Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship Drive of the day winner
Posted: February 1, 2014 11:31 PM
Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship Drive of the day winner on the Mayo Stages Rally Seamus Connolly & Gary Mc Crudden also in the photo Imelda Clarke of HiFive Clothing & Andrew Mullen of Sligo Pallets.
Photo: Brendan Flynn
Results
Posted: February 1, 2014 11:21 PM
1 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC) 65m 10s,
2 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 66m 39s,
3 Russell Woods/Gary Gallagher (Ford Escort MkII) 69m 26s,
4 Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort MkII) 69m 30s,
5 Declan Gallagher/Ronan Murrin (Toyota Starlet RWD) 69m 32s,
6 Raymond Conlon/Darren McCague (Toyota Corolla 2.0 RWD) 71m 07s,
7 Pat Kirk/Joe McNulty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 71m 35s,
8 Andrew Mullen/Elaine Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 72m 23s,
9 Paul Clarke/Patrick Cunningham (Ford Escort) 72m 42s,
10 Daniel Conaghan/Terence Magee (Ford Escort) 72m 47s.
Late Entries:
90 Aidan Wray/Kieran McGrath (Honda Civic) [2]
91 Paddy Walker/John Sweeney (Peugeot 206) [6]
92 Patrick Condon/TBA (Peugeot 206) [10]
93 David Lang/Matthew Lang (Corsa) [9]
94 Padraic Magee/TBA (TBA) []
All Set for Mayo Stages Rally 2013
Posted: March 8, 2013 3:12 PM
The last nuts and bolts are being tightened on rally cars, race suits and helmets are being dusted down, and navigators are logging on to Google Maps to find directions to Ballina. The final countdown to the Hotel Ballina & Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally 2013 is underway before the high-octane action takes place this week-end.
Rally Countdown ... all go from Friday evening
With competitors arriving from Friday afternoon on, the first task for the drivers and co-drivers after signing-on to the event is on Saturday morning March 9th, when they drive the rally stages in their road cars making pacenotes to use the following day. Later in the day, the rally cars will be presented for scrutineering where they have to pass stringent road and rally safety requirements before being allowed to take part in the rally. After that the cars are locked away securely in Parc Feirme ahead of the start of the rally.
Ceremonial Start
For the public, the rally gets underway in earnest on Saturday when the leading competitors as well as all the local drivers gather on Pearse Street, in Ballina town centre for the Ceremonial Start. Now in its fourth year, this is a great opportunity to see the rally cars and stars up close, and is especially suitable for families with small children. Pearse Street will be closed to traffic from 6pm with diversions in place. The rally cars will start arriving from 7pm with the cars passing over the starting ramp where the drivers will be interviewed at 9pm. Open air music and entertainment will take place during the evening.
When the flag drops….
The serious competition starts on Sunday morning, with the leading cars leaving Parc Feirme in Hotel Ballina at 10 am to tackle the nine challenging special stages. The first stage Cloonta runs for the first time at 10.45 am. Stage two, Lough Brohly, gets underway at 11.05 am, and stage three, Ballymore Lough, which is near Attymass runs at 11.35 am. The cars then return to service in Ballina Mart on the Crossmolina Road, before tacking the loop of three stages two more times. The leading cars are due back at the rally finish at Hotel Ballina at 5 pm. Full details of maps and times will be available in the rally programmes which will be on sale in shops and garages around the area from Friday evening. Online users can follow Mayo & District Motorsport Club’s Twitter (@mayomotorclub) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/mayomotorsportclub) accounts which will be continually updated during the week-end with all the latest news, times and competitor quotes, or can check into the club website (www.mayomotorsportclub.com). Rally updates will also be available during the day on local radio, as Midwest Radio will carry live coverage of the event on the Sunday Sports Show from their Roadcaster, which will be based in the Service Park.
High Quality Entry Field
Perhaps inevitably the current difficult economic environment has meant fewer WRC cars taking part on this year’s Mayo Stages Rally, compared to recent years, but nonetheless a quality field is all set for the challenge of tackling the Hotel Ballina Kennedy Motors backed event.
