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Former National Champions, Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes took overall victory on last weekend’s Cavan Navigation Trial based in Maudabawn, Co. Cavan. The event was a counting round of the Border and National Navigation Championships. COC Andrew Wedlock laid out a challenging 75 mile route across some classic navigation terrain in the Mountain Lodge, Tullyvin and Maudabawn areas. Duffy/Hughes would emerge winners by a single penalty from reigning National Champions, Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes.

The opening section of the event stayed close to the Maudabawn area, including a trio of plot & bash timepoints on a straight line tulip between TP6-TP9. Only 6 crews managed to reach all the timepoints on this section. It was Duffy/Hughes who assumed the lead but dropped 9 penalties on this demanding section. Following a welcome time relax section near Mountain Lodge, a further two plot & bash timepoints were up next. Again these were on tulip diagram and many a crew were caught with a wrong approach.

By the midway control, Duffy/Hughes held the lead on 10 penalties. Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes were in 2^nd place on 13 penalties. The Novice pairing of Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon were a fine 3^rd on 14 penalties with Trevor O’Callaghan/Patrick O’Leary on 20 penalties, the only other crew to have reached all timepoints with right approach and departure.

Following a Speed Regulation Section near Clifferna, the event moved towards the Tullyvin & Kill Areas. Duffy/Hughes hit problems as their fan belt broke and required a quick repair to stay in the event. Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes had closed the gap to a single penalty but subsequently were caught with a wrong approach at Via3. Many crew dropped time to TP22 with a hard to find lane at the back of a wind turbine. Duffy/Hughes then missed TP23 which left the impressing Novice crew of Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon leading on 16 penalties total with the Expert pairing of Trevor O’Callaghan/Patrick O’Leary in 2^nd 1 penalty adrift.

O’Callaghan/O’Leary’s challenge faltered when a wrong slot on a lane resulted in them going over maximum lateness. Dixon/Lennon led until TP33 when they reached maximum lateness and had to skip a number of timepoints in the closing stages. Mackarel/Hayes and Duffy/Hughes were both on 37 penalties total going into the final five timepoints. Duffy/Hayes were able to shave a minute on the final plot & bash timepoint and finished on 41 penalties total to take the event win. Mackarel/Hayes finished 2^nd and put themselves back in the driving seat for the National Navigation Championship.

Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan recovered from an earlier missed timepoint to take 3^rd overall on 60 penalties. Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon were the only other crew to finish under 100 penalties to take 4^th overall and victory in the Novice class with a total of 86 penalties. Peter Deery/David McCrudden won the Semi-Expert class, taking 5^th overall in the process.

James McCabe/Shane Farrell & Noel Sherry/Oisin Sherlock completed the Semi-Expert class podium positions. Midlands duo, Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue took 2^nd place in the Novice class with Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna in 3^rd.

Local brothers, Aaron & Ben McIntyre won the Beginners class and were a very impressive 6^th overall to boot. Gene McDonald/Colm McKeevor took 2^nd and were 9^th overall with Colm Mohan/Aiden Sherry in 3^rd.

The National & Border Navigation Championships conclude with the Monaghan Navigation Trial on Saturday 30^th March.

Top 10:

1 Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 41 marks,

2 Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes (Subaru Impreza) 42m,

3 Mickey Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 60m,

4 Aaron Dixon/Dylan Lennon (Subaru Impreza) 86m,

5 Peter Deery/David McCrudden (Subaru Impreza) 112m,

6 Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre (Subaru Impreza) 118m,

7 Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue (Subaru Impreza) 120m,

8 James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody (Subaru Impreza) 134m,

9 Gene McDonald/Colm McKeever (Subaru Impreza) 142m,

10 Mac Kierans/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 150m.

 

Limerick Forestry Rally

 

The adverse turn in the weather last Sunday played havoc with the planned Motorsport fixtures. The Rockchapel based, Limerick Forestry Rally had to be abandoned midway through the second stage of the event. The arrival of snow resulted in a number of crews leaving the road and a decision was made to cancel the event on safety grounds.

Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan had made a great start to hold 2^nd overall on the opening stage while Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips were a remarkable 3^rd in their 2wd Escort. Calum Maguire was navigating for Peter McCullagh and they were 14^th. David Condell/Paul Kelly were 23^rd, Peter Beaton/Conor Boylan 55^th and Derek Mackarel/Grace O’Brien 64^th and last after spending many minutes stuck in a drain.

It was a weekend of success for Monaghan Club Members as they took overall honours on the opening rounds of both the Northern Ireland Rally Championship and National Rally Championship. On Saturday, Stephen Wright & Keith Rainey took victory on the Kirkistown Rally in their Fiesta R5. The following day, Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes got their National Championship title bid off to the perfect start with overall victory on the Birr Stages Rally.

Kirkistown Stages

The six stage Kirkistown Stages Event was based entirely within the confines of Kirkistown racecourse in Co. Down. Competitors enjoyed the unseasonal warm weather as they competed over the tarmac tests. Multiple Northern Ireland Championship, Derek McGarrity, was the pacesetter from the off.

