Event Report: Beagan & Thornton Clean Up in Cavan
Posted: October 28, 2009 3:32 PM
Monaghan duo Gareth Beagan & Stephen Thornton took an impressive debut victory on the October Cavan Navigation Trial, the opening round of the 2009-2010 National Night Navigation Championship. After 80 miles of tough navigation across classic terrain, the pair were the only crew to finish on a clean sheet. Making the break at TP2 & TP6, they pulled out an advantage they were not to lose to score a thoroughly deserved victory over the toughest of opposition. Michael & Ciaran Tynan were a fine second overall on 1 penalty, with defending champions Arthur Kierans & Ashley McAdoo taking 3rd on a tie-break.
A full field of 50 competitors made the start of this event, continuing the strong interest in this key form of motorsport. The event began with plots for Via1, TP2 & TP3, all collected at TP1. This section was key in deciding the outcome of the event, as any crew who were switched on from the start and plotted on the go, could pull time from their opposition. Most of the crews were behind schedule at TP2, but six experts and 1 novice crew cleaned this timepoint. Gerry Cassidy/Paul Sheridan took a surprise early lead, but at TP3 they dropped 2 penalties. Four expert crews also dropped one mark each at TP3. Even at this early stage, only two crews were still on clean sheets. Gareth Beagan/Stephen Thornton & Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan had made a superb start, the only two crews to clean the first ‘plot & bash’ section. Ger Gowen/Paul Phelan had a disastrous start to their National campaign as their Subaru Impreza slipped off the road on the way to TP2 which put them out of the event.
More ‘plot & bash’ was given for TP6. The grid reference had to be read backwards, deciphered, plotted, and then it’s up a grassy lane and down to the timepoint, all to be sorted in two minutes. One again, Beagan/Thornton were on a charge, cleaning this timepoint which moved them into a clear lead. Michael & Ciaran dropped 1 penalty, and with it went the chance of overall victory. Gene McDonald/Damien McCabe were a sensational 2nd overall on 1 penalty, while Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan had moved into 3rd place overall also on 1 penalty (on semi over expert) from Michael & Ciaran, with Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo, Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall and Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors also down just 1 penalty.
The remainder of the event resolved the fight for 2nd place. Gene & Damien began to fall back dropping 1 penalty on ITC1, and further penalties were lost at TP11, 12 and 13. Declan & Andrew moved back into 2nd place, Michael Tynan/Ciaran Tynan were 3rd and Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo moved into 4th as Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall and Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors dropped a penalty each at TP15. Another really challenging farm lane into TP21 resulted in a number of crews dropping penalties. Out front, Beagan/Thornton continued their exemplary run, with Tynan/Tynan in hot pursuit in 2nd. Leading semi-experts, Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan dropped out of 2nd place as they lost 5 penalties held up in a blockage. Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo were up to 3rd, still on just 1 penalty. More ‘plot & bash’ at TP24 and TP29 completed the event.
No trouble for Gareth & Stephen, a superb display from this very talented crew. Stephen overcame youth and inexperience of this terrain, to lead the more experienced crews home and claim his maiden event win. Michael & Ciaran Tynan finished in an excellent 2nd place overall on 1 penalty. But for one small mistake at TP6, the event could have been theirs. Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo finished 3rd, despite dropping 1 penalty at TP29. Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins took 4th overall also on 2 penalties, while Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall won a three way tie-break from Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors and Mark Wedlock/Daniel McKenna to claim 5th overall on 3 penalties.
Expert class:
Gareth & Stephen’s overall win resulted in Michael & Ciaran taking the class on the night from Arthur & Ashley and Andy & Liam. It was certainly a shake-up for the expert class with the “young-gunners” showing the more experienced crews the way home on an event which probably favoured experience. Amazingly the top 7 crews in this class were separated by just 3 penalties, showing just how close the competition is.
Semi-Expert class:
Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan took an excellent class win. Taking the lead as early as TP2, it was an advantage they were not to lose, despite a delay behind another competitor at TP21. If it hadn’t been for that, 2nd overall could have been theirs for the taking. Conor Maguire/Bobby Willis finished 2nd in class on 17 penalties. A tidy, clean run with no major mistakes saw them pick up a healthy points haul. Donegal crew, Paul Doherty/Donny Riney completed the top three in class on 31 penalties. A wrong approach at TP3 was their only major mistake, which probably cost them 2nd place in class. Last season’s novice class champions, Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes finished down in 4th, after an extremely disappointing night. A double visit and wrong departure were high on the list of their problems and it was a similarly disappointing night for Cork duo Colin Fitzgerald/Daire Hayes who finished 5th.
Novice class:
Warren Carleton/John Hetherington had one of the performances of the night as they not only triumphed in the highly competitive novice class, but also finished 9th overall in the process. Local man Warren has run many an event around these roads and that was sure to help in their bid for success. Dropping just 9 penalties over the course of the route was certainly an impressive performance. Damien O’Reilly/William Kennedy were an equally impressive 2nd with Peter Hagan/Sam Johnston 3rd.
Gene McDonald/Damien McCabe made the initial running in the class. By the first time relax section, they were on just 1 penalty. Warren Carleton/John Hetherington and David Smyth/Jonathan McGovern were equal 2nd, both crews on 4 penalties. Gene & Damien continued to lead up to TP15, where Warren & John overtook them. David Smyth/Jonathan McGovern were very much in contention in 3rd, while Damien O’Reilly/William Kennedy were also well in touch. Gene & Damien’s fine run came to an end as they picked up a dreaded 50 penalties at TP22. Warren & John had pulled well clear of the class opposition now. Damien O’Reilly/William Kennedy had moved into 2nd place, ahead of David Smyth/Jonathan McGovern. David & Jonathan though, would lose a top three place when they ran OTL at the last timepoint, demoting them to a disappointing 7th in class. Warren & John took the class on just 9 penalties, with Damien & William 2nd on 17 penalties. Beginners class winners, Peter Hagan/Sam Johnston were just 1 penalty further adrift to complete the top three. Fourth went to Anthony Finnegan/Garry Farrelly ahead of Darren Babington/Francis Keenan.
The Championship now moves to Cork for the ‘Star-Trek’ Navigation Trial on the weekend of 31st October/November 1st. COC Martin Sheehan has promised 115 miles of competitive Navigation, running out of Buttevant Community Centre in North Cork. Regulations are available from the Cork Motor Club website.
Full Results
Posted: October 20, 2009 3:52 PM
1 Garreth Beagan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 0 marks,
2 Mickey Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 1m,
3 Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo (Subaru Impreza) 2m,
4 Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Subaru Impreza) 2m,
5 Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 3m,
6 Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors (Subaru Impreza) 3m,
7 Mark Wedlock/Daniel McKenna (Vauxhall Vectra) 3m,
8 Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan (Subaru Impreza) 6m,
9 Warren Carleton/John Hetherington (Toyota Carina) 9m,
10 Richard Cassidy/Sean McCaffrey (Vauxhall Vectra) 11m.
Semi-experts:
1 Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan,
2 Conor Maguire/Bobby Willis (Subaru Impreza) 17m,
3 Paul Doherty/Donny Riney (Subaru Impreza) 31m.
Novices:
1 Warren Carleton/John Hetherington,
2 Damien O’Reilly/William Kennedy (Honda Civic) 17m,
3 Anthony Finnegan/Garry Farrelly (Vauxhall Vectra) 25m.
Beginners:
1 Peter Hagan/Sam Johnston (Toyota Corolla) 18m,
2 Dara Fay/Trevor Cassidy (Suzuki Swift) 52m,
3 Damien Ward/Laurence Keenan (Ford Mondeo) 68m.
Regulations / Details
Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM
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