaran & Pauric Duffy took 29^th overall and 2^nd in the same class with Darragh & Josh Kelly in 32^nd making it a Monaghan 1-2-3. Eoghan Corr/Niall Hughes won class F in their Mazda MX5. Robert Graham/Ryan Treanor finished 37^th overall while Alan Langan/Martin McPhillips were 48^th.

Cavan host Round 2 of the Endurance Championship on March 22^nd.

Pakie Duffy & Evin Hughes took overall victory on last weekend’s Midland Navigation Trial. The event was a counting round of the Squealing Pig Border Navigation Championship.

At the end of the 75 mile route, they emerged comfortable winners from Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan with 3rd overall going to the Semi-Expert crew of Michael Carbin & Conor Mohan.

COC Sam Johnston laid out a challenging route involving some classic lanes in the North Longford area. Monaduff GAA was the HQ for the event. Pakie Duffy & Evin Hughes led the crews away into the opening plot & bash section near Ballinamuck. Trace & tulip diagrams were used catching a few crews out.

TP6 was to be the deciding factor of the event. A newly created ‘road’ which crossed the mapped road proved very inviting and those that followed it were to land at TP10 which was to be given at a later location. Many crews decided to skip TP6-TP9 and wait for their minute at TP10 whilst others attempted to get these timepoints and either skip or double visit TP10 later.

Pakie Duffy & Evin Hughes negotiated this section correctly and were now well clear in the lead. By C13, they were on a total of 10 penalties. Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan proceeded to attempt the timepoints from TP6 and take a double visit at TP10. This decision stood to them and they were now in a clear 2nd place.

The second half of the event was fairly straightforward with a mammoth 16 mile Speed Regulation Section included. As the crews returned to Monaduff, Duffy/Hughes emerged victorious on 11 penalties. Mackarel/Boylan took 2nd place on 85 penalties with 3rd overall going to Semi-Expert class winners Michael Carbin & Conor Mohan on 102 penalties. Novice class winners Aiden Keenan & Sean Marron were an excellent 4th overall ahead of Semi-Expert crew Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue in 5th.

The Night Navigation seasons continues with the Cavan Navigation Trial on February 29th. It is a counting round of both the Border and National Championships.

Top 10 Results:
1st Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 11 marks,
2nd Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 85m,
3rd Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan (Subaru Impreza) 102m,
4th Aiden Keenan/Sean Marron (Subaru Impreza) 112m,
5th Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue (Subaru Impreza) 113m,
6th Aiden Sherry/Oisin Sherlock (Subaru Impreza) 115m,
7th Jack McKenna/Ryan Treanor (Subaru Legacy) 121m,
8th James McCabe/Shane Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 124m,
9th Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 135m,
10th Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 139m

Wednesday 12th Feb at 8pm in Four Seasons Hotel:

To discuss costs of Motorsport

and

consider cost reduction options for 2020