GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 22 Oct 17

O’BRIEN AND BUTLER CLAIM BALTINGLASS VICTORY

Posted: November 27, 2017 10:06 AM

The Kilkenny crew of Enda O’Brien and John Butler have recorded a resounding victory on the Garda Síochána Motor Club’s 2017 Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally. They were outright fastest on four of the event’s six stages in their Ford Escort RS, their final margin of victory extending to fifteen seconds. The win is their second of the year, following earlier success on the Laois Heartlands Mini Stages during the summer. Second placed Limerick driver, Ed O’Callaghan, and his Donegal co-driver, Raymond Scott, also in an Escort, were the only other crew to record a stage win during the day (as well as sharing the honours with O’Brien and Butler on the final run over Prumpelstown), but they had to give best in the overall reckoning.

Speaking at the finish before the traditional champagne-spraying ceremonies, O’Brien expressed his delight at how well the day had gone: "“Everything went well for us, we had a good clean run, picked the right tyres all day. John did a great job on the notes and John Moynihan Rallying always do a good job with the car. The stages were very fast, we had a great battle with Ed, I really enjoyed them”.

Carlow’s David Condell and co-driver, Eugene McGrath, maintained third place throughout the rally, eventually finishing 51 seconds behind O’Callaghan and Scott. Johno Doogan and Ciaran Marrow took fourth place in their two-litre Escort, behind the 2.5 equipped podium finishers. The Antrim-Cavan pairing of Keith White and Damien McCabe took fifth place in their Mark 1 Escort, while sixth was Welsh visitor Wayne Evans, co-driven by Kilkenny’s John Smithwick.

Behind them, there was a very close battle for seventh, decided in favour of former Northern Ireland champion, Fintan McGrady, who had his son, Cormac, calling the notes. They finished just one second ahead of Rodney White and Sam McMullen (on Rodney’s first event using number, rather than descriptive, pace notes), who in turn were one further second ahead of Jason Roche and Noel Coogan.

Photos

Posted: November 27, 2017 10:05 AM

James Burke Motorsport Photography

Results

Posted: November 27, 2017 10:01 AM

1 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII) 44m 59s,
2 Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII) 45m 17s,
3 David Condell/Eugene McGrath (Ford Escort MkII) 46m 08s,
4 Johnno Doogan/Ciaran Marrow (Ford Escort MkII) 46m 32s,
5 Keith White/Damien McCabe (Ford Escort MkII) 46m 43s,
6 Wayne Evans/John Smithwick (Ford Escort MkII) 46m 58s,
7 Fintan McGrady/Cormac McGrady (Ford Escort MkII) 47m 15s,
8 Rodney White/Sam McMullan (Sunbeam) 47m 16s,
9 Jason Roche/Noel Coogan (Ford Escort MkII) 47m 17s,
10 Alan Atcheson/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Fiesta Proto) 47m 25s.

Juniors:
1 Michael Cunniffe/Cian Irwin (Peugeot 106) 54m 47s,
2 Katie Quinn/Erik Honan (Honda Civic) 59m 57s.

Leaders After
SS1-6 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII)

Stage Winners
SS1 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII)
SS2 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII)
SS3 Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII)
SS4 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII)
SS5 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII)
SS6 Enda O’Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII)
& Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII)

Full Results: results.shannonsportsit.ie (Angus Sealy)

O’BRIEN TOP SEED IN PACKED BALTINGLASS RALLY FIELD

Posted: October 22, 2017 5:42 AM

The Garda Síochána Motor Club has attracted a strong entry of 130 crews for the 2017 Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, the final round of the Colton Motors Midlands East Rally Championship, which takes place this Sunday (22nd October). The organisers are pleased with the level of interest shown, with competitors numbers up over 25% on last year. Many familiar faces return for another chance to tackle the GSMC event, but there are many first-time entrants also. The top seed is Kilkenny’s Enda O’Brien, winner of this year’s Laois Heartlands Mini Stages, who will be guided by his usual co-driver, John Butler, in their Ford Escort RS. O’Brien’s last appearance on the GSMC Rally was in 2006, when he drove a 1600 Escort.

They will be followed through the Start Control by David Condell and Michael Coady, also in an Escort, winners of Condell’s home Carlow Rally earlier in the season. Condell has been a longtime supporter of the GSMC event over the years, but has yet to register a victory in Baltinglass.

The third seed, Barry Meade, makes the trip from his Cork base with his Escort RS. He is a past winner of Mini Stages Rallies in his home county and Kerry, and finished third on the National section of the Cork ‘20’ at the start of the month. His co-driver will be Eamonn Hayes.

