Once again the Connaught Competitions Engines Hillclimb and Sprint Championship move into Carlow for round 7 & 8.
This year saw a change of venue for Saturday with a new run in Kilrush Airport which would prove to be a challenging layout.
With practice run done and the action got under way it was clear that Sylvie Mullins in his Gould had only one aim for the day to get a win on the board but he was going to have to work hard for it as Paul O Connell and John C Byrne were in fine form and were pushing hard.
But it was not to be and Mullins succeed the win on the last run with a time of 58.47 sec followed by John C Byrne in his Jedi with a time of 59.99 sec with John only finishing the rebuild on his car on Friday night after his major off in the last round this was a great achievement 3rd was Paul O Connell with a time of 100.43 sec showing his problems at last have been sorted and the car is heading in the right direction. 4th was Neil Anderson with a great drive in his Ward. 5th was David Cullen with the newly acquired Delta T85 followed closely in 6th by Mark Cullen in the same car its look like we will be seeing great things from the two guys when they get to full grips with the car. 7th was Brendan Keane in his Swallow. 8th was newcomer Richard Davis in his R1 OMS. 9th went to the stig John Mahon in his DJ ADSI showing a good run of form this year and 10th went to John Hendy with a great run for his first time out in a loaned Formula Vee.
With the championship leader missing this weekend along with a few more Mullins needed the win to claw back ground day 1 over could he repeat on day 2 to maxims his points.
On Saturday Class 1 sponsored by the Daly Family went to Elaine O Reilly in her mini 2nd went to Brendan Dawson in his civic with Trish Daly grabbing third in her mini.
Class 2 sponsored by The Galway Motor Club went to James Doherty in his Starlet. 2nd was Declan Cundelan in his Escort with Kieran Curren picked 3rd.
Class 3A sponsored by Quinn Motorsport was won by Seamus Hobbs in his Maguire Mini 2nd went to Ian Quinn in his mini busa after his Run 1 roll and also was awarded the spirit of the event award for his persistence all day. 3rd went to John Whitley in his VW Golf.
Class 3B sponsored by Donegal Motor Club went to Neil Anderson in his ward.2nd went to Neil Perry in his Ford Sierra and 3rd went to Mark Mangle in his Subaru.
Class 4 sponsored by The Motor Enthusiasts Club went to the one and only Frank Nuttall in his Graham Pre55 2nd was Paul Dalton and 3rd was Dermot Carroll.
Class 5 sponsored by Wexford Motor Club went to John Hendy in his 1st ever outing in a John Mahon prepared Vee followed by Enda Kennedy in the same car.3rd went to Ger Byrne in his Vee.
Class 6 sponsored by The Carnew Tyre Centre went to John C Byrne in his Jedi. 2nd went to Richard Davis in his OMS with 3rd went to John Mahon in his DJ.
Class 7 sponsored by Crecora Mills with the winner overall in a Class 7 car 1st goes to Paul O Connell 2nd is David Cullen and 3rd went to Mark Cullen in there Delta T85.
Class 8 sponsored by Carlow Car Club went to Thomas O Rafferty in his Corsa . 2nd was Georgie Bell in his civic. 3rd was Fergal Bowes in his 205.
Class 9 went to Frances Kelly in his Corsa followed closely by Patrick Donoghue in 2nd and 3rd going to John Hade in his Escort.
Sunday morning moved over to Bagenalstown and the rain followed as the practise run kicked off the rain fell making condititions trenchous but Sylvie set to business early setting the fastest time on run 1 with Paul 2nd and Neil Anderson taking a great 3rd but times were getting quicker as cars lined up for the last run condititions improving slightly with Sylvie Mullins going quicker setting a time of 42.12 and Paul O Connell setting a time of 43.21 it looked like Mullins had done enough but no one told John C Byrne that que the Jedi and he went on to set a time of 40.83 blowing the competition out of the water by winning his first championship round.
Class 1 went again to Elaine O Reilly.2nd went to William Power.3rd went to Trish Daly.
Class 2 went Declan Cundelan's way this time with James Doherty picking up 2nd giving Kieran Curran 3rd.
Class 3A went to Vinnie Deering 2nd to Ian Quinn 3rd to Seamus Hobbs.
Class 3B went to Neil Anderson.2nd went to Denis Hogan and 3rd to Noel Greene.
