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.
Sam Moffett continued his recent good form in the Tool Dynamics Supercar Championship which took place at the Mondello race track in Co. Kildare at the weekend. The Monaghan man took overall honours in both Race 1 and Race 2, fending off fellow rally driver, Peter Barrable in his 2000cc machine. This is Sam’s third win in the championship which he is contesting for the first time.
O’Reilly & Moffett impress in Wales
Round 5 of the 2016 British Rally Championship took place at the weekend in Mid-Wales. The Nicky Grist Stages Rally took place over two days consisting of a mixture of Forest stages and Tarmac Roads of the Epynt Military Range. James O’Reilly stepped in at the last minute as navigator with Scotland’s David Bogie in a Skoda Fabia R5. The pair had previously competed together in Carlow. They were on the pace from the start holding and early 2nd place but dropped to 7th after a delay on stage 4 and climbed back to 5th overnight. A charge on day two over the Epynt roads resulted in their climb to 4th overall by the finish. Josh Moffett/John Rowan put in a solid performance in their Ford Fiesta. The Clontibret driver took 5th overall securing some useful BRC points. The BRC resumes with the Ulster Rally in August which is also a round of the Irish Tarmac Championship.
Sligo Stages Rally
Round 4 of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship also took place at the weekend. The Sligo Stages Rally was on an opt-out year of the National Championship and attracted a small but competitive field. Former winner, Shane Maguire and Mac Kierans were the highest finishing Monaghan crew. The pair took 8th overall and 3rd in Group N in their Lancer. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden finished an impressive 10th overall and 2nd in class 11R, just losing out to Donegal’s Johnny Jordan after a day long battle for class honours.
Gary Cassidy & Paul Kelly took a superb 18th overall and 2nd in class 11F in their Honda Civic. Stephen Wright & Arthur Kierans were expected to be the favourites for the rally but lost any hope of victory when they slipped off the road on the opening stage. They dominated the rest of the day reeling off six fastest times, recovering from last to 38th overall and 2nd in class. Pauric Connolly/Jack McKenna brought their 106 home 47th overall and 3rd in class 10. On a tricky day for all crews taking part, a number of Monaghan men failed to make the finish including Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan, Alan Smyth/Emmet Sherry and Steven Corey/Vinnie Boyd.
Donegal’s Declan and Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC) were the clear winners of Round 5 of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the ALMC rally, based in Trim on Sunday last 3rd July. The event consisted of three stages repeated three times. Damien Connolly was the top Monaghan finisher as he guided Warrenpoint driver Peadar Hurson to 3rd overall. Ballinode’s Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry finished just behind in 4th overall. Maguire/Sherry now hold 2nd overall in the Championship, 19 points adrift of series leaders, Roy White & James O’Brien. Hurson/Connolly are 3rd in the series, 15 points further back.
Despite Hurson/Connolly setting fastest time on the first stage, the Boyles led the rally after the first loop, extended their led to 20.3 secs after the second loop and had 43.4 secs to spare over 2nd placed White/O’Brien at the finish. The result means that Hurson/Connolly and Maguire/Sherry are both still in contention for the championship laurels.
Brendan Cumiskey/Ronan O’Kane came home in 16th overall and 3rd in class 5 in their Ford Fiesta R5. Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans took 2nd in Group N and 20th overall. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden brought their Corolla home 29th overall and 1st in class 11R to continue their run of class successes.
County Monaghan Motor Club 