Tipperary Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally - 13 Feb 11
Posted: March 28, 2011 9:01 AM - 17079 Hits
Round 1 - 2011 Irish National Forestry Championship
Round 1 - 2011 South East Stages Rally Championship
Murphy’s Maiden win in Mitchelstown
Posted: March 27, 2011 5:44 PM
The town of Kilworth is best known for its nearby army barracks. For the rallying fraternity the Kilworth forest special stage is a 12 km challenging technical test. On last Sunday’s Sean Conlon Forest rally, Cork driver Owen Murphy steered his Mitsubishi with military precision to a dramatic victory on the final test at Kilworth. It was Murphy’s first rally win and it puts the former Billy Coleman Award winner into an immediate lead in the 2011 Valvoline Forest Rally Championship. Murphy and co-driver James O’Brien were third overall at the start of the final test behind John Reid and Andrew Purcelll. Reid had led from the start but the Dubliner spun his Corolla WRC in the early kilometers of Kilworth and it cost him 37 seconds and the rally lead. In a repeat of last year’s rally, Reid finished second over-all. Andrew Purcell who was second most of the day-behind John Reid-also succumbed to the Kilworth challenge when he slipped off the road and into retirement.
Frank Kelly moved from fourth to third in his Escort Mk2, the Moy man fortunate to finish after two driveshaft failures.
Mitsubishi Evo’s occupied the fourth fifth and sixth in the hands of Ian Cochrane, Vincent Mc Aree and Liam Ryan.
Seventh overall was claimed by Alistair Fisher who was giving his new Fiesta R2 its first rally run in advance of the WRC Academy series. The junior category was claimed by Mallow driver Derek Butler at the wheel of a Honda Civic.
The 6 stage rally was hosted by the Tipperary MC, and was based in Mitchelstown. It ran faultlessly thanks to the efforts of COC Tom Dunne and his team. Sixty-four crews started (nine more than 2010) and there were forty at the finish control. The principal retirements were Andrew Purcell, Adrian Hetherington (ss1 drive shaft) Sarah Moynihan (turbo problem stage 3) Colin Britton (off on SS4). Britton was fastest on stage 3 and just three seconds off the lead at the time of his “off”. Others destined not to see the chequered flag were Enda Mc Nulty (Evo) and Mark Donnelly (C2R2). Andrew Fanning was also hors de combat when a drive shaft failed in the Ford Ka on stage five. The Cahir man was leading Class 1 from the start.
Posted: March 27, 2011 5:24 PM
Murphy/O'Brien are Mighty in Mitchelstown
Posted: March 27, 2011 5:13 PM
Cork driver Owen Murphy with James O Brien on the notes secured a great win on the first round of The Valvoline Irish Forest Championship held in Mitchelstown on Sunday the 13th in changing conditions.
Owen driving the Hankook Mitsubishi was driving with No 1 on the door for the first time ever .Conditions on the stages were going to be tough while the day dawned bright and dry there had been a lot of rain during the week it was going to be mighty slippery out there. The opening stage was the classic Cambaun and Owen felt he was sweeping the stages for the cars further back things were going well and he was settling in, Stage two Kilcoran and Owen set the fastest time even however he lost a few seconds on a slippery down hill left hander which he took a little wide.
Back in Mitchelstown after the first loop 9 seconds covered the first 4 cars Owen was 4th and happy enough with his progress we are going hard he said but its really tricky out there its hard to make time but a spin or over shoot will cost you big on this rally. We probably slid a bit wide here and there that cost us a few seconds but we are in a good position battling for the lead.
The start of the next loop was once again the classic Cambaun here Co driver James O Brien said we met the four seasons, going in it was sunny then we had torrential rain higher up hail and towards the top its was snowing then the sun came out again. That stage was demanding and Owen said they had a moment towards the top of the mountain. However they were now off the mountain and heading for stage 5. The treacherous conditions had claimed one of the leading bunch and Owen was now 3rd just seconds off the lead.
Stage 5 and Owen was to have an over shoot which cost about 10 seconds or more, he was now in 3rd and a mere 22 seconds off the lead in third place, going into the last stage Owen knew it was all about getting it home however he was only 6 seconds off second and while the rain had made the stages treacherous it was all to play for , John Reid in the Corolla WRC was first Andrew Purcell was second and Owen was now third.
Stage 6 Kilworth and Owen set about setting a quick time but keeping it tidy he cleared the stage and was happy it was a good clean run however John Reid had a spin and lost almost 40 seconds and Andrew Purcell left the forestry track and got stuck. All that ment Owen had done it he had won his first rally
Back at the finish there was a big crowd to see Owen and James spray the champagne, Owen said what a day seeded 1 and finished first best day ever !!!!!!!!! , it was a tough rally and the weather made it very difficult it was all about setting a pace and keeping it all together. The conditions were slippery and one mistake and it was all over, I may have won the rally but its due to the efforts of the team I had, Hankook Tyres for providing excellent grip in the toughest conditions , James my co driver who was on the button all day , my service crew ,TTeC Rally prep for a great car , my friends , and my parents for all their help and support.