Seeded at No 1 are cousins Declan and Brian Boyle from Donegal in their Subaru WRC, fresh from their victory on the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Rally in Birr two weeks ago. Best known for his exploits in his 2.5 Mark 2 Escort, Declan is now competing at the top end of rallying in Ireland, having acquired the ex-Tim McNulty Subaru S12 in the second half of last year. Any doubts as to whether he could compete at the highest level were quickly silenced with a string of fine results including an overall win on his debut with the car on the Galway Summer Rally which was followed by 2nd place finishes on the Cork 20 and Donegal Harvest, 3rd in the Galway International Rally and the recent win in Birr. Declan and Brian are getting quicker in the car with each event and promise to be spectacular to watch in Mayo.
At 2 are Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan in their Airtricity backed S11 Subaru Impreza. After a somewhat frustrating 2012 the boys are now finding their feet in the WRC car after a 5th place finish in Galway and it would be no surprise if the Donegal pair led the rally at the finish at 5pm on Sunday evening. The first Group N car is No 3 seed Pat Kirk from Strabane in an Evo 9. He will have Paddy McVeigh chasing him in his new Subaru Impreza S10 in car number 4. Paddy’s regular co-driver Stephen O’Hanlon will be marking his 100th rally on this year’s Mayo Stages.
Top Modified competitor is Declan Gallagher in his Toyota Starlet at number 5, Declan likely to be mixing it with the 4wd boys. Camillus Bradley, Jonathan Pringle, Rodney Wilton and Russell Woods fill the next four places in the top 10, in similar looking but different spec Ford Escorts Mark 2’s. All are capable of top results, particularly if weather conditions are dry. Mayo & District Motorsport Club Members & Border Rally Championships sponsors Andrew Mullen and Elaine Doherty round off the top 10 in their Group N Evo 9 while another note-worthy entry is the reigning Border Rally Champions Arthur and Mac Kierans who are seeded just outside the top 10 in their MK2 Escort.
Locals All Set For Mayo Stages Rally
Needless to say many local competitors will be hoping to get good results on their local event. Behind the tenth seeds Andrew Mullen and Elaine Doherty from Ballisodare, the next highest local competitor is Mervyn Deane. The rapid Williamstown driver faces a tough challenge against the top competitors in class 13 in his Escort. At 24 are Ballinrobe based Sligo man John Warren and Ruthann O Connor from Kilmaine, in their McHales Farm Machinery sponsored Toyota Corolla, the pair having set some impressive times on this event last year before an off road excursion on the penultimate stage ended their rally. Ballinrobe father and son team Adrian and Aidan Fahy are at 41 in their class 13 Escort, they would like to thank We Fix Chimneys & Proactive Security both from Ballinrobe for their sponsorship. Shane Buckley is in a class 11 Honda Civic running number 44. Joint main sponsor Ciaran Kennedy from Kennedy Motors, Ballina & Belmullet is at number 46 and has Paddy O’Hora alongside him on the notes.
Kenneth McHale and Derek McCarthy are seeded at 49, in a rather different car to that in which they achieved much success in the past. The Knockmore / Ballina pairing, who previously won class 1 on the 2007 Rally Ireland WRC event in a Toyota Yaris, are competing on this year’s Mayo Stages in a class 15 Subaru Impreza. Former Mayo Motorsport Club chairman Sean McHugh from Bekan has Niall Morley from Knock alongside him this year in his fabulous sounding BMW at number 51. Barry Cuffe starts at 60 in his class 13 Escort, just one place ahead of current Mayo & District Motorsport Club Chairman Matthew Murphy from Shrule, in his Westtyre Ballinrobe and M&R Motors Shrule backed class 11 Toyota Corolla, Matthew has his brother Ronan, on the notes for him.
Keith McFadden from Turlough makes his return to rallying at 67 in a class 7 Clio. Headford and Ballinrobe parthership of Justin Ryan and Andy Walsh are at 68 in their Honda Civic and hope to improve on last year where they narrowly failed to claim an award for third in the very competitive class 2. Another class 2 Honda Civic pairing of Tony Langdon and Eddie Quinn are 71. At 74, Mayo Young Driver Autocross Champion Alan Moran from Foxford makes the jump to class 10 in his recently beefed up Opel Kadett. Alan has Jared Gill from Bofeenaun, sitting with him for this event.
Killala pairing of Gavin and Raymond Carroll are 78 in a Nova, while Ballina man Darragh Devine hopes to enjoy his first day out rallying in a Civic at 86. He has experienced navigator Paul McGee to help keep him between the ditches. Shrule man and former National Junior Autocross champion Noel Murphy is another one to make his debut in tarmac rallying at Mayo this year. Seeded 87 in another car from the WestTyre and M&R Motors stable, he hopes to bring his Honda Civic home to a good result in the Junior section of the rally. At 89 Aubrey Carson has Mary McAndrew to help guide him home in his class 10 Nova.
Seeded Entry List
Posted: March 3, 2013 7:44 AM
Car No. Drivers/Navigator (Car) [Class]
1 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
2 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
3 Pat Kirk/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
4 Paddy McVeigh/Stephen O'Hanlon (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
5 Declan Gallagher/Ronan Murrin (Toyota Starlet) [13]
6 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort MK2 ) [14]
7 Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort RS) [13]
8 Rodney Wilton/TBA (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
9 Russell Woods/Gary Gallagher (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
10 Andrew Mullen/Elaine Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
11 Arthur Kierans/Mac Kierans (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
12 Pat Donegan/Alan Keena (Ford Escort) [14]
14 Mervyn Deane/Martin Flynn (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
15 Raymond Conlon/Darren McCague (Toyota Corolla RWD) [13]
16 Michael Conlon/Niall Connolly (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
17 Paddy Kiernan/James McCarille (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
18 Jack Maguire/Stephen McElroy (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
19 David Leonard/Darragh Mullen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [20]
20 Colin Flanagan/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [15]
21 Enda Haran/Patrick Corcoran (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
22 Ian Gunning/Fred Holmes (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
23 Paul Clarke/Patrick Cunningham (Ford Escort) [13]
24 John Warren/Ruthann O'Connor (Toyota Corolla RWD) [13]
25 Daniel Conaghan/Terence Magee (Ford Escort) [13]
26 Billy Vance/Ruairi Maguire (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [15]
27 Vincent Collins/Rory Collins (Ford Escort) [12]
28 James Cassidy/Declan Smith (Ford Escort) [12]
29 William Vance/TBA (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
30 Hugh McQuaid/Chris Melly (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
31 Patrick Bonner/Conor Comack (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
32 Raymond Drury/Pauric Sheridan (Ford Escort) [14]
33 Alan Atchbson/Andy Hayes (Ford Escort) [13]
34 Alister Peoples/Kelvin Gorney (Ford Escort) [11R]
35 Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden (Toyota Corolla RWD) [11R]
36 Declan McGettigan/Jonathon Gallagher (Honda Civic) [11F]
37 Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan (Ford Escort) [9]
38 Patrick Herity/Johnny Rooney (Toyota Corolla) [13]
39 Damian O'Reilly/Damien McCabe (Ford Escort) [9]
40 Patrick Cunningham/John Fitzpatrick (Honda Civic) [16]
41 Adrian Fahy/Aidan Fahy (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
42 Stephen Faughan/Finbarr Halligan (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
43 Sean Agnew/Peter Deery (Citroen C2) [6]
44 Shane Buckley/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
45 Anthony Masterson/TBA (Honda Integra) [7]
46 Ciaran Kennedy/Paddy O'Hora (Honda Civic) [2]
47 Ed Muldoon/John Muldoon (Honda Civic R3) [7]