Class 4 was taken by Frank Nuttall again with Sean Murray in 2nd and Mick O Shea grabbing 3rd.
Class 5 was won by Enda Kennedy. 2nd was Eugene French. 3rd was Ger O Connor.
Class 6 was won by Richard Davis. 2nd was John Mahon and 3rd was Edwin Rynhart.
Class 7 was taken by Sylvie Mullins. 2nd was Paul O Connell and 3rd was Mark Cullen.
Class 8 went to Jason Ryan. 2nd was Thomas O Rafferty and 3rd was David Dowling.
Class 9 was John Hade this time with Jack Deegan in 2nd and John Murphy in 3rd.
With the next round joining forces with British sprint rounds in Kirkinstown its anyone guess who will come out on top.
Results
Posted: August 2, 2012 12:15 PM
SATURDAY 1 Sylvie Mullins (Gould GR37-Judd) 58.47s,
2 John Byrne (Jedi-Honda) 59.99s,
3 Paul O’Connell (Pilbeam MP58 Hart) 60.43s,
4 Neill Anderson (Ward Mk 9V-GM) 61.04s,
5 David Cullen (Delta T85-Honda) 62.61s,
6 Mark Cullen (Delta T85-Honda) 63.11s,
7 Brendan Keane (Swallow DR14 F3 Zetec) 63.53s,
8 Richard Davis (OMS-Yamaha) 64.13s,
9 John Mahon (DJ-ADS1 Hayabusa) 65.04s,
10 John Hendy (Sheane VW) 65.77s.
Class winners: Elaine O’Reilly (Mini) 72.98s, Jim Doherty (Starlet) 67.19s, Seamus Hobbs (Maguire Mini) 67.78s, Neill Anderson, Frank Nuttall (Graham Ford) 46.26 (net), John Hendy, John Byrne, Paul O’Connell, Thomas O’Rafferty (Corsa) 69.45s, Francis Kelly (Corsa) 69.74s.
SUNDAY
1 John Byrne (Jedi-Honda) 40.83s,
2 Sylvie Mullins (Gould GR37-Judd) 42.12s,
3 Paul O’Connell (Pilbeam MP58 Hart) 43.21s,
4 Neill Anderson (Ward Mk 9V-GM) 43.91s,
5 Mark Cullen (Delta T85-Honda) 44.13s,
6 David Cullen (Delta T85-Honda) 44.78s,
7 Jason Ryan (Toyota) 45.14s,
8 Denis Hogan (BMW M3) 45.54s,
9 Noel Greene (Lancer Evo 9) 45.62s,
10 Vincent Deery (Nova) 45.95s.
Class winners: Elaine O’Reilly (Mini) 48.03s, Declan Cundelan (Escort) 47.15s, Vincent Deery, Neill Anderson, Frank Nuttall (Graham Ford) 35.61 (net), Enda Kennedy (Sheane VW) 48.58s, Richard Davis (OMS-Yamaha) 49.97s, Sylvie Mullins, Thomas O’Rafferty (Corsa) 46.47s, John Hade (Escort) 46.51s
Once again the June bank holiday weekend is upon us and Round 7 and 8 of the Connaught Competition Engines Hillclimb and Sprint Championship rolls into Carlow for a new venue in Kilrush Airfield and an old favourite in Bagalstown.
This year Carlow moves into Kilrush Airfield on Saturday for a tight and challenging run around the Airfield with the last rounds winner away in France for the weekend to show the French what Irish hillclimbers have to offer along with a few more. With this in mind Mullins will be looking to claw back the ground he lost in the last few rounds but Saturday should suit the lighter nimble machines of John Con Byrne's Jedi with working every hour god gives him to get the Jedi back together in time for the weekend.
Sunday moves to the faster and flowing roads of Bagalstown where big power will shine there. Hopefully the sunny weekend of other years comes back again making it a weekend to remember. We hope to see you all there.
Directions to Kilrush Airfield – Saturday 2 June 2012
Posted: May 30, 2012 9:16 AM
From Athy take N78 towards Kilcullen. Approximately 5 miles from Athy there is a turn right (L801). Up this road about 1 mile the airfield is on the right hand side - Kilrush Airfield.
The coordinates to the airfield are as follows:
N53' 03' 45.3
W006' 51' 08.8
The coordinates for P.Conlan’s Pub (3 km from airfield) where we have permission to park on Friday night if required are as follows:
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