Limerick’s Ed O’Callaghan is the sole class 13 runner in the top ten, in the midst of the larger-engined Class 14 cars, the seeding accurately reflecting his undoubted pace. He will be guided by Donegal’s Raymond Scott. No. 5 seed, John Lynch, previously campaigned Escorts, but the Laois man has recently made the switch to a Darrian T90, and will be the first non-Ford pilot into stage one.

The Kerry crew of Mike Quinn and Tony Healy have previously taken a top three finish on the GSMC Mini Stages, and are back in their familiar Escort RS, seeded at 6. Quinn’s daughter, Katie, is also on the entry list, driving a Honda Civic.

Donegal’s Martin Doherty finished in the top four of the Baltinglass Rally last year, and is back for another go in his Escort, co-driven by Monaghan’s Paul Sheridan.

Donegal’s Stuart Darcy, former winner of the Billy Coleman Young Rally of the Year Award, is seeded at eight. He will drive his recently acquired Darrian GTR, which finished second on the 2016 GSMC Rally, in the hands of Ian Barrett.

The top ten also includes Welshman, Wayne Evans (Ford Escort RS), the highest seeded of four visiting UK drivers. He will be navigated by Kilkenny’s John Smithwick.

The class based Colton Motors Midlands East Rally Championship will be decided between Joe Moffitt (Class 1 Honda Civic), who leads going into this final round, on 55 points, and Shaun Forde (Class 9 Vauxhall Nova), who is currently second on 52 points, but holds the advantage when dropped scores come into play.

While the rally is headquartered in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, the competitive action takes place over the border in Co. Kildare, consisting of three loops of the Timolin and Prumpelstown stages near Castledermot, with Service in Crookstown after the first and second loops. The first stage gets underway at 11am on Sunday morning.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 18, 2017 8:02 AM

No. Driver/Navigator (Car) [Class]
1 Enda O’Brien /John Butler (Ford Escort) [14]
2 David Condell/Michael Coady (Ford Escort) [14]
3 Barry Meade/Eamon Hayes (Ford Escort) [14]
4 Ed O'Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort) [13]
5 John Lynch/TBA (Darrian) [14]
6 Mike Quinn/Tony Healy (Ford Escort) [14]
7 Martin Doherty/Paul Sheridan (Ford Escort) [14]
8 Stuart Darcy/Paddy McCrudden (Darrian T90) [14]
9 Wayne Evans/John Smithwick (Ford Escort) [14]
10 Keith White/Damien McCabe (Ford Escort Mk1) [14]
11 Rodney White/Sam McMullan (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
12 Jason Roche/Marty McBarty (Ford Escort) [13]
14 Richard Moore/Brian Halligan (Ford Escort) [14]
15 Peter Wilson/Karen Kelly (Ford Escort ) [13]
16 Brendan McDaid/Damien McGettigan (Ford Escort) [14]
17 Shane Cullen/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
18 Barry McKenna/Mac Kierans (Ford Escort) [13]
19 Fintan McGrady/Cormac McGrady (Ford Escort ) [14]
20 Johno Doogan/Ciaran Marrow (Ford Escort ) [13]
21 John Hade/Sharon Nolan (Ford Escort ) [14]
22 Padraig Egan/Brian Hassett (Subaru Impreza) [20]
23 Alan Atcheson/Thomas Weblock (Ford Fiesta) [20]
24 Alister Fingleton /Debbie Smith (Subaru Impreza ) [20]
25 Pauric Sheridan/Sean Brunton (Ford Fiesta) [20]
26 Des Moore/Arthur Kearns (Ford Escort) [14]
27 Dan Gorman/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
28 Paul Barrett/Declan Tumilty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [4]
29 Ross Forde/Sean Hassett (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4) [19]
30 Brian O’Keeffe/Sean Hayde (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
31 Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite (Honda Civic) [16]
32 Aaron McLaughlin/Aaron Lysaght (Ford Fiesta Proto) [20]
33 JF Shovelin /Emmett Brosnan (Subaru Impreza WRC) [15]
34 Andrew Fanning/Derek Gibbs (Proton Satria S2000) [14]
35 James Bradley/Maria Keohoe (Honda Civic) [11F ]
36 Eoin Neville/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
37 Ed Colton/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [20]
38 Leo Doyle/Gordon Manley (Ford Escort Mk1) [13]
39 Russel Daage/TBA (Ford Escort) [14]
40 Tom Holton /TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
41 Seamie Doyle /TBA (Ford Escort ) [12]
42 Tomas O'Rourke /John McGrath (Honda Civic) [2]
43 Bruce Lee /TBA (Ford Escort ) [11R]
44 Terence O’Shaughnessy/Willie Fitzpatrick (Toyota Corolla ) [11R]
45 Fergal Kelly/Tim Maher (Ford Escort G4) [13]
46 Tony Maybury/Steve McNulty (Ford Escort) [12]
47 James McCarvill/TBA (Ford Escort) [11R]
48 Jack Maguire/Stephen McElroy (Ford Escort) [13]
49 Richard Harney/Brian Harney (Ford Escort) [11R]
50 Llyr Jones/Sion Jones (Ford Escort) [13]
51 Stephen Bawn /Chris O’Donnell (Ford Escort ) [13]
52 Niall Fitzpatrick/Gary Fitzpatrick (Ford Escort MK1) [12]
53 Graham Kelly /Dean Kelly (Ford Fiesta) [14]
54 Liam McMullan /Michael McClaferty (Honda Civic) [11F]
55 Mikey Walsh /Niall Keane (Ford Escort G3 ) [12]
56 Philip McDonald/Shane Corcoran (Honda Civic) [11F]
57 David Forde /TBA (Subaru Impreza ) [15]
58 Ian Davies/Eurig Davies (BMW M3) [19]
59 Brian Cooney/Michael Whelan (Ford Escort ) [12]
60 Neil Perry/Stuart Perry (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth) [20]
61 Pat Delaney/Stephen Delaney (Ford Escort ) [12]
62 Brendan McAree/TBA (Porsche 911) [19]
63 Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
64 Pat O’Connor/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo ) [4]
65 Paul Cloke/Aidan Kent (Proton) [11F]
66 Ed Holton/TBA (Toyota Celica) [20]
67 Jack Deegan/TBA (Peugeot 205) [13]
68 Ciaran Cloke/Fran Kinsella (Peugeot 306) [13]
69 Kevin Flanagan/Vanessa Hamilton (Mini Cooper) [9]
70 Pat Murphy/TBA (Peugeot 205) [13]
71 Sean McEvoy/Conor Duff (Ford Escort) [11R]
72 John McCabe /Paul Lennon (Ford Escort) [11R]
73 John Petit/Richard Cleary (Ford Escort ) [11R]
74 Raymond Spence/Robert Harold (Ford Escort ) [13]
75 Richie Dalton/Ger Bret (Subaru Impreza) [15]
76 Colm Doherty/Andrew Farmer (Toyota Corolla ) [11R]
77 Breen McNamee/Alecia Knox (Honda Civic) [11F]
78 Noel O’Brien/Donal Sinclair (Ford Escort ) [12]
79 Mark Hayden/Peter Ryan (Ford Escort ) [13]
80 Alan Quinn/Brian O'Donnell (Opel Manta) [13]
81 William Smith/Darryl Smith (Toyota Starlet) [13]
82 John Hayes/Andy Hayes (Honda Civic) [3]
83 Tommy Foley/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
84 John McCabe /Stephen Doogan (Honda Civic) [11F ]
85 Eddie Peterson/Daire Maguire (Honda Civic) [11F]
86 Colum Browne/Paddy King (Honda Civic) [11F]
87 James Fennelly/Stephen Grant (Honda Civic) [11F]
88 Gary Hade/Luke Hade (Peugeot 206) [11R]
89 Dave Hughes/Brian Rowan (Honda Civic) [13]
90 Kieran Hayes/Andrew Purser (Peugeot 205) [12]
91 Mark O'Connor/Simon Quinn (Ford Escort) [11R]
92 Francis Kelly/Charlotte Egan (Vauxhall Nova GSI) [9]
93 Barry Hennessy/Stephen Scalan (Honda Civic) [1]
94 David Fitzsimons/TBA (TBA) []
95 JJ Furlong/Mark Furlong (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
96 Liam Higgins/TBA (BMW E30) [11R]
97 Paul McCann/Paddy Plunkett (Skoda Fabia S2500) [20]
98 Des Forrestal/Davy Creane (Ford Escort ) [12]
99 Brian Walker/Paul Walker (Ford Puma) [11R]
100 Mark Ashton/Eoin Kenny (Honda Civic) [1]
101 Thomas Abbey/TBA (Peugeot 106) [2]
102 Declan Byrne/Amy Deegan (Honda Civic) [2]
103 Joe Moffitt/Eddie Moffitt (Honda Civic) [1]
104 Wayne Keogh/Wayne Loughlin (Skoda Fabia) [3]
105 Ned Kelly/TBA (Peugeot 106) [11]
106 Denis Maher/Christian Dormary (Honda Civic) [1]
107 Billy Watchorn/Brendan Curran (Peugeot 206) [2]
108 Michael Tumulty/Jay Walker (Peugeot 106) [1]
109 Michael Cunniffe/Cian Irwin (Peugeot 106) [16]
110 Katie Quinn/Erik Honan (Honda Civic) [16]
111 Will Ashton/Bobby Comerford (Toyota Corolla ) [16]
112 Leonard Tuite/Niall Farrelly (Ford Escort) [10]
113 Aaron Walters/Paddy Carroll (Opel Corsa) [10]
114 Ger Power/Johnny McCrory (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
115 Padraig Gorman/Shane Gorman (Toyota Starlet) [10]
116 John Barry/Liam Fitzgerald (Mini Cooper) [9]
117 Adam Darcy/David Doyle (Honda Civic) [9]
118 Greg Tennyson/Sean Dunphy (Honda Civic) [1]
119 Hazel O'Callaghan/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
120 Stephen Brennan/Pat Knox (Honda Civic) [2]
121 Joe McQuinlan /Ashley Boulton (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [20]
122 Michael Hamilton /TBA (TBA) [11F]
123 Darragh Walsh/Donie Moonie (Suzuki Swift) [9]
124 Eoghan McMahon /Declan O’Regan (Subaru Impreza) [15]
125 James Buckley/Paddy Abbey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
126 Shaun Forde/Kevin Cunneen (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
127 Wayne Felly /Peter Farrell (Ford Fiesta) [11R]
128 David Quinn/Enda McGonigle (BMW E30) [14]
129 Martin O'Dowd /Shane O'Dowd (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
130 Niamh Driver /TBA (Suzuki Swift ) [9]

Entries Received - 11 Oct 17

Posted: October 9, 2017 3:04 PM

1 Niamh Driver 
2 Brian Cooney
3 Mikey Walsh 
4 Joe Moffitt
5 Stuart Darcy
6 Francis Kelly
7 Neil Perry
8 Fintan McGrady
9 Wayne Evans
10 William Smith
11 Tom Holton 
12 Alister Fingelton 
13 James Bradley
14 Kevin Flanagan
15 Gary Hayde
16 Mark Ashton
17 Leo Doyle
18 John Hayde
19 Seamie Doyle 
20 Brian Brady
21 Brian McNamee
22 Padraig Gorman
23 Brian Walker
24 David Fitzsimons
25 Jason Roche
26 Declan Byrne
27 Billy Watchorn
28 John Hayes
29 JJ Furlong
30 Alan Quinn
31 Dave Hughes
32 Pauric Sheridan
33 Denis Maher
34 Michael Tumulty
35 John Petit
36 Padraig Egan
37 Des Forrestal
38 Paul McCann
39 John McCabe 
40 John Barry
41 Sean McEvoy
42 Dan Gorman
43 Ned Kelly
44 Pat Oconnor
45 Paul Meredith
46 Paul Cloke
47 Raymond Spence
48 Kieran Hayes
49 Johno Doogan
50 Will Ashton
51 Tommy Foley
52 Noel Obrien
53 John Lynch
54 Pat Murphy
55 Jack Deegan
56 Terrance Shaughnesy
57 Thomas Abbey
58 Pat Delaney
59 Ed Holton
61 Ian Davies
62 David Forde 
63 Richard Harney
64 J.F Shovelin 
65 Niall Fitzpatrick
66 Tony Maybury
67 Richie Dalton
68 Barry Mckenna
69 Rodney White
70 Ger Power
71 Russel Daag
72 Adam Darcy
73 Greg Tennyson
74 Adam McLaughlin
75 Wayne felly 
76 Stephen Brennan
77 Llyr Jones
78 Ciaran Cloke
79 Brian Okeeffe
80 Enda Obrien 
81 John McCabe 
82 David Condell
83 Joe Mc Quinlan
84 Michael Hamilton
85 Barry Henessy
86 Darragh Walsh
87 Katie Quinn
88 Eoghan McMahon
89 Stephen Bawn
90 Jack Maguire
91 Colum Browne
92 Liam Higgins
93 Michael Cunniffe
94 Barry Meade
95 James Fennelly
96 Ross Forde
97 Alan Atchbson
98 Mark Hayden
99 Eddie Peterson
100 Martin Swinburne
101 Aaron Walters
102 Wayne Keogh
103 Brendan McAree
104 Philip McDonald

Correct Telephone Number for Entries Secretary

Posted: October 2, 2017 5:46 PM

Please note that the correct telephone number for the Entries Secretary is
085 167 9343 / +353 85 167 9343, and not that shown in the Regulations.

Rally Launch - (Sat) 16 Sep 17

Posted: September 15, 2017 8:13 AM

The launch of the 2017 GSMC Mini Stages Rally will take place at Germaines of Baltinglass on Saturday, 16th September, at 2pm. All are welcome to attend.

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: September 4, 2017 6:42 AM

GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 22 Oct 17 - REGULATIONS
GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 22 Oct 17 - ENTRY FORM

Rally Will Run

Posted: June 19, 2017 6:59 AM

Club Website

Posted: June 19, 2017 6:58 AM

Garda Siochana Motor Club