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Josh Moffett continued his incredible run of results with overall victory on the Limerick Forestry Rally. Ably guided by Stephen Thornton, the Clontibret Man boosted his Irish Forestry Championship campaign thanks to a 13.8 seconds win on Round 2 of the championship. American based Monaghan man, Barry McKenna with Donegal navigator Leon Jordan took 2nd with championship leader Andrew Purcell in 3rd.

It was Purcell who set the early pace taking an early lead from McKenna with Moffett/Thornton in 3rd. These three were league ahead of the opposition who were nearly a minute adrift. Stage 6 would be a turning point as Moffett/Thornton set a scintilating time to take the lead while Purcell slipped back with problems. Solid runs through the final two stages allowed Moffett/Thornton home to victory with McKenna/Jordan a solid 2nd .

Kaine Treanor guided Stephen McCann to 5th overall in another R5 Fiesta. Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips finished 11th overall and 3rd two wheel drive car. Derek Mackarel made the overnight trip from Monaghan to take an impressive 14th overall and 2nd in class. Martin Connolly guided Jody McManus to 24th overall while Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan, Pauric Duffy/Andy Hayes, David Condell/Paul Kelly and Tommy O’Connell/Emmet Sherry failed to finish.

Tynan’s take Navigation spoils

Monaghan Motor Club hosted its annual March Navigation Trial on Saturday night. Derek Mackarel was the COC for the event which was a counting round of the National and Border Championships. After 80 miles of demanding navigation in the Newbliss area, it was the local crew of Michael & Ciaran Tynan who emerged as winners by a four penalty margin.

The event started heading from Newbliss to the Smithborough and Corcaghan areas. A plot & bash section on tulip diagrams for TP6 and TP7 proved testing for most. By the first time relax section it was Mac Kierans/Conor Boylan who led on 5 penalties from the returning Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes who were also on 5 penalties. Both crews hopes would be dashed at TP21 where both picked up wrong approach penalties. Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan and Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin were now in the fight for the win and dropped just 1 penalty on TC2 to move into the lead on 10 penalties.

The final section included four plot & bash timepoints which involved some difficult navigation sections near Stonebridge. Tynan/Tynan would negotiate this without dropping a single penalty while Tynan/Clerkin dropped 4. This left Michael & Ciaran as clear winners on 10 penalties with Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin in 2nd place on 14 penalties. The Semi-Expert pairing of Peter Deery/David McCrudden (17 penalties) had a strong run to 3rd overall and 1st in class. Mark Deery/Patrick O’Leary (21 penalties) were 4th with Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (24 penalties) in 5th.

In the Expert class, Tynan/Clerkin took the honours from Duffy/Hughes and Kierans/Boylan. Deery/McCrudden took the Semi-Expert class with Deery/O’Leary in 2nd and James McCabe/Shane Farrell in 3rd . Emmet McCooey/Christopher McMahon took the Novice class on tie-break from Johnny Treanor/Ryan Treanor. Cathal McGlone/Michael Sheridan came home 3rd. Finally a competitive Beginner’s class went the way of David Kelly/Niall McHugh from Damien Treanor/Anthony McDonald and Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre.

Results:
1 Mickey Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 10 marks,
2 Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 14m,
3 Peter Deery/David McCrudden (Subaru Impreza) 17m,
4 Mark Deery/Patrick O’Leary (Subaru Impreza) 21m,
5 Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 24m,
6 Mac Kierans/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 28m,
7 Arthur Kierans/Conor Maguire (Subaru Impreza) 28m,
8 Keith McConnon/Micheal McCluskey (Subaru Impreza) 47m,
9 James McCabe/Shane Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 66m,
10 Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan (Vauxhall Vectra) 78m,
11 Jonny Treanor/Ryan Treanor (Subaru Impreza) 81m,
12 Emmet McCooey/Christopher McMahon (Subaru Impreza) 81m.

Monaghan Stages Rally Launch

The launch of the 2018 Monaghan Stages Rally takes place on Thursday April 5th in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. An enjoyable night should be had by all.

Conor Foley made it three West Cork Rally wins in succession after guiding Donagh Kelly to overall honours in Clonakilty. The event was the opening round of the 2018 Irish Tarmac Championship.The Donegal/Monaghan pairing were in a league of their own right from the start of the event and finished nearly two minutes clear of the opposition. This result give Kelly a remarkable fifth West Cork win in a row. Remarkably a Monaghan club member was to finish in each of the first five overall placings.

Kelly/Foley stunned the opposition on the opening Ring Stage where they were 18 seconds faster than the opposition. Declan Boyle/James O’Reilly were second with the R5 Fiesta’s of Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes and reigning tarmac champions, Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson just behind. After the opening loop of four stages, Kelly/Foley had increased their lead to almost a minute after leaving their rivals for dust. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes were leading the R5 runners and was an impressive 26 seconds clear of his brother Sam. Boyle/O’Reilly slipped back to 4th after a huge high speed moment on stage three.

Following another loop of four stages, the crews reached the overnight halt. Kelly/Foley were fastest on all but one stage to lead by 1 minute 25 seconds. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes were a strong 2nd and leading R5 competitor. Boyle/O’Reilly finished the day in 3rd with Moffett/Atkinson 4th. Damien Connolly held 6th alongside Dublin driver Robert Barrable. Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans were in 7th in yet another R5 Fiesta.

Day two consisted of six further tests including the classic Ardfield and Sam’s Cross stages. Kelly/Foley maintained their lead with another brace of fastest times. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes had a scare when their throttle stuck open on Stage 9 and the problem remained intermittent allowing older brother Sam to close in. Boyle/O’Reilly slipped back to 4th again with a broken suspension arm.