It was a brilliant rally and well done to the Tipperary Motor Club for a great event thanks to the officials of the event and the marshals for standing out in that rain. Round 1 is over just can't wait for Round 2.
Owen Murphy Rallying is supported by
HANKOOK TYRES , The Killumney Inn , Nyhan Motors , Walsh Printers Clonakilty, Ger Leahy Photography,
Photos
Posted: March 27, 2011 5:11 PM
Results
Posted: March 27, 2011 4:54 PM
1 Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 45m 01s
2 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC) 45m 16s
3 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort Mk2) 47m 24s
4 Ian Cochrane/Ray Fitzpatrick (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 47m 31s
5 Vincent McAree/J P McAree (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 47m 45s
6 Liam Ryan/Aidan Bourke (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 48m 13s
7 Alastair Fisher/Daniel Barritt (Fiesta R2) 48m 49s
8 Shane McGirr/Niall Connolly (Starlet) 49m 10s
9 Patsy Keenan/Martin Brady (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 49m 23s
10 James Coleman/Michael Haley (Escort) 49m 34s.
Class winners:
Mick Nevin/Michael Garahy (Escort),
Alastair Fisher/Daniel Barritt,
Ray Benskin Jnr/Nicky Hegarty (Escort),
James Coleman/Michael Haley,
Mark Murphy/Carol O’Keeffe (Impreza),
Ian Cochrane/Ray Fitzpatrick,
Derek Butler/Diarmuid O’Shea (Civic).
Leaders after:
SS1-5 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS6 Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
Stage Winners
SS1 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS2 Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS3 Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
SS4 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS5 John Reid/Enda Shields (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS6 Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)
Statement from Tipperary Motor Club:
Posted: February 10, 2011 8:59 PM
"Tipperary Motor Club would like to inform all competitors for this Sundays
rally, that in the last week, the club have spent over €6000 euro on improving
the stage surface for this weekend's event.
This is on top of up to 20 volunteers
from the club giving of their time and equipment to ensure that the stages for
the event are of a very high standard.
The reason for this statement is firstly
to thank all those who have given of their time to make sure the stages are of
the highest quality but also to dispel rumors that these improvement were not
made or that the money was spent by the club."
VALVOLINE FOREST RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 Round One Preview
Posted: February 9, 2011 2:45 PM
The 2011 Valvoline Forest Rally Championship kicks off with this weekend’s Sean Conlon Forestry rally. It is hosted once again by the Tipperary M.C. and based in Mitchelstown Co.Cork, with the HQ at the Firgrove Hotel. The Clerk of the Course is Tom Dunne and he has planned a route of 66 competitive kilometers in a compact route of 200 km. It will be a six stages event–three stages repeated. The service area, park ferme and trailer park will be based in the former Dairygold Bacon factory. The first car leaves parc ferme at 9.30pm on Sunday.
The forty strong entry includes a mixture of forestry regulars and newcomers. Owen Murphy, Ger Lucey, Patsy Keenan, Enda Mc Nulty, Sarah Moynihan and Colin Britton will start in their Mitsubishi Evo’s while the challenge from the Impreza brigade will be lead by Mark Murphy and Jeremy Drislane. The Ford marque is well represented as ever by the Escorts of Frank Kelly, Adrian Hetherington and James Coleman. Local honour is upheld by Trevor Hutton, Ger Connors and Andrew Fanning winner of the 2010 South East Stages Championship in the Ford Ka.
The 2011 Forest rally Championship is sponsored by Valvoline-the Global oil company. It will be a six round series with the same counting rounds as 2010. In a bid to make the series more competitive and user-friendly the forest sub-committee under chairman John Quill have made a number of important modifications.
* The bonus points for competing in every round are dropped
* Class 2 cars will join Classes 1 and 9 and traverse the stages before the main field.
* The winner of each class on each round will receive a €75 tyre voucher. These prizes are supplied thanks to Ears Motorsport, Bill Adair, Christy Carey, Tom Halliday, Kumho, Dunlop/Pirelli, Hankook and D-Mack.
* Drivers who finish first and second in the Junior class will be eligible for the Billy Coleman award. Last year the Billy Coleman award was won by Robert Barrable.
Final Instructions
Posted: February 8, 2011 5:03 PM
Google map of Marshal Meeting Points/HQ/Scuitiny
Posted: February 8, 2011 4:45 PM
View Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally locations in a larger map
Map by:
Seeded Entry List
Posted: February 8, 2011 11:01 AM
No Driver /Co-Driver (Car ) [Class]
1 O Murphy/J O' Brien (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
2 J Ried/E Shiels (Toyota Corolla Wrc) [7]
3 C Britton/A Cairns (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
4 I Cochrane/R. Fitzpatrick (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
5 J Drislane/Tba (Subaru Impreza Wrc) [7]
6 M Cairns/ M Wiley (Subaru Impreza Wrc) [7]
7 E Mcnulty/R O' Kane (Subaru Impreza Wrx) [6]
8 F Kelly/L Brennan (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
9 A Hetherington/G Noilan (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
10 A Fisher/D Barritt (Ford Fiesta R2) [3]
11 P Mulcahy/K Baulmann (Toyota Starlet Rwd) [5]
12 J Coleman/M Hally (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
14 V Hamill/P Hamill (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
15 P Keenan/M Brady (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
16 S Moynihan/A Moynihan (Subaru Impreza N11) [8]
17 M Murphy/Tba (Subaru Impreza Wrx) [6]
18 L Ryan/A O' Connell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
19 S Power/J Rafter (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
20 A Caldwell/M Vaughan (Ford Escort G3) [5]
21 M Donnelly/B Mc Nulty (Citroen C2r2 Max) [3]
22 D Dunne/M Feeney (Ford Escort Mk2 ) [5]
23 M Cuddihy/J Dunphy (Toyota Starlet Rwd) [3]
24 V Mcaree/J.B. Mcaree (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
25 C Delaney/Tba (Subaru Impreza Wrx) [6]
26 G Lucey/J Lucey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [8]
27 G Connors/Tba (Subaru Impreza Wrx) [8]
28 P Fitzgearld/K Shanahan (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
29 I Millar/R O' Neill (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
30 M Shinnors/C Levis (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
31 B Scanlon/F O' Dwyer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [8]
32 P Price/P Price (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [8]
33 R Benskin/P Walsh (Escort Mk2) [4]
34 D Creedon/T Foley (Impreza) [6]
35 M Cremin/Tba (Evo 5) [6]
36 A Cumins/Tba (Escort Mk2) [4]
37 T Hutton/T Hutton (Evo 10) [8]
38 B Driver/D Driver (Nissan Sunny) [6]
39 S Benskin/J Fitzgibbon (Escort Mk2) [4]
40 N Wade/E Tuohy (Escort Mk2) [3]
41 A Dineen/T Dineen (Corsa) [3]
42 R Beskin Jnr/M Hegarty (Escort Mk2) [4]
43 E Ryan /B Mc Cullagh (Impreza) [6]
44 P Quinlan/T Cudddihy (Sumbeam) [4]
45 M Hackett/P Barry (Impreza) [6]
46 M Mcdonnell/Tba (Impreza) [6]
47 T Farrell/S O 'Gorman (106 Gtd) [3]
48 E Watchcorn/Tba (106 Gtd) [3]
49 C Butler (Ctr)/J O;Connor (Integra) [3]
101 A Fanning /Tba (Ford Ka) [1]
102 E Cronin/Tba (Escort Mk2) [1]
103 M Nevin/M Garahy (Escort Mk2) [2]
104 C O' Toole/F Kelly (Ford Ka) [1]
105 D Stewart/B Ryan (Peugeot 206) [9]
106 K Roche/S Roche (Escort Mk2) [2]
107 M Walsh/J Walsh (Escort G3 ) [9]
108 A Bulman/M Walsh (Escort Mk4) [2]
109 M Ryan/K Carroll (Peugeot 206) [9]
110 Denis Collins/T Cummane (Escort Mk1) [2]
111 C Roche/D Mcdonnald (Mini) [1]
112 L Kelleher/J Duggan (Escort Mk2 ) [2]
114 D Butler/D O'shea (Civic) [9]
Owen Murphy and the Hankook Mitsubishi head for the wood.
Posted: February 7, 2011 8:25 PM
Cork driver Owen Murphy with his regular co driver and fellow Cork Motor Club member James O Brien will renew their partnership again in a bid to win the 2011 Valvoline National Forest Championship. Owen who came to prominence in the Forestry Championship in a Gp N Evo 5 back in 2006 the year he won the Billy Coleman Award and became the youngest driver to win a National GpN title.
This year Owen and James will compete in the Hankook/Mitsubishi Evo 9 , Hankook tyres are nothing new to the Murphys as R&R Tyres have a long association with Hankook spanning almost 25 years.
Owen said I think we have a good package put together for the year in the wood Hankook make great tyres and they are behind us 100% I also have my regular co driver James in for another year and the car will be prepaired by TTEC Rally Prep. The format of the rallys suits us with work and things and 4 of the 6 events are within 90 minutes of home which is always a factor.I always liked rallying on the loose and this year we are going to do the championship with maybe a few tarmac events later in the year we will see how things pan out but the Forestry Championship is our main priority for the year ahead.
