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Monaghan Motor Club hosted their annual prizegiving last weekend in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. The event commemorated club members success throughout the past Motorsport year. Ciaran Tynan was presented with the Trader’s Trophy as the 2019 Overall Club Champion.

Ciaran achieved this primarily in the navigator’s seat competing in Navigation events with his Uncle Michael Tynan, the Stages Rally with Martin McPhillips & Endurance Trial with Kieran McCarra. Ciaran secured overall wins on the Drumlin & March Navigation events as well as the Endurance Trial to secure the title with a round to spare. Ciaran has been competing for over 15 years and this is his first Trader’s success after consistently challenging for the title in recent years. Ciaran takes over as Club Champion from his cousin Martin ensuring the Traders Trophy remains in the Tynan household.

Other successes included Josh Moffett winning the National Rally Championship after a dominant year with his navigator Andy Hayes. Michael & Ciaran Tynan won the Gary Nesbitt Club Navigation Championship. Eoghan Corr received the Gerry McNamara trophy for his immense contribution to local motorsport.

There was a great turnout on the night and a great night was had by all. It was once again a very successful year for club members both locally and Nationally.

Sherlock is Endurance Champion

 Ballinode Navigator Oisin Sherlock has won the 2019 Irish Endurance Championship at last weekend’s Birr Endurance Trial. Needing only to start the event to clinch the title proved sufficient as retirement followed with a damaged radiator. His driver Derek Bulter has already secured the drivers crown before the event.

Kevin O’Rourke/Dave McAuley took event honours from Karl O’Donoghue/Evin Hughes. The latter crew secured 2^nd overall in the championship after rival Peter Barrable retired with gearbox failure. Nicole Drought/Aaron McElroy moved up to the 1.4 lite Endurance class for the first time and finished 7^th overall and 1^st in the Semi-Expert class. Robert Graham/Ryan Treanor finished 10^th overall and 1^st Novice. Danny McKenna guided Peter Cummins to 11^th overall and 1^st in class A1. Colm McKeever/Sean Marron took 22^nd overall and 2^nd in Novice. Darragh & Josh Kelly took 8^th in class B for Navigation cars with Shane Maguire/Killian Murphy, making their driving debut just behind in 9^th.

Adam Langan/Martin McPhillips & Ciaran Duffy/Pauric Duffy claimed  39^th and 40^th overall while Gordon Parker/Killian McArdle made it home in 48^th.

Wright Keeps N.I. Title hopes alive

 Stephen Wright remains firmly in contention for the Northern Ireland Rally Championship after last weekend’s Tyrone Stages Rally. Stephen was partnered by Cork navigator Liam Moynihan. The event was based at the Benone complex and consisted of multiple short sharp stages repeated and reversed throughout the day giving 14 stages in total.

Desi Henry & Conor Mohan led much of the event but a series of spins and stalls dropped them back and they eventually finished 4th. Derek McGarritty/Paddy Robinson held off Wright/Moynihan by just 2 second to win the event. These two crews will now battle it out with Wright at the final round, the Glens of Antrim Rally, with Derek McGeehan also having an outside chance.

Oisin Sherlock guided Peter Greenlee to 23^rd overall before heading to Birr via the the club prizegiving on a very busy weekend of Motorsport.

Conor Foley was the top finishing local competitor on last weekend’s Donegal Harvest Rally. The Redcastle based event was the final round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. The Derry crew of Callum Devine & Brian Hoy took overall victory in their R5 Fiesta. They were involved in a close battle with Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes who were debuting a R5 VW Polo. Late problems dropped them to 4th allowing Donagh Kelly & Conor Foley into 2nd place in another Polo.

National Rally Champions, Moffett/Hayes finished in 4th place. Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming finished 12th overall and took victory in class 13. Damien McKenna guided Shaun Murphy to 33rd overall and 7th in class. Mickey Brennan/Paddy McCague took victory in class 10 in their Nova coming home in 46th place overall. Aisling McArdle guided Des Lyons to 49th overall and 7th in class 11F. Patrick Fitzpatrick/James McEneaney took 53rd overall and victory in class 9. Ryan & Nigel Brennan finished 65th overall and 3rd in class 1. Ryan Treanor/Robert Graham had to resort to Rally 2 after retiring and came home in 83rd overall.

Gary Cassidy/Paul Kelly, Jack Maguire/Stephen McElroy, Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin, Gerry McGivney/Gavin McGivney & Christopher Brennan/Martin Hughes failed to finish.

Cork Navigation Trial

The 2019-20 National Night Navigation Championship commenced last weekend with Cork Motor Club’s Star-Trek Navigation Trial based in Inchigeelagh. Local crew James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody survived the 110 mile route to emerge victorious on 17 penalties. Top Monaghan performers were Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan who finished 3rd overall on 30 penalties. James McCabe/Shane Farrell finished a fine 6th overall and won the Semi-Expert class on 150 penalties total. Experts, Richard Cassidy/Conor Maguire finished 7th overall in their Vectra. Conor’s son Shane finished just 1 penalty behind him as he and driver Ray O’Neill took 8th overall and Novice class honours. A tough night for Francis McElvaney/Oisin Sherlock who will hope for better on future rounds.

