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Ballinamuck driver Pakie Duffy & Ballybay navigator Evin Hughes claimed the National Night Navigation Championship Trophy for the second successive year at the annual prizegiving on  Saturday last 11^th June in Portlaoise. The Longford/Monaghan duo took three wins from seven starts to overcome the challenge of Skibbereen pair, Dermot Whelton & Mark McCarthy. Clones pair Michael Tynan & Ciaran Tynan made just five starts but their results were good enough to claim 3^rd overall.

 

Monaghan Club Members were also successful in the classes. Richard Cassidy claimed 2^nd overall driver. Keith McConnon/Micheal McCluskey won the Semi-Expert class with Peter & Shane Farrell finishing 2^nd. The Novice class was closely contested with just two points separating the top three navigators at the end of the season. Aiden Sherry/Conor Boylan won the class with Colm Mohan/Oisin Sherlock 2^nd and Mac Kierans 3^rd driver.

 

The Squealing Pig Border Navigation Championship prizegiving is scheduled to take place on Friday 24^th June.

 

Laois Heartlands Rally

 

Raymond Conlon/Nicola McKenna were the leading Monaghan crew on last weekend’s Laois Mini Stages Rally. The six stage event consisted of two fast and flowing stages, repeated three times. Conlon/McKenna had a solid run in their Corolla to come home 12^th overall and 5^th in class 13. John McQuaid/Stephen Hagan also made the trip down as a warm up for the Donegal International next weekend. They retired while holding 15^th overall. Stephen Corey/Declan McKenna retired on stage 3 while holding 17^th overall.

 

Mourne Rally

 

James O’Reilly navigated Derek McGarrity to 2^nd overall on last weekend’s Mourne Rally. The event was a counting round of Northern Ireland Rally Championship. Elsewhere, Mac Kierans guided Alan Smyth to a fine 9^th overall in their Suzuki Swift.

 

 

Mayo Autocross

 

Regular Autocross competitors, Andy & Derek Mackarel & Michael & Martin Tynan made the trip to Mayo to compete on the local loose surface Autocross. It was Derek Mackarel who set the pace on the opening two runs in the family Evo but Tipperary’s Pat O’Connell stormed through the final run to snatch victory as Mackarel was hit by mechanical problems. Former Mayo Autocross champion, Martin Tynan was in the thick of the action all day and secured 2^nd overall thanks to Mackarel’s woes. Martin’s father, Michael Tynan secured 4^th overall with Derek’s father, Andy Mackarel taking 5^th overall. It was a great day for the Monaghan men as they took four of the five top places out of a total entry of 51. The next Mayo Autocross takes place on July 24^th.

 

Donegal International Rally

 

Monaghan Motor Club are set to be well represented on next weekend’s Donegal International Rally. Conor Foley joins forces with Donagh Kelly once again as they hope to continue their winning ways in Birr, West Cork & Killarney. Sam Moffett & Josh Moffett slot in at No.8 and No.9 in their R5 Fiestas as they aim to score valuable points for the Irish Tarmac Championship. Stephen Wright/Fintan Sherry will have similar hopes and start at No.14. Enda Sherry is set to navigate for Scotland’s David Bogie at No.19. Damien Connolly is joining forces with local hero, James Cullen, who is coming out of retirement to commemorate 25 years since his first Donegal win.

 

Andrew Grennan is navigating for Vivian Hamill. Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly & David Moffett/Johnny Baird will be battling it out in their Starlets. Michael Carbin/Darragh Kelly switch back to the Tarmac following their Forestry outings. John McQuaid/Stephen Hagan once again take their Escort to the Donegal hills. Pauric Duffy makes the trip home from Australia to compete in his R5 Fiesta. Emmet Sherry is navigating for Tommy O’Connell at No.80, while Gerard McQuaid/Thomas Treanor are at No.85. James McCarville/Gareth Doherty will be pushing for Class 11R honours as will David Smyth/Loretta Kelly.

 

Brendan & JP McAree are trying their hand at the Historic Rally which is contested over the Saturday & Sunday stages. Marshals are also required for this event and those available are asked to contact Kerry Stevenson or Paul Hughes.

 

 

 

Monaghan Motor Club members made their presence known as five members competed on last weekend’s SOL Barbados Rally. The event which is marketed to invite crews from Ireland and the UK to compete is held over the space of a week. The King of the Hill challenge takes places the first weekend followed by the rally itself which is run over the second weekend. Jim McKenna/Arthur Kierans, Damien Hagan/Paul Kelly and New York based, Barry McKenna, all represented Monaghan on this year’s event.

McKenna/Kierans stormed through the stages to take an impressive 12^th overall in their 2.5 Litre Escort. They also were the highest non-local, two-wheel drive finisher. Damien Hagan/Paul Kelly finished 19^th overall. Barry McKenna, who had Donegal’s Leon Jordan navigating, were disappointed to retire on Saturday. They were able to repair their car and come back for the Sunday Cup where they claimed a fine 3^rd overall.

 

Sam Moffett with local man, James Fulton, on the notes took overall victory on last weekend’s Cavan Stages Rally. The event was Round 4 of the Triton National Rally Championship and Round 3 of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. The pair overcame the power difference between their R5 Fiesta and the World Rally Car opposition. After nine demanding stages, Moffett/Fulton emerged winners by 29.6 seconds from National Championship leaders, Roy White/James O’Brien. Josh Moffett/John Rowan completed the podium in another R5 Fiesta.

Over the opening loop of stages it was Donegal cousins, Declan & Brian Boyle, setting the pace in their WRC Fiesta. Sam Moffett/James Fulton slotted into 2^nd place in their R5 specification Fiesta with Roy White/James O’Brien in 3^rd. Josh Moffett/John Rowan were 5^th but reported their R5 Fiesta to be down on power. Moffett/Fulton set a scorching time on stage six where they were nine seconds quicker than anyone else. This reduced their deficit to Boyle to less than five seconds. On stage 7 Boyle retired, leaving Moffett/Fulton in the clear out front. They finished off with fastest times on both remaining stages despite the onset of late showers.

White/O’Brien claimed 2^nd overall to cement their lead at the top of the National Championship. Josh Moffett/John Rowan moved up to 3^rd despite being down on power for much of the day. Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry claimed 4^th in their older model Subaru WRC with last year’s winners Peader Hurson/Damien Connolly taking 5^th.

Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan took Two-wheel-drive honours in 9^th overall in their Mk2 Escort. Raymond Conlon/Darren McCague brought their Corolla home 15^th and 3^rd in class 13. Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips were just behind in 16^th overall and 4^th in class 13. Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans finished 22^nd overall and 3^rd in class 4. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden were once again victorious in class 11R finishing in 27^th overall. Martin McPhillips/Ciaran Tynan took 31^st overall and 3^rd in class 11R. Evin Hughes guided regular Night Nav driver Pakie Duffy to 48^th overall and 1^st in class 3. Padraig Connolly/Kaine Treanor took class 10 honours and 57^th overall. Declan Connolly/Raphael McCaughey finished 67^th overall and 4^th in class 9 in their Civic. Stefan McCann/John Hughes finished 70^th overall and 4^th in class 10.

Vivian Hamaill/Andrew Grennan, Robert Moffett/Emmet Sherry, Enda McLaughlin/Declan Tynan, Pauric McArdle/Gregory McQuillan, Paddy O’Reilly/David Fitzsimons and Brendan Keenan/Sean Lynch all failed to make the finish.

The National Rally Championship continues with the ALMC Stages Rally on July 3^rd while the Border Rally Championship resumes one week later with the Sligo Stages Rally.

 

 

Stephen Wright took his R5 Ford Fiesta to Belgium last weekend to compete on the Sezoens Rally. Stephen was joined by local navigator, Eddy Smeets, reprising their partnership on this event from last year. The mixed surface event consisted of five stages repeated three times varying in length from 7km to 13km. The Monaghan/Belgium partnership put in an impressive showing holding a solid 4^th overall for much of the event before being promoted to 3^rd on the final loop. This made it back-to-back 3^rd place finishes for the pair. Multiple Belgian Champion, Freddy Loix won the event from Kris Princen in 2nd. Both these drivers have made regular appearances at World and European level, making Stephen’s performance all the more noteworthy.

 

Cavan Stages Rally

 

Cavan Motor Club plays host to the fourth round of the Triton National Rally Championship and Round 3 of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship on Sunday next. Monaghan interest is high with Damien Connolly (navigator for Peadar Hurson at No.1), with Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry and the Moffett brothers, Sam & Josh also amongst the top 10 seeds. Marshals are required for this event and those available are asked to contact Kerry Stevenson, if you haven’t already signed up.

 

Monaghan Motor Club celebrated its 60^th Anniversary in spectacular style on Saturday night last 14^th May with a Gala Ball in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. The event was a huge success with almost 200 people in attendance. A feature of the evening was an extensive display of photo montages, newspaper articles, biographies, cups and trophies and other memorabilia spanning the six decades since the club was formed.

Having perused the material on display, the attendance of members, former members and friends of the club, some of whom had travelled from as far as Cork and Wexford, sat down to a sumptuous five course dinner. Vice-Chairman Conor Maguire invited many of the former members to share their memories and fond stories of the club and its events in those early years on the roving microphone. Martin McKenna, a former club chairman and current President of Motorsport Ireland, complimented the club on its achievement.

Club Chairman Paul Hughes concluded the speeches by thanking all for attending and especially those from the early years of the club. He outlined the current success of the club. The Monaghan Stages Rally is one of the most popular rallies in Ireland. It is the leading Navigation club, with four well-supported events each year. Monaghan competitors have been dominant at Regional and National level, both in Stages Rallying and Navigation Trials. Several club competitors have competed successfully at International level, not least the current British Rally Champions Daniel McKenna (Scotshouse) and Arthur Kierans (Aghabog). The current success story is not unlike that of the early years, when Monaghan Motor Club was regarded as a progressive club and when it had members competing on International events such as the Monte Carlo Rally.

Paul acknowledged the foresight, dedication and commitment of all the officers, committee members and club members who had contributed to the formation and development of the club during the previous 60 years. He concluded by thanking the organising committee led by Ronnie Hawe and Cora Maguire for their hard work in preparing for the event and he had a special mention for Malcolm Totten, who prepared the impressive photo montages.

The club would like to thank the members and friends who provided video footage, photographs and memorabilia which greatly helped to make the evening such a wonderful occasion.