Tour of the Sperrins - (Sat) 22 May 04

Posted: May 20, 2004 6:06 PM

A five stage loop using Glenshane, Banagher, Moydamlaght and Goles forests is the format before the cars arrive into service at the foot of the Glenshane Pass on the main Belfast to Derry road for much a needed breather from what promises to be a day of battles right through the entire classes. The same loop is completed again before the final two stages of the day, variations on Moydamlaght and Banagher from those used earlier, with the 1st car is due back in Maghera at 6pm outside Walsh's for the celebrations.

In a first for the N.I. Rally Championship, Magherafelt & District Motor Club are running the 1450cc cars and classics at the front of the field. These will be followed by the main rally field lead by current Tarmac Champion, Derek McGarrity. Just what car Derek will drive, will become apparent at scrutiny on Friday evening in the Station Road Business Park Maghera. Cars will be presented for scrutiny from 5.30 onwards. With the most successful driver on the event, three times winner Trevor Moore 'retired' from the sport the door has been left open for a new name on the winner's trophy. Number 2 seed Kevin Lynch comes to the event on the back of his success on the Easter Stages and at last weekends Cork Forestry rally, so Kevin will no doubt be one to keep an eye on. At number three is former N.I. Champion Robin Phillips in the DGM WRC Corolla with rally sponsor Kieran Shaw at 4 in his WRC Subaru. The only non-WRC in the top ten is another N. I. Champion, Denis Biggerstaff with Damien McCann making a welcome return on the notes in the fabulous sounding Metro 6R4.

Group N will be another fantastic battle in the rally. Current leader of the N.I. Junior Championship and class 2 leader John McGlaughlin will be pitted against a vast number of crews, anyone of which are equally capable of taking this class on the rally. In form Johnny McKenna, after his win on The Fivemiletown Rally and second place on the Drumkeragh Forest Rally will be in there along with Seamus Donnelly, out for the 1st time in his recently acquired EVO. The man most likely to show them the way could a Sperrins regular, Raymond Mason who always goes well on this event.

The two-wheel drive battle promises to be as spectacular as ever. Mr Mark 11, Greg McGormack will no doubt be in the thick of the battle along with Andy Magee, Camillus Bradley, Mark Barnett, Alastair Cochrane and James Cassidy. The list goes on with some very competitive drivers throughout the rest of the classes.

After extensive road improvements carried out over the winter months, the 1st instalment of such has left the stages in a manner unknown before. From the fast Glenshane and Banagher tests to the tight and demanding Moydamlaght test the rally is shaping up to be a classic.

Rally programmes are on sale in the following locations; Reception Walsh's Hotel Hancocks Service Station Magherafelt Glenshane Tourist Services Maghera Straw Service Station Draperstown

A text message service will be available for those wishing to keep up to date with what's happening on the event. Anyone wishing to sign up can do so at scrutiny on Friday evening or Walsh's Hotel on Saturday morning cost £2.

• Further details available from www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk

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15/05/04 Northern Ireland Rally Championship returns to Maghera.
By Alan Bolton

Round four of the "Pacenotes" N. Ireland rally Championship returns to Maghera on 22nd May. All the major contenders will be at the start ramp outside Walsh's hotel on Saturday morning at 10.00am. An oversubscribed entry has given the organisers a few headaches with time schedules, but Clerk of the Course, Philip Shaw from Moneymore, has laid out a fantastic loop of stages in the forests around Glenshane and Banagher to entertain both competitors and spectators alike.

With funding from Sperrin Tourism to increase the awareness of the event entries have been received from as far away as Inverness as news has spread of the major road-regrading scheme that has taken place over the winter months. Number one seed and current Irish tarmac champion, Derek McGarrity arrives fresh from his latest win in Killarney to pit his skills against those of newcomer to the sport, Kevin Lynch from Dungiven and the rally sponsor, Kieran Shaw of KBB Doors Ltd, all in Subaru World Rally cars. Indeed the ever-popular Metro 6R4 of ex champion, Denis Biggerstaff is almost the only non-WRC car in the top ten. Craig Bennet brings his fantastic looking ex-works Ford Focus into the woods for the first time, no doubt taking time to learn the car on the first few tests. Ex N Ireland Champion, Robin Phillips makes a welcome return to the series in a Davy Greer prepared WRC Toyota Corolla. Although a little ring rusty perhaps, Robin will be a dark horse for overall honours.

One of the big battles however of the rally will be in the group N production category. All the local competitors are busy preparing their cars for a titanic encounter in the first loose surface round of the series. Championship leader, John McGlaughlin from Cookstown in his Mitsubishi faces a stern challenge from Draperstown's Johnny McKenna, father and son team Dickie and Michael Curran both in their Mitsubishi's, Sean Devine and Pomeroy man Stephen Moore both in Group N Subarus. However, they may all will have to watch out for second placed man, Seamus Donnelly from Ballyronan. Both Donnelly and McKenna have forsaken their trusty Mark 2 Escorts this year, to move into the ultra competitive group N class. All spectators are well advised to - stand well back!

The two-wheel drive class however still oozes talent and top grade drivers. Hot favourite has to be Maghera man Greg McCormick, with his pristine Mark 2 Escort prepared by his brother in law and co-driver Sean Magee. Winner in 2003, Greg knows full well he has to be mindful of Ballymena driver Andy Magee, Alistair Cochrane from Portrush, Mark Barnett from Strabane and Draperstown rally preparation specialist, Camillus Bradley. Camillus is another driver taking his self-prepared Escort to the loose for the first time.

It's all adding up to be a fantastic battle in the Sperrins on Saