Triona Kelly wins Rallyconnection Scholarship
Posted: March 17, 2008 4:43 PM
When Triona Kelly from Gort, Co. Galway signed up for the Rallyconnection Scholarship in 2007, little did she know what lay in store for her.
When she arrived at the rally school in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford for her first assessment round she seemed at ease with the rally environment. Triona drove very well and was full of confidence and began to put in some very quick times. Her natural ability won her a passage to the second round where she improved once more, showing that she had what it would take to be one of the six finalists, who were Amy Kirwan, from Carlow, Martina Kenny, from Co.Meath, Elizabeth Williams from Co.Laois, Laura Greene from Co. Donegal, and Tonya Fortune from Co.Wexford.
The final was held on Sunday 23rd December and was judged by none other than the 2007 Billy Coleman Award winner Keith Cronin and one of the most decorated Co-drivers in the country Mickey-Joe Morrissey. Each finalist was put through their paces driving a Mk2 Escort on a very demanding gravel course.
The quality of all of these finalists was so that nobody in the large crowd of spectators could separate them at the finish. After the last contestant finished, a long agonising wait followed while the Judges deliberated their decision, but eventually the announcement was made that Triona Kelly was to be the newly crowned scholarship winner, which meant that she would pilot a Mk2 escort in the Tipperary Forestry Rally in February 2008.
The Rally Report
Posted: March 17, 2008 4:41 PM
Tipperary Motor Club hosted the first round of the National Forestry Championship on 10 February 2008 .The rally was based in Michelstown, Co. Cork.
Triona Kelly co-driven by Kevin Hickey were the third crew to cross the start ramp in their Mk2 Escort .The clear sky was a very welcome sight as they set off for the first stage.
Triona settled in very quickly on a good pace, feeling her way through the windy, slippery roads and growing with confidence as each stage was conquered.
Towards the end of stage 2 she reported a lack of power which resulted in a slower time on stages 3 and 4 than deserved, but when a replacement fuel pump was fitted at service she had full power once again.
Now the stages were repeated and this time Triona was carving off the time from the previous loops. She took 39 seconds off her first stage time, 57 seconds off her third stage time and an unbelievable 72 seconds from her fourth stage time, which makes you wonder if not for the fuel problem, where would she have finished? Triona earned herself a prize for the best novice driver having finished well ahead of some very experienced crews.
Everyone at Rallyconnection would like to wish Triona the very best of luck for the future.
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