A number of Monaghan crews made the trip to Derry last weekend to compete on the Ulster International Rally. The event was a counting round of the Irish Tarmac, British & Northern Ireland Rally Championships. The Moffett brothers Sam and Josh were there, as well as Stephen Wright in pursuit of Tarmac Championship points. However, a combination of mechanical gremlins and the tricky conditions accounted for two of our leading contenders. Indeed, it was Scotstown navigator, James O’Reilly who was the first Monaghan man across the line. He guided Scottish pilot, David Bogie, to 4th overall in their Skoda Fabia R5, after a steady run throughout the rally.
Josh Moffett/John Rowan overcame some mechanical problems to finish 7th overall in their Fiesta. Not so lucky was his brother Sam & Karl Atkinson. The pair had set some impressive stage times before mechanical gremlins brought their event to an end following an off on SS8. Stephen Wright/Arthur Kierans were another leading retirement after a frought event. They retired after SS1 following a turbo problem and re-joined on the Sunday only to suffer further problems with the throttle. Aaron McHale/Enda Sherry also exited the rally with an off on day one.
Brendan Cumiskey/Ronan O’Kane finished 12th overall in their R5 Fiesta. Mac Kierans guided Alan Smyth to victory in class B4 in their Citroen C2R2. Brendan McAree/Peter Deery brought their Historic Porsche to 3rd in class H2. James McCarville was in the ‘hot seat’ for Ryan Loughran. The pair took an early lead in the National Rally before retiring with an off on stage four.
The Navigation Trial season is fast approaching and the Motor Club are gearing up for that all important kick off – the navigation classes! If you have a motor sport interest of any kind the Navigation Trials are the best form of obtaining the correct ‘foundation’ to this sport. The scheduled classes will cover the full range of topics including map reading, timing, car regulations and pace notes for stages rallies.
The classes will start on Friday 2nd September at 8pm sharp in the excellent facilities of the Sean Mac Diarmada complex in Threemile House. All interested persons should contact Fintan Clerkin 087 2297024 and register your position on the classes. Registration on the night will also include club membership, maps, romer and all necessary paperwork to complete the 6 week course.
The first event after the summer break is the October Trial on Saturday 1st . COC for the event is Donal McArdle and we look forward to this.
Sligo’s Patrick Corcoran & Art McCarrick (Starlet) took overall honours on last weekend’s Endurance Trial, based at the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. After 23 demanding tests, Corcoran/McCarrick came out on top by just five seconds from Kieran McCarra/Darren McCague. (Colt). Regular Endurance competitor, Kevin O’Rourke/David Ray (Starlet) completed the top three 19 seconds off the winner. This was the Sligo pair’s first ever victory, following an impressive drive throughout the day.
COC Shane Maguire put together an excellent route including multiple new selectives which were universally praised by competitors. The opening loop of selectives contained tests at Monaghan Quarries, Latton Hut Cross and Wright’s Quarry as well as several private lanes. Cocoran/McCarrick were on a charge from the start and led after seven tests with McCarra/McCague and Karl O’Donoghue/Evin Hughes in pursuit. McCarra/McCague trimmed the gap slightly on the second loop as O’Donoghue/Hughes began to fall away. The remaining nine selectives were to the West and North of Monaghan town including Rally School Ireland. Cocoran/McCarrick continued to put in a faultless run maintaining their advantage from McCarra/McCague while Kevin O’Rourke/David Ray charged to 3rd after some impressive selective times. An impressive charge by McCarra over the last loop saw him close to gap to just five seconds by the finish with O’Rourke/Ray fourteen seconds further adrift. Karl O’Donoghue/Evin Hughes & Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin completed the top five in another brace of Starlets.
Class B went to Robert Howard/Andrew Stewart with Mark Reilly/Darragh Gibbons and Anthony McDonald/Adrian Foley completing the top three. Peter Farrell/Shane Farrell were comfortable winners in Class C with Mark Hamill/Darren Caulfield and David Dixon/Abraham Dixon completing the top three. Oisin Sherlock/Pamela McMahon won class A1 from Catherine Dancey/Robert Dancey while the aforementioned O’Donoghue/Hughes won class A2 from Tynan/Clerkin and Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan in 3rd.
Monaghan Endurance Trial Top Ten
1. P Corcoran/A McCarrick Starlet 9:14
2. D McCarra/D McCague Colt 9:19
3. K O Rourke/D Ray Starlet 9:33
4. K O Donoghue/ E Hughes Starlet 9:36
5. M Tynan/ F Clerkin Starlet 10:05
6. P Farrell/ S Farrell Civic 10:36
7. R Howard/ A Stewart Starlet 10:54
8. M Tynan/ C Tynan Starlet 11:09
9. A Kierans/ J McKenna Colt 11:16
10. G O Donoghue/ D Connolly Starlet 11:28
Carbin Continues Pursuit of Forestry Glory
Also on Sunday last, Cork Motor Club hosted Round 4 of the Irish Forestry Rally Championship. The popular Mallow-based event features some of the finest forestry stages in Ireland. Smithborough’s Michael Carbin and Darragh Kelly entered the event leading the Irish Forestry Championship and secured some useful points towards their championship campaign thanks to a 6th place finish on the day, 3rd amongst the registered championship crews.
Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips also made the trip south and came home 12th overall and 3rd in class 13. Michaela McGinn navigated American-based Irishman Patsy Keenan to 25th overall. There was disappointment again for rising star, Derek Mackarel. He and navigator Daire Hayes were forced to retire their Nova on stage four. The championship resumes with the Enniskillen-based Lakelands Forestry rally in early September.
Clontibret’s Josh Moffett and co-driver John Rowan were the best placed Monaghan crew on the Tipperary Stonethrower’s rally, based in Clonmel on Sundat last 4th August. They picked up the pace after the opening stages and slotted into 3rd overall after SS3. Their Fiesta R5 ran faultlessly throughout the day on what was a test run ahead of the Ulster International rally and they took the 3rd podium place at the finish.
Monaghan’s Damien Connolly was co-driving as usual for Peadar Hurson in the WRC Impreza and they had to settle for 5th overall behind local driver Roy White who clinched the Triton Showers National Rally Championship title with this result. Just behind Hurson was Newbliss driver Stephen Wright, co-driven by Aghabog’s Arthur Kierans in another Fiesta R5 on a test run for the Ulster. Regular championship contenders Niall Maguire /Enda Sherry completed the Monaghan contingent in the top ten with a 7th place finish.
Just outside the top ten was Eugene Meegan, who increased his pace after a slow first loop to finish 11th overall and 2nd in class 14 in his BMW M1. Brendan Cumiskey was 14th overall and 3rd in class 5 in his Fiesta. Monaghan’s Paul Kelly guided Limerick driver Paul Purtill to 15th overall and 1st in class 13 ahead of Mickey Conlon and Ciaran McPhillips who were 2nd in this class.
Tyholland driver Seamus Connolly and co-driver Gary McCrudden have been the dominant force in class 11R again this year and they had another good run here in their Corolla, although they had to settle for 2nd in class. Ballinode’s Shane Maguire and co-driver Mac Kierans were poised for a class win until the Evo sustained a puncture on SS8, leaving them with 2nd place championship points and 44th overall. Non-finishers included Sam Moffett (oil pressure) and Barry Ryan/Emmett Sherry (mechanical).
The next event in the Monaghan Motor Club calendar is the Endurance Trial, which will be held on Sunday next 14th August. COC Shane Maguire has organised another challenging set of selectives in a compact route. The format will be similar to last year with a combination of smooth tarmac, concrete and gravel surfaces. There will also be some new selectives never used previously, which are intended to enhance the event. Entries are still being accepted by Event Secretary Gary Hall. Regulations and entry form can be downloaded from the club website.
The Monaghan Motor Club Autocross held at the Hut Cross track in Latton on Sunday last 31st July proved to be a real battle of the buggies. No fewer than 20 of these rapid purpose-built single seater machines completed the event. It was Seamus Donnelly in his Casmat version who came out on top following a dominant drive throughout the day. He was followed home by Ronan Mackle in his Semog version with Patrick Malanaphy completing the podium in his Yacar example.
A total of 37 drivers took part, 20 of whom were driving buggies. Notable among the starters were two junior drivers, Brian Martyn from Galway and Michelle McCorry from Leitrim, who acquitted themselves well in class 2. Regular navigator Ciaran Tynan made his debut behind the wheel of a Mk1 Escort and carried off the laurels in class 1.
Class 1 Ciaran Tynan (Escort) 6m 48.94s, Class 2 Brian Martyn (Micra) 6m 46.12s, Class 3 Shane Marron (Escort) 6m 16.08s, Class 4 Gary Lockhart (Escort) 6m 28.22s, Class 5 Joseph Smith (Escort) 5m 55.97s, Class 6 Mickey Conlon (Escort) 5m 53.13s, Class 7 Ronan Mackle.
Endurance Trial 14th August
The next event in the Monaghan Motor Club calendar is the Endurance Trial, which will be held on Sunday 14th August. COC Shane Maguire is hard at work on this one, putting together another challenging set of selectives in a compact route. The format will be similar to last year with a combination of smooth tarmac, concrete and gravel surfaces. There will also be some new selectives never used previously, which are intended to enhance the event. Regulations available on the club website.
The next event in the Monaghan Motor Club calendar is an Autocross which will be held on Sunday 31st July in the well-appointed Hut Cross track at Latton. This event is being organised to cater especially for the huge number of Buggy drivers in the area. With a mixture of sealed and smooth loose surface, it should attract the cream of the crop in their powerful purpose-built single seater machines.
The event will also include the usual classes for cars up to 1450cc, 1451 to 1650cc and 1651 to 2050cc including four wheel drive cars. Regulations are available on the club website monaghanmotorclub.net. Entries close with Event Secretary Cora Maguire, 14, Cluain Ard, Dernagrew, Monaghan on 27th July.
Endurance Trial 14th August
Following the Autocross two weeks later is the Endurance Trial, which will be held on Sunday 14th August. COC Shane Maguire is hard at work on this one, putting together another challenging set of selectives in a compact route. Regulations will be available soon on the club website.
County Monaghan Motor Club 