48 Mark Ewing/TBA (Honda Civic) [3]
49 Kenneth McHale/Derek McCarthy (Subaru Impreza) [15]
50 John Kelly/Niall Kelly (Toyota Corolla) [10]
51 Sean McHugh/Niall Morley (BMW M3) [14]
52 Eamonn Doherty/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Escort MK2) [11R]
53 Barry Gallagher/Aodhan Gallagher (Honda Civic) [16]
54 Barry Treanor/Jonathan Treanor (Peugeot 205) [10]
55 Francis Rafferty/James Reilly (Ford Sierra) [14]
56 Gary Kiernan /James Fulton (Ford Escort) [10]
57 Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge (Peugeot 306) [7]
58 Martin Ewing/James Ewing (Peugeot 205) [10]
59 Brian O'Neill/John McGrath (Toyota Corolla) [13]
60 Barry Cuffe/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
61 Matthew Murphy/Ronan Murphy (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
62 Michael McCormack/John Fallon (Honda Civic) [2]
63 Sean Maloney/Kevin Cogan (Toyota Corolla) [16]
64 Andre Roberts/Gerry McGrarry (Astra) [12]
65 Declan Hall/Chris Corr (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
66 Martin Toner/Martin Swinburne (Sunbeam) [12]
67 Keith McFadden/Pat McSharry (Clio) [7]
68 Justin Ryan/Andy Walsh (Honda Civic) [2]
69 David Smyth/Mark Deery (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
70 Jarlath Barry/Paul Gallagher (Honda Civic) [2]
71 Tony Langdon/Eddie Quinn (Honda Civic) [2]
72 Martin Casey/Brian Hassett (Honda Civic) [16]
73 Ivan Warwick/Evelyn Warwick (Audi S2) [20]
74 Alan Moran /Jared Gill (Kadett) [10]
75 Niall Burns/Edel Barrett (Ford Escort MK2) [16]
76 Kevin McLaughlin/Kieran McGinley (Honda Civic) [16]
77 Cathal Bheilbigh/Sean Walsh (Honda Civic) [11F]
78 Gavin Carroll/Raymond Carroll (Nova ) [9]
79 Iarla Carty/Joe Whyte (Mini) [18]
80 Alan Lawson/Sean Harte (Honda Civic) [16]
81 David O'Flaherty/Tommy O'Connor (Ford Escort MK4) [10]
82 David Walsh/Sean Mullins (Ford Escort MK2) [10]
83 Ferlin Taylor/Deirdre Benson (Corolla) [11R]
84 Darren O'Brien/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
85 Dermot O'Hagan/Pierce Doheny (Corsa) [11F]
86 Darragh Devine/Paul McGee (Honda Civic ) [11F]
87 Noel Murphy/Stephen Monaghan (Honda Civic) [16]
88 Paul Curran/Derek Chambers (Toyota Starlet) [9]
89 Aubrey Carson/Mary McAndrew (Nova ) [10]
ENTRIES STILL OPEN
Audio: Midwest Radio Feature on Mayo Stages Rally
Posted: March 1, 2013 10:26 AM
Successful Mayo Stages Rally Launch.
Posted: February 25, 2013 11:23 AM
Pictured at the launch of Mayo Stages Rally 2013 at Hotel Ballina, from left:
Ambrose Gaughan, Chief Marshall; David Jordan, Safety Officer;
Matthew Murphy (Chairman Mayo Motorsport Club), Willie Nolan (Mayor of Ballina);
Padraic Roche (Event Clerk of Course); Kevin Kennedy & Rose Kennedy, (Kennedy Motors) Joint Sponsors; Jason Moyles (Deputy manager Hotel Ballina) Joint Sponsors and Liam Healy, Assistant Clerk of Course. Photo: Michael Donnelly
A large crowd was in attendance at Hotel Ballina on Friday night last, to hear information
about this year's rally from a selection of speakers, including Clerk of the Course Padraic
Roche and Chairman of Mayo & District Motorsport Club Matthew Murphy.
Among those attending the 2013 Hotel Ballina Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally
launch were, Motorsport Ireland President Joe Corocan, Toni Kelly, from Donegal, who is
also a Road Safety Authority (RSA) ambassador, Robbie Lyttle on behalf of the Motorsport
Ireland Road Safety campaign, and Andrew Mullen, sponsor of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally
Championship, of which the Mayo Stages is the opening round.
Local representatives included the Mayor of Ballina, Willie Nolan, Chamber of Commerce,
local T.D.s Dara Calleary and Michelle Mulherin, County Councillors, founding Ballina
Motorclub members and representatives from all the event sponsors.
