2004 Border Rally Championship

Posted: October 18, 2004 5:24 PM

Entering round six with four maximum scores under their belt a championship win looked relatively secure, but as class 10 leader , David Leonard , had three maximum’s in the bag entering Donegal , a further one being a definite possibility, putting them on matched scores from the four counting rounds , it would then require that the remaining dropped scores come into play to determine an outcome. As Leonard had secured a seven points on his home event in Sligo and should he have another class win in Donegal ,it was necessary for the class 8 leaders Maguire and Mc Loughlin to finish within the top three to hold the championship lead.

As the days events unfolded the advantage was going Leonards way , with National championship leader ,Maguire slipping back to fourth place , confidence building after his ‘offs’ in Waterford and Clonmel, but following the succession of time lost by Harrison by a series of incidents certainly helped his campaign. Contrasting this with some serious times by Cahal Arthurs , Maguire was not having it easy but never failed to plug away, eventually coming home with a five second margin on the Hyunda at the finish ramp to take second overall , behind Paul Harris ,which was also helped in no small way by the demise of pace setter Tim Mc Nulty who retired on the final stage.

The mirrored second place in class 8 by Monaghan’s Niall Maguire and the ‘adopted’ Mayo man Paul Mc Loughlin secured the duo 9 points in the Border Championship, enough to take overall title in the Quinn Group Championship for 2004.Even though the Sligo man David Leonard in a Class 10 Nova did claim another class win ,his dropped score of 7 points achieved at the previous round was only enough to award him second overall in the clubman’s championship. Class 6 leaders Shane Feely and Jim Mc Grath had for the second year dominance in their Peugeot 106 awarding Shane third overall on the drivers table while Jim was placed second on the Navigator table . Jason Mc Kenna is poised to take third in the Navigator league calling the notes with Maurice Moffitt but also gaining valuable points teaming up with Enda Keenan on the Newry round.

With minimal competitive upheavals on class leads on the final round of the championship , it was though the opportunity of those on the main field to capitalize on the demand for places on the ever popular Donegal event and gain valuable points.

This was not the case though in class 1 as Trevor Graham and Niall Mc Calliog both dominated their class , dropping only two rounds to emerge with a comfortable 14 points margin on the driver table and twenty points on the navigator table .For Peter Wilson and Chris Farrelly , a second in class at the concluding round was adequate to maintain the class lead as their nearest rivals failed to make it into the main field, following a year which saw numerous changes in the leaderboard .

Longfords John Kelly took full advantage of the absence from Donegal of Thomas O Rourke to pick up seven points , enough to grasp the class three award in the championship even though John Mc Grath did maintain his place for the efforts of the Wexford crew all year.

In Group N Willie Fannin with a second class place in the ‘Harvest’ not alone confirmed his class 4 win in the Border series but also consolidated his position in the National as second place Adrian Quinn’s navigator Alan Moran will pick up the navigator title.

It was Andrew Mullen and Elaine Doherty who were to emerge out on top after the six round championship in class 6 as fellow Sligo crew Peter Devaney and Stella Cunningham failed to make it off reserve inhibiting any competitive rivalry on the closing round.Boyle crew Shane Feely and Jim Mc Grath once again shone in class 6 reflected in Shane being placed Third Overall while Jim picked off a second Overall as Navigator.

Donegal had no impact on class 7 as both Ian Mc Donnell and John Paul Ruth had joint scores of 33 points in advance of the final round similar to that of navigator Tom O Dwyer.

Keith Mc Fadden and Pat Mc Sharry in the class 9 Nova ‘off in Donegal was to have no impact on their Border campaign as the approached round six with a comfortable margin, but with Ken O Neill taking the class will possible put their National scene at risk. Picking up third on their home event for Bernard Mc Ginley and Raymond Scott was just enough to regain their class lead following two consecutive wins at the opening rounds earlier this year and with Kieran Mc Carra having a reserve placing on round six , the defense of his lead was not possible.

