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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.

Monaghan featured prominently on last weekend’s Birr Stages Rally based in Nenagh. The event was an opt out round of the National Rally Championship this year and attracted a small but quality entry of crews for the first Tarmac Rally of the year.

Local man Roy White took overall honours in his Fiesta. Chasing him down was Donagh Kelly and his Monaghan navigator Conor Foley who claimed 2^nd overall in their Focus.

The podium positions were completed by Declan Boyle who had James O’Reilly in the navigator’s seat for the first time.

Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans had a steady run in their Fiesta R5 to finish 7^th overall despite a stage two delay.

Kaine Treanor guided Colin Quirk to 12^th overall in another R5 Fiesta with Emmet Sherry guiding David Guest to 14^th overall and Group N honours.

Derek Mackarel took overall victory on the annual Autotest held in Maguire’s Yard Ballinode last Sunday.

Derek piloted his ‘modified’ Starlet to a convincing victory after making up ground after a slow start. Kieran McCarra secured 2nd place in his more conventional Startlet with reigning club champion Martin Tynan in 3rd place.

Conditions of the event were tricky with some snow falling on the concrete surface. It was a cold but enjoyable day for club members who brought all types of adapted road cars for the event.

COC Brendan Flynn would like to thank Maguire Transport for the use of his premises, the Northern Standard for sponsorship and all the marshals who turned out in the cold to support the event.