Mayo & District Motorsport Club reports that a surge of competitors have entered the Mayo
Stages Rally which takes place on the week-end of March 9-10 in recent days, with the entry
list rapidly filling, Any competitors intending to enter the rally are advised to get their entries
in without delay to avoid disappointment.
Mayo & District Motorsport Club brings safety message to schools
Posted: February 25, 2013 11:16 AM
Mayo & District Motorsport Club organised a very successful event for the local school
children of Bonniconlon, Bofield, Carra and Attymass National schools in The Grove
Ballroom Bonniconlon on Friday last. All four schools are situated close to the stages on this
year’s Hotel Ballina and Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally which takes place on March
10th.
Presented by rally co-driver John Higgins from Kiltimagh, who is also Road Safety Officer
for Mayo & District Motorsport Club, together with other members from the motorclub, and
in co-operation with the R.S.A (Road Safety Authority), Mayo County Council, Bus Eireann
and An Garda Siochana, the event provided the school children with a special opportunity
to learn first hand about general road safety and the safety measures that are in place to
run a rally, as well as a demonstration of safety equipment on board a current rally car. The
presentation was very well received with lots of questions and much excitement about the
forthcoming rally.
This is the second year that Mayo & District Motorsport Club has undertaken an initiative
to highlight to local schoolchildren in the vicinity of the rally the importance of safety both
at rallies and on our roads, and it has proven to be an excellent opportunity to teach the
younger generation the essentials of being safe on the roads in a fun and memorable way.
2013 Mayo Stages Rally Launch Night - (Fri) 22 Feb 13
Posted: February 15, 2013 1:08 PM
The countdown to the 2013 Hotel Ballina and Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally is firmly on. The Official launch of the event, takes place this Friday night February 22nd at Hotel Ballina, headquarters for the March 10th event. A range of rally cars will be on display outside the hotel and all are welcome. Proceedings will start at 8pm.
Marshaling Information / Marshal Training Night – (Wed) 27 Feb 13
Posted: February 15, 2013 12:55 PM
A small army of volunteers is needed to ensure a safe running of the Mayo Stages Rally. If you would be interesting in lending your support to help out on the day, please contact Chief Marshal on 086 2558383 / +353 86 2558383 Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Marshal training will be taking place on February 27th in Hotel Ballina at 7.30pm.
In what is a first for a one day national rally in Ireland, Mayo & District Motorsport Club will be running a pilot of Super Rally, at the 2013 Mayo Stages Rally.
This will permit crews retiring from the rally prior to the last service the chance to restart the rally from the next service out control, and will no doubt be a major incentive for competitors looking to get maximum value for money for their day’s rallying.
A time penalty will apply for every stage missed, and strict rules will be enforced in relation to the recovery of the car from a stage.
The Crew will only be allowed to restart after passing re-scrutiny, and with the permission of the CLO.
Full details are in the Regulations
The club will also be running Junior and Historic Classes on the event, while the rally is once again the opening round of the 2013 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.
Secretary for the event can be contacted on 086 1578764 / +353 86 1578764 (before 22.00), or via e-mail at clarke.imelda@gmail.com.
Entries for the rally close on 22ndFebuary 2013.
Event Poster
Posted: January 23, 2013 12:29 PM
2013 Hotel Ballina and Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally
Posted: December 25, 2012 10:01 PM
Sunday March 10, 2013 is a date for your diary. It sees the return of Mayo & District Motorsport Club’s annual tarmac stages rally to Ballina after an absence of more than ten years. Clerk of the Course Padraic Roche and his hard working team have been putting the finishing touches to months of preparations for this ever popular event.
The Club is delighted to welcome on board Hotel Ballina and Kennedy Motors as joint main sponsors of the 2013 Mayo Stages Rally and thank them for their support.
The route, consisting of a three stage loop run three times, with a central service, will provide competitors with excellent value in stage distance while keeping road section mileage to a minimum. The compact loop provides for an abundance of superb spectator points on each individual stage, with a choice of viewing locations across the 119 Km route.
After a Ceremonial start in Ballina town centre on Saturday evening, March 9th, the rally headquarters will be Hotel Ballina, from where the event proper begins on Sunday morning when the cars leave parc-ferme.
The event is round one of the 2013 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.
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