Trevor Lancashire and Noel Hall ,2003 class winners, once again top the modified 2 litre class but with pressure coming from Arthur Kierans and Brian Armstrong at every round this year , Donegal was to be the determining factor.

In the 2 litre 16 valve category , Pat Donegan and Damien Garvey , winning the class in Cavan and Newry converted into valuable points to top the table , while both Domnic Mc Laughlin and Mac Mc Kenna had a disappointing season.The entertainment of the season would have to have been in Class 14 between fellow Monaghan men , 2003 Overall title holder Enda Keenan and the Starlet of Maurice Moffatt , the closest of margins separating them on occasions, 13 seconds in Monaghan , 10 seconds in Sligo, with Jason Mc Kenna sharing the experience to finish third overall in the navigator table.

In the four wheel drive class 15 David Mc Nulty lead right from the start of season in Mayo .

CLASS AWARDS

Class 1 Trevor Graham 36 Niall Mc Calliog 36
Class 2 Peter Wilson 35 Chris Farrelly 28
Class 3 John Kelly 30 John Mc Grath 25
Class 4 Willie Fannin 37 Alan Moran 25
Class 5 Andrew Mullen 30 Elaine Doherty 30
Class 6 Eamon Mc Elvaney 22 Lorraine Mc Mahon 17
Class 7 Ian Mc Donnell 33 Tom O Dwyer 33 
Class 8 Kevin Lynch 26 Francis Regan 26
Class 9 Keith Mc Fadden 33 Pat Mc Sharry 25
Class 10 Adrian Foley 32 Patrick Herity 37
Class 11 Bernard Mc Ginley 29 Raymond Scott 29
Class 12 Trevor Lancashire 38 Noel Hall 38
Class 13 Pat Donegan 27 Damien Garvey 27
Class 14 Enda Kennan 36 Sean Moriarty 26
Class 15 David Mc Nulty 35 Keefe Kilcoyne 35

• Donegal Harvest Rally 9th October
• Championship Positions in Excel Format

 
Class 1 Trevor Graham   27    Niall Mc Calliog  27
Class 2  Peter Wilson   26   Fergal Ferron  24
Class 3  Thomas O Rourke  25   John Mc Grath  25
Class 4 Willie Fannin   28   Richard Price  19
Class 5 Peter Devaney  28   Stella Cunningham 22
Elaine Doherty  22
Class 6 Shane Feely  30   Jim Mc Grath  30
Class 7  John Paul Ruth  33   Tom O Dwyer  33
  Ian Mc Donnell  33   
Class 8 Niall Maguire   40   Paul Mc Loughlin  40
Class 9 Keith Mc Fadden   33   Pat Mc Sharry  25
Class 10 David Leonard    37   Patrick Herity  37
Class 11 Kieran Mc Carra      25   James O Reilly  26
Class 12  Trevor Lancashire   38   Noel Hall   38
Class 13  Pat Donegan   27   Damien Garvey  26
Class 14 Enda Kennan   36   Jason Mc Kenna  35
Class 15 David Mc Nulty   35   Keefe Kilcoyne    35

Class 1 Trevor Graham   17    Niall Mc Calliog  17
Class 2  Eddie Donaghy   20   Charlie Donaghy  20
Class 3  Thomas O Rourke  17   John Mc Grath  17
Class 4 Willie Fannin   19   Richard Price  19
Class 5 Andrew Mullen  16   Elaine Doherty  16
Class 6 Shane Feely   20   Jim Mc Grath  20
Class 7  John Paul Ruth  25   Brian Maher   25
Class 8 Niall Maguire   30   Paul Mc Loughlin  30
Class 9 Keith Mc Fadden   26   Pat Mc Sharry  18
Class 10 David Leonard    21   Patrick Herity  21
Class 11 Bernard Mc Ginley  21   Raymond Scott  21
Class 12  Trevor Lancashire   28   Noel Hall   28
Class 13  Mac Mc Kenna   19   John Loughran  19
Class 14 Maurice Moffitt   19   Jason Mc Kenna  19
Class 15 David Mc Nulty   26   Keefe Kilcoyne 26