Kelly/Foley eased home over the final stages to cement a dominant win a record 5th in a row for Donagh and a hat-trick for Conor. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes held off Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson by nine seconds for 2nd overall and top points in the Irish Tarmac Championship. Boyle/O’Reilly came home 4th after a difficult event with Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly 5th in their Fiesta. Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans brought their similar car home to 8th overall. Colin Quirk/Kaine Treanor failed to finish in their Fiesta.

In the National Rally, Emmet Sherry joined forces with Donegal man John Bonner and they would bring their Escort home to fine 5th place finish. Mac Kierans was navigating for Declan Boyle’s son, Michael, but they would retire just one stage from home.

Monaghan Navigation Trial

Newbliss is the venue for this weekend’s Monaghan Navigation Trial. The event is a round of the National and Border Navigation Championships as well as the club championship. COC Derek Mackarel is setting out the event and hopes to have 85 miles for competitors. Regulations are available on the club website. The first car is away at 9.01pm. Marshals are required for this event and those available to marshal should make themselves known to Derek by 7pm.

James O’Reilly guided Declan Boyle to overall victory in Round 1 of the 2018 Triton National Rally Championship.

The Mayo Stages Rally was based in the island of Achill and featued nine stages in a 3 x 3 format.

With reigning champion, Sam Moffett, not defending his National crown, Two time champion Boyle would prove to be the man to beat. He and new navigator O’Reilly led from start to finish to secure the perfect start to the year. Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty claimed a fine 2nd in their R5 Fiesta with the similar car of Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan in 3rd.

Boyle/O’Reilly immediately set the pace on the short opening test and extended their lead to 16 seconds after the first loop. Moffett/Moriarty slotted into 2nd place after Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley lost 4 minutes with a puncture. Boyle/O’Reilly maintained their lead gradually over the second loop with Moffett/Moriarty staying in touch in 2nd place after going fastest on stage six. These pair were in a league of their own with Desi Henry a distant 3rd.

Boyle/O’Reilly stretched their lead over the final loop to secure a 37 second win on only their second event together. They also secured the Drive of the Day award in the Border Championship. Moffett/Moriarty took a strong 2nd place with Henry/Moynihan over a minute further back in 3rd.

Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry finished a solid 5th in their Subaru. Brendan Cumiskey/Stephen McAuley brought their Fiesta home in 8th and 1st in class 5 as they used the event as a warm up for West Cork next weekend. Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley recovered to 10th place in their Focus.

Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips got their defence of their Border title off to the perfect start with 12th overall and 3rd in class. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden and Quentin Park/Kaine Treanor failed to finish.

Jack McKenna guided Jason Black to a dominant win in the Junior class. Calum Maguire guided Gareth Black to 6th in class. Johnny Treanor/Paul Sheridan retired on stage five while leading the class.

Bishopscourt Stages Rally

Mac Kierans guided Alan Smyth to 11th overall and 2nd in class on the opening round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship in Bishopscourt. Matthew McKenna guided Brian McFall to 15th overall and 3rd in class. Johno Doogan/Ciaran Marron finished 28th overall in their Escort. Michaela McGinn guided Damien McGauren to 46th overall.

Cavan Navigation Trial scheduled for March 3 has been postponed due to affects Storm EMMA .

Cavan Motor Club and Motorsport Ireland will advise new event date as appropriate

Competitors and Marshals intending to participate on the March 3 event are requested not to  travel.

The fifth round of the 2017-2018 National Night Navigation Championship took place last weekend in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim. It proved to be a challenging night with a high penalty return for all crews. Overall honours went to the Cork pairing of Alan & George Shinnors who took the win on a tie-break from Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin.

The first half of the event went fairly smoothly for the leading crews with TP12 and TP13 causing the most problems. Local aces Colin Duffy & Sam Johnston held the lead but they would retire in the second half of the event, effectively ending their hopes of National Championship honours. There were more challenges in the second half with TP24 and TP26 missed by most crews. In the end, it was the Shinnors brothers who came out on top from Tynan/Clerkin as ‘furthest clean’ of the two crews. Derek Mackarel/Muireann Hayes secured 3rd place increasing their lead in the National Championship. Aaron Duffy/Laurence Keenan took 4th place and 3rd in the Expert class.

Kevin McCormack/Oisin Sherlock won the Semi-Expert class and were 5th overall. Michael Conlon & Martin Connolly won the Novice class with Mark Deery/Christopher McMahon in 2nd. Josh Moffett & Andrew Hamilton won the Beginners class from Colm McKeever/Ciaran Duffy with Peter Farrell/Shane Maguire in 3rd.

The Navigation season continues with the Cavan Navigation Trial next weekend in Cornafean, Co. Cavan.

Hughes make podium in Luttrelstown

The opening round of the Irish Endurance Trial Championship took place in Luttrelstown, Co. Dublin last weekend. The event organised by ALMC featured a number of selectives in counties Dublin, Meath and Kildare with the final six in darkness.

After a terrific battle Peter Barrable pipped his brother Robert by just 1 second for overall honours. Evin Hughes was navigating for regular driver, Karl O’Donoghoe and they secured 3rd overall having been right in the hunt all day. Samuel & Carol Patterson claimed 5th in class in their Civic with Damien & Thomas Treanor 20th in the Endurance class. Ryan Treanor/Robert Graham failed to finish in their Yaris.