I’ve been working quite hard over the winter on my fittness and I’m raring to go. The plan is to go for it and see what the pace is like. I can’t wait.
Owen compeated in the Cork Motor Club round of the championship last year and lost out on a win by less then half a second so he is hoping for some good results this year .
The Hankook/Mitsubishi Evo 9 will run on Carless Fuel and Fuchs Silkolene oils from Drennan Oil Products Kilkenny
Associate sponsors include
The Killumney Inn , Nyhan Motors , Walsh Printers Clonakilty, Ger Leahy Photography,
Over 50 Entries Received
Posted: February 7, 2011 7:47 PM
The club are delighted to say with some excelent last minute entries that next Sunday Forestry event will run accroding to plan with close to 50 entries being recieved.
The seeding of the event will be completed tonight Monday 7th and should be on-line tomorrow.
The Event will have some excelent 4wd and 2wd competitors fighting for honours with entrys received from, to name just a few, Alister Fisher, Enda Mcnulty, Eoin Murphy and Clubman Jeremy Drislane fighting for 4wd honours and with Frank Kelly, James Coleman and Adrian Hetherington in the 2wd category will make for a entertaning event.
The club will still accept late entries but would appreciate if you are considering competing please contact the club before the weekend.
Preparations well Advanced
Posted: February 2, 2011 1:00 PM
The 2011 Mitchelstown Sean Conlon Forestry Rally preparations are well advanced at this stage and the COC Tome Dunne and his team have been spending the last number of weekends preparing a good challenging test for all competitors. Attached is the time and distance schedule for the event. The club have invested not only time but a great deal of money on preparing what they hope will be great forestry stages for competitors.
The club would encourage anyone interested in taking part in the event that has not done so yet to get your entry form in ASAP for what is going to be an excellent event which is round 1 of the 2011 Valvoline sponsored National Forest Rally Championship.
Time and Distance Schedule
Posted: February 2, 2011 12:59 PM
Marshals Meeting Points
Posted: February 2, 2011 12:57 PM
Combaun - Stage 1 & 4: Maxol Service Station, Mitchelstown @ 8am
Kilcoran - Stage 2 & 5: Esso Service Station, Cahir @ 8am
Kilworth - Stage 3& 6: Across from Kilworth Military Camp @ 10:30am
Please contact Chief Marshal 086-1943003 / +353 86-1943003 if you can
help out.
TV Coverage for Mitchelstown Sean Conlon Forestry Rally 2011
Posted: January 24, 2011 12:25 PM
Tipperary Motor Club are delighted to announce that there will be full TV Coverage from On The Limit Sports for this years Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally based in Mitchelstown.
This TV deal came about thanks to the sponsorship from two stalwart Tipperary Motor Club Members, Andrew Fanning Motor Factors in Cahir and Willie Walsh Barber Shop Clonmel. This extra TV Coverage is a huge boost to the organisers of the event as this is an extra incentive for competitors to head into the woods and compete in this years event.
This will provide good exposure to all sponsors, as this coverage will be on Sky and Setanta and motors TV in the next few months.
With only 3 weeks to go to the rally the organiser are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a top class event and hopefully, this news will encourage more competitors to try out Forestry rallying for 2011.
Updated Regulations
Posted: January 13, 2011 12:33 PM
Updated Regulations below.
Changes are:
"Drivers briefing moved from Sat night to 8:45 Sunday morning, and the First car away moved from 08:00am to 09:30am Sunday morning."
Regulations / Entry Form
Posted: January 10, 2011 8:56 AM
Details
Posted: January 4, 2011 7:42 PM
The Tipperary motor Club would like to announce the launch of the 2011 Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally based out of Mitchelstown Co Cork which takes place on the 13th of February. At the launch night held in the Firgrove Hotel on Monday the 6th of December last the COC for the event Tom Dunne introduced his team, announced his plan for the event and outlined the challenges ahead for the Tipperary motor club in running an event so early in the year. The major challenges are in trying to generate interest getting sponsors and getting entries. 2011 will be a make or break year for Froestry rallying and it will be completely down to support for the event from competitors and the club would like to ask all intending competitors to get in contact with the club and send in your entries as soon as possiable, the regulations for the event will be available in the next week.
This event is the opening round of the Valvoline National Forestry championship which in the past has provided excellent competition. The Forestry championship is a fantastic way for anybody thinking of starting out on the sport or for those who like a very easy relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The club also realise the importance of good stages for drivers so that is why this year Tom Dunne and his team have focused on selecting the best possible stages and then trying to improve on them
He has also decided to run a competitor frendily format of 3 stages twice with service after every two stages. So if you want to try out the Forestry championship for 2011 then please put the 13th of Feb in your calendar and give us a call we would be only too delighted to assist you in any way.
Club Website
Posted: January 2, 1990 3:00 PM
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most