2019 Club Championship Awards Night

The 2019 Club Awards Night takes place on Saturday 19th October in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. Ciaran Tynan clinched the Traders Trophy for the first time after three event wins and consistently steady results across the year. The event will be a celebration of Monaghan success stories during the year including Josh Moffett winning the National Rally Championship. Tickets are available from committee members for a cost of €25 and club members are asked to support this event as we celebrate the achievements of our mem

 

Oisin Sherlock & Aiden Sherry took overall victory on last weekend’s Navigation Trial based out of Tydavnet Community Centre. The local pairing were the only crew to negotiate the 85-mile route without dropping a penalty. This was their first event win having been steadily climbing the navigation ranks over the past four years.

David McCrudden took on the mantle of COC for the first time. The event was the first navigation event of the season but was the final round of the 2019 Traders and Club Navigation Championships. An entry of 23 crews made the start with the crews traversing the North Monaghan countryside visiting the Ballinode, Scotstown, Knockatallon, Bragan, Emyvale and Tydavnet areas. The opening section featured a plot & bash timepoint at McAree Engineering in Ballinode, with former National Champions, Pakie Duffy & Evin Hughes, incurring a wrong approach here. Another plot & bash timepoint near Knockatallon, saw top seeds Derek Mackarel & Conor Boylan dropping time.

By the halfway mark, the Semi-Expert pairing of Emmet McCooey/Christopher McMahon were leading from four Expert crews with all on clean sheets. Aiden Sherry/Oisin Sherlock, Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan, Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin and Josh Moffett/Stephen Thornton were all in contention.

The event headed into some popular lanes on the foothills of Bragan Mountain before moving back towards Tydavnet. By TP27, the top five leading crews were still all on clean sheets but all was to change on the tricky plot & bash section on tulip diagram near Ballinode which concluded the event. McCooey/McMahon missed TP28 followed by a wrong approach at Via4. Most of the crews lost time finding Via4 and dropped time at TP29. Moffett/Thornton got a wrong approach at TP29 ending their hopes of victory while Michael & Ciaran Tynan dropped two penalties. The penultimate Control would decide the winner as Tynan/Clerkin dropped 1 penalty leaving Sherry/Sherlock as the only crew clean at the end of the night.

So it was Aiden Sherry & Oisin Sherlock who took overall honours on their home event with a perfect clean sheet after 85 miles of driving. It was their first event win after several seasons ascending the navigation ranks including winning the Novice & Semi-Expert classes. Martin Tynan & Fintan Clerkin finished 2^nd with Michael & Ciaran Tynan in 3^rd. Michael & Ciaran also secured the Gary Nesbitt Club Navigation Championship and Ciaran is the 2019 Trader’s Overall Club Champion.

Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes finished in 4^th with their early wrong approach penalty their only penalties dropped. Novice class winners Emmet Sherry & Patrick Corcoran were a fine 5^th overall on 20 penalties in their Starlet with Josh Moffett/Stephen Thornton 6^th in their Corsa. Eoghan Corr/Ruaidhri Nash made a return to the sport and secured the Semi-Expert class. Aiden Keenan/Sean Marron impressed to take the win in the Beginners class as well as 9^th overall on just 39 penalties.

The event proved to be a success with the event favouring Beginner and Novice crews whilst having enough challenges to catch the more experienced crews. COC David McCrudden paid tribute to his organising team, all the marshals and timekeepers, Tydavnet community centre and all the landowners and residents along the route for their support of the event.

The National Navigation Championship is set to commence on Saturday 12^th October in Cork whilst the local season continues with the Drumlin Navigation Trial on November 9^th.

Results:

1^st Aiden Sherry/Oisin Sherlock (Subaru Impreza) 0 marks,

2^nd Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 1m,

3^rd Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 4m,

4^th Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 15m,

5^th Emmet Sherry/Patrick Corcoran (Toyota Starlet) 20m,

6^th Josh Moffett/Stephen Thornton (Opel Corsa) 20m,

7^th Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 22m,

8^th Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna (Subaru Impreza) 30m,

9^th Aiden Keenan/Sean Marron (Subaru Impreza) 39m,

10^th Eoghan Corr/Ruaidhri Nash (Subaru Impreza) 43m.

 

2019 Club Championship Awards Night

The 2019 Club Awards Night takes place on Saturday 19^th October in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. Ciaran Tynan clinched the Traders Trophy for the first time after three event wins and consistently steady results across the year. The event will be a celebration of Monaghan success stories during the year including Josh Moffett winning the National Rally Championship. Tickets are available from committee members for a cost of €25 and club members are asked to support this event as we celebrate the achievements of our members.

Mohan makes Co-Driver Initiative

Congratulations to Ballinode Navigator Conor Mohan who was recently included among 7 others to be part of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. Mohan was shortlisted from 24 applicants following a series of interviews, exams and pace-note making demonstrations. Conor will get to make notes with a current top level driver, sit in for tests of R2 and R5 cars as well as being invited to Billy Coleman Award Development Days to avail of media and fitness guidance. He will also receive mentoring and support from some of Ireland’s most experienced and respected co-drivers for the next year. The club wish Conor all the best with this initiative.