Stephen Wright/Keith Rainey slotted into 2^nd place but a spin on stage two dropped them back to 6^th. A charge through stage four resulted in a fastest time and promoted them back to 2^nd. McGarrity was sidelined on the final stage after a small engine fire and Wright/Rainey posted a 2^nd fastest time to take the victory by a six second margin. Darren & Nathan Gass debuted a Skoda Fabia R5 and claimed 2^nd place. Derek & Mark McGeehan completed the podium places.

Matthew McKenna guided Liam McFall to 13^th overall. Jack Maguire/Keith McConnan set some good times during the day but a long delay on the opening stage meant they could do no better than 49^th overall. Ciaran & Paul Maguire finished 53^rd overall and 4^th in class in their Honda Civic.

Birr Stages Rally

 Last Sunday, the 2019 National Rally Championship kicked off with the Abbeyleix based Birr Stages Rally. The event consisted of a 3×3 format including some stages in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. A capacity entry made the start including a strong entry of local crews.

Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes immediately set the pace on the short opening stage near Rathdowney. They were two seconds quicker than reigning National Champion, Declan Boyle, in 2^nd. Moffett rapidly extended his lead on stage two and three which were fog affected. They arrived in service with a 27 second lead over Boyle with Peader Hurson and Monaghan’s Damien Connolly nearly a minute behind in 3^rd overall. Suspension problems had delayed Sam Moffett/James Fulton in their Fiesta R5 while Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor were getting reacquainted after nearly 20 years since they last competed together.

Boyle only trimmed two seconds off Moffett/Hayes on the second loop while Roy White displaced Hurson for 3^rd. Sam Moffett was motoring better now and was involved in a close battle with the R5 Skoda of Scotland’s David Bogie.

Moffett/Hayes took no chances on the final loop to secure the event win 24.8 seconds ahead of Boyle. Roy White/James O’Brien were a distance 3^rd ahead of Hurson/Connolly in 4^th. Sam Moffett/James Fulton finished 6^th overall in their R5 Fiesta while Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor came home in 7^th overall.

David Moffett/Martin Connolly finished a fine 14^th overall and took victory in class 13. Shane Maguire/Donal Balfe took 3^rd in Group N and 16^th overall. Shane was making a return to the series after a year’s absence. Emmet Sherry guided Stuart Darcy to 24^th overall and 5^th in class in his new Escort. Conor Mohan guided Eamon Kelly to 33^rd overall and 1^st in class 2. Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming and Des Moore/Arthur Kierans failed to finish.

The National Rally Championship will continue with the Midlands Stages Rally on Sunday 24^th March.

Michael Carbin & Conor Mohan came close to overall victory on last weekend’s Fivemiletown Forestry Rally. After eight fast and flowing forest stages, the Smithborough/Ballinode team were just eight seconds shy of the similar Lancer of Niall McCullagh/Ryan McCloskey.

 

The pair had been in a steady 5^th place at the halfway mark but there were major changes at the head of the leaderboard in the latter half of the event but such was the pace they were only 14 seconds behind the rally leaders. By stage six, they had climbed to 2^nd place. Going into the final stage they trailed event leaders Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty by 37 seconds. However McCourt/McNulty retired on the test. Carbin/Mohan missed out on the win as Niall McCullagh/Ryan McCloskey stormed through the test turning a 3 second deficit into an 8 second win.

 

Andrew Grennan was navigating for Vivian Hamill in an Escort but they failed to make the finish.

 

Monaghan Men Make Mark on Cambrian Rally

 

A number of club members contested the opening round of the 2019 British Rally Championship, the Cambrian Rally based in North Wales. After 10 demanding forestry stages, Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty led the Monaghan crews home in 5^th place overall. Brendan Cumisky/Ronan O’Kane brought their Skoda Fabia home in 9^th overall. Arthur Kierans joined forces with Billy Coleman Award Winner, James Wilson. They finished an impressive 12^th overall and took victory in the very competitive Junior category by just 2 seconds! Paul Sheridan guided Enda McCormack to 17^th overall.

 

ALMC Endurance Trial

 

The opening round of the 2019 Irish Endurance Championship got underway with last weekend’s ALMC Endurance Trial based in Luttrlestown, Co. Dublin. A number of Monaghan crews tackled the event which attracted a full entry of 70 crews. After 18 selectives which included a number of night selectives, top stages competitor Robert Barrable & his navigator Ciaran Larkin took the win by 52 seconds from his brother Peter & navigator Gary McElhinney. The Dublin/Monaghan partnership of Karl O’Donoghue and Evin Hughes secured 3^rd overall after make good progress on the night selectives.

