National Forestry & Junior Championship Prizegiving - (Sat) 7 Nov 09

Junior Drivers Celebrate NJRC Awards Ceremony

Posted: November 9, 2009 3:31 PM

Waterford’s Craig Breen celebrated a great season on Saturday night last at the National Junior Rally Championship awards ceremony at the Commins Inn Hotel, Cork City. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Petro Systems National Forestry Rally Championship prize giving. Craig had a busy night as he picked up awards in both the Junior Championship and Forestry Championship. His 2009 Junior Rally Championship success was primarily based around the forestry (gravel surface) events this season. The five best scores from the fourteen events that made up the Junior Championship would count towards the final standings, as Craig had also decided to contest the Fiesta Sporting Series here at home in Ireland, the UK version and at world championship level there was only the bare minimum five rallies that he could fit into the crammed schedule within the Junior Championship.

Craig took victories on four of the rounds and was by far the most dominant driver as the season unfolded. He started with a bang at the Tipperary Forestry Junior Rally where he took his maiden win. The forestry championship moved to Carrick on Suir for round two which was a home event for Craig as he is a Carrick Motor Club member and again he was the driver to beat in the junior class as he made it two wins in a row. The next time we saw Craig was on round seven in Co. Meath for the ALMC stages junior rally. He debuted the new Ford Fiesta R2 from M-Sport on Irish roads and finished second, but for some electrically problems he could have completed a hat trick of wins. Craig quickly made up for this on round eight at the Cork Forestry Rally, where he stormed to his third victory of the season winning every stage in the junior rally. Craig’s final event of the season was in Nenagh at the Birr Forestry Rally. Held on the 11th of October the Birr forestry rally was the final round in both the Junior Championship and the National Forestry Championship. Craig clenched the title with an incredible performance as he strolled to the junior rally win and also capped a great year by taking third place overall finish.

Also on the night Jonathan Cunningham was awarded his prize for finishing second overall in the championship and for his class G overall win. Jonathan was not present as he had work commitments in England at M-Sport where he is a shell fabricator. Jonathan is also in the running for the Billy Coleman Award and if his championship rival Craig Breen does pip to this award Jonathan will then be granted the prize money of €5000 from the National Junior Rally Championship for his second place finish overall. There to pick up his third place overall award in the championship and second in class D was John Byrnes and he was joined by Vincent McAree who finished third overall in class D. Vincent also picked up the class 9 overall winners award in the Petro Systems National Forestry Championship. For his success in this category Vincent also wins a fully funded drive on selected events next year in the Forestry Championship.

The O’Connor Brothers from Co. Limerick were also present to pick up their respective awards. Kevin collected in Class F overall trophy and John the second overall award in class G. It was a good year for the two lads as they both secured victories within the championship. Kevin took a great win in Carrick on Suir at the Ravens Rock Junior Rally and John balanced out the honours for the family with his win at the Clare Stages Junior Rally.

Posted: November 9, 2009 3:12 PM

Craig Breen receives the National Junior Rally
Championship Trophy from James Coleman,
Chairman of the Rallies Committee
Photo: Trevor McGrath

Photos:

Posted: November 9, 2009 3:07 PM

rallyprint.com - Trevor McGrath

National Forestry Championship Prizegiving - (Sat) 7 Nov 09

Posted: October 27, 2009 12:10 PM

The prize giving for the Petro Systems National Forestry Championship will be held in The Commons Inn, Blackpool Cork on Saturday 7th of November.

Doors open at 7.30 pm with meal to be served at 8.30 pm, followed by prize giving and a band.

All award winners are entitled to one ticket.
Tickets can claimed/ordered by coontacting
086 1233742 / +353 86 1233742
Tickets can be collected on the night but need to be ordered in advance.
Tickets are 40 euro.