Connolly 2^nd in Group N in Cork

Martin Connolly guided William Mavitty to 2^nd place in Group N on last weekend’s Cork 20 International Rally. The event was the final round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. Gerard McQuaid/Gary Quinlan finished 14^th in the National Rally while Richard Moffett/Paddy McCrudden had to resort to Rally 2 after retiring Saturday. They set some great times to finish 21^st overall. In the historic category, Damien Connolly guided Robert Barrable to 2^nd place while Brendan McAree/Niall Kelly finished in 9^th.

Ballinode navigator Conor Mohan secured his 1st event victory after guiding Desi Henry to overall honours on last weekend’s Bushwhacker Rally. The pair were competing together for the first time in Desi’s Fiesta WRC. The event was a counting round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship and featured 10 forestry stages based out of Omagh. 

Henry/Mohan settled in together over the opening stages and were 6th initially before climbing to 3rd after Stage 4. The pair would then set fastest times on each of the remaining stages, taking the rally lead on Stage 9 and finishing 8 seconds clear of Lithuanian visitor Martynas Samsonas in his unique BMW E46. Stephen Wright kept his hopes of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship alive with 7th overall and importantly ahead of title rival Derek McGarritty.

September Navigation Trial
The 2019 Traders Club Championship and Gary Nesbitt Club Navigation Trial Championship concludes with this weekend’s September Navigation Trial. COC

David McCrudden has put together an 85 mile event with Tydavnet serving as event base. First route instructions will be issued at 6pm with competitive navigation commencing at 9pm.
Marshals are required for this event and those available to help should contact David or Peter Deery and be present in the Community Centre from 7pm. Full Report next week.

 

Monaghan’s Damien Connolly navigated Desi Henry to victory on the Lakeland Forestry Stages rally on Saturday last 7^th October, which was the final round of the Valvoline Irish Forestry Championship.

The pair had a comfortable 22 seconds to spare over Clontibret driver Sam Moffett and James Fulton, with both crews in Fiesta WRCs. Moffett had challenged for the lead for much of the event but mechanical problems forced him to conserve the car to get to the finish. Cathan McCourt put in a late charge to catch Moffett but fell short by just 11 seconds on his way to third place.

Third placed Cathan McCourt had already secured the championship title on the previous round in Cork. Sam Moffett, who was the champion in 2017, secured 3^rd in the 2019 championship on a tie break.

Monaghan competitors featured in six of the top ten cars. Andrew Grennan navigated Vivian Hamill to 4^th overall in a Fiesta R5, just 5 seconds ahead of 5^th placed Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley in a Fabia R5. Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans (Fiesta R5) were 8^th overall with Mickey Carbin/Conor Mohan (Lancer Evo 8) completing the top ten on the day. This was enough for the Smithborough/Ballinode pair to secure their position as runners-up in the championship.

Lakeland Stages Top Ten

1 Desi Henry/Damien Connolly (Fiesta WRC) 34m 17s,

2 Sam Moffett/James Fulton (Fiesta WRC) 34m 39s,

3 Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty (Fiesta R5) 34m 50s,

4 Vivian Hamill/Andrew Grennan (Fiesta R5) 35m 11s,

5 Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Fabia R5) 35m 16s,

6 Patrick O’Brien/Thomas Nugent (Lancer Evo) 35m 20s,

7 Niall McCullagh/Ryan McCloskey (Fiesta R5) 35m 41s,

8 Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans (Fiesta R5) 35m 44s,

9 Conor McCourt/Brian Hoy (Fiesta) 35m 48s,

10 Mickey Carbin/Conor Mohan (Lancer Evo 8) 36m 00s.

Smyth & McEneaney Shine in Wexford

Lisnalong’s Justin Smyth and navigator James McEneaney finished in a superb 8^th overall position and were the class 12 winners on the 2-day Wexford Stages Rally, run over Saturday and Sunday last.

The pair had 7 seconds to spare over 9^th placed James Bradley/David Byrne following the 15 stage event. Mickey Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips (Escort) were 12th overall and 3^rd in class 14. Shane Farrell navigated Quentin Park (Escort) to 6^th in class 12, while Ryan and Nigel Brennan were 2nd in class 1 in their Honda Civic. Richard Moffett and Martin Connolly had started strongly and were 3^rd overall after stage 5, but retired their Starlet thereafter.

Navigation Classes

The Monaghan Motor Club Navigation Trial classes continue each Friday starting at 8pm in the Sean McDermotts GFC complex in Threemilehouse. If you have an interest in Motorsport, then Navigation Trials are the best form of obtaining the correct ‘foundation’ for this sport. The classes cover the full range of topics including map reading, timing, car regulations for both Navigation and Endurance Trials and will also include a session on pace notes for stages rallies. It’s not too late yet to join. Contact Shane on 086 2616120 to book your place.