 

Emmet Sherry/Ciaran Geaney finished 10^th overall and finished 2^nd in the Semi-Expert class. Ryan Treanor/Paul Murphy finished 4^th in the same class. Craig McPhillips/Oisin Sherlock brought their Toyota Glanza to 5^th in class B. Colm McKeever/Shane Marron took 4^th in the Beginners class with Robert Graham/Shane Murphy taking 2^nd in the Novice class. Aaron McElroy guided circuit racer Nicole Drought to victory in class A1 in her Micra. Noel & Aiden Sherry took 3^rd in class C for up to 2.0 litre Navigation cars. Cathal & Eimear McGlone brought their Suzuki Ignis to 12^th in class B with Damien Treanor/Gordon Burke taking 16^th in the same class.

Defending Tarmac Champion, Josh Moffett, netted a podium finish on last weekend’s Galway International Rally, the opening round of the 2019 Irish Tarmac Championship. The pair held a steady pace throughout the one day event, initially holding 4th place but moved to 3rd following the retirement of Gary Jennings. Overall honours went to WRC star, Craig Breen in a Ford Fiesta with Alastair Fisher taking 2nd place.

Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans returned to the stages and finished in a steady 9th place in their Fiesta R5. Conor Mohan guided Eamonn Kelly to 20th overall and 2nd in class. Brendan Cumisky/Ronan O’Kane took Class 24 honours for Right Hand Drive R5 Cars from Aaron McHale/Enda Sherry.

Gerard McQuaid/Jack McKenna finished 12th overall and 2nd in class in the National Rally. Thomas Treanor guided Fergal Kelly to 28th overall and 6th in class. David Condell/Paul Kelly re-entered the event under Rally 2 rules and took 38th overall and 5th in class. Sam Moffett/James Fulton retired early after being caught out in the extremely slippy conditions. The Championship continues with the West Cork Rally on St. Patrick’s Weekend.

Defending National Night Navigation Champions, Derek Mackarel & Muireann Hayes, remain on course for the successful defence of their title after back to back 2^nd places finishes on the Skibbereen 100 Isles & Cork 1000 Shakes Navigation Trials. These events occurred in successive weekends after the postponement of the Cork event in January.

 

On the 100 Isles, it proved to be a very demanding event with very high penalties for most crews. In the end it was the team of James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody who took the win from Mackarel/Hayes. The following weekend, some snowy and icy conditions faced crews on the Macroom based 1000 Shakes. On this occasion, overall honours went to Owen Murphy & Daire Hayes with Mackarel/Hayes edging out Fitzgerald/Carmody on a tie-break for 2^nd place.

 

Mackarel/Hayes hold the advantage on points with Fitzgerald/Carmody not far back in 2^nd place. Mac Kierans/Conor Boylan have contested all rounds to date and hold 3^rd place. Two rounds remain in Cavan & Monaghan next month and dropped scores could also play a factor in where the 2018-2019 National title will go.

 

Galway International Rally

 

The 2019 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship kicks into gear this weekend with the return of the Galway International Rally after a year’s absence. The event will be a 1 day event contested over 10 stages on Sunday 10^th February. The last two championships have been won by the Moffett brothers, Sam & Josh and both are scheduled to make the start next weekend in their R5 Fiestas. International Rally Star, Craig Breen, is the top seeds and firm event favourite.

 

The top 10 includes multiple former Tarmac and National Champions make the top 10 with many crews switching to R5 cars for the first time. Conor Foley is once again sitting with Donegal’s Donagh Kelly as they adapt to their new Skoda Fabia R5. Niall Maguire & Anthony Nestor are also on the Entry List in their Subaru WRC. Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans return to the stages after nearly a year’s absence. Brendan Cumisky/Ronan O’Kane and Aaron McHale/Enda Sherry are also R5 mounted.

 

Paul Kelly is sitting for David Condell and Emmet Sherry is sitting with Stuart Darcy in the Modified category while Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming are also amongst the front runners.

 

 

AGM

 

The Annual General Meeting of Co. Monaghan Motor Club was held in the Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday 23^rd January before a large attendance. Secretary Paul Hughes in his report summarised what had been a busy and successful year for the club. He appealed for more volunteers to share the workload. The Chairman Conor Maguire thanked all who had helped and supported the club and its activities throughout the year. In particular he thanked the Four Seasons as main sponsor of the Stages Rally, all local sponsors and those who provided venues for events, as well as residents and landowners along the routes of the events. There was a round of applause for all club members who were successful at both International and National level in 2018.

 

The election of officers for 2019 resulted as follows:

Chairman: Conor Maguire, Vice-Chairman: Brendan Flynn, Secretary: Paul Hughes, Treasurer: Cathal MacArtain, Ast, Treasuer: Brendan Flynn, PRO: Evin Hughes, Registrar: Ronnie Hawe, Committee: Kerry Stevenson, Eoghan Corr, Michael Sheridan, Cathal McGlone, Shane Farrell, Garry Farrelly, Ciaran Tynan, Fintan Keenan, Samuel Patterson and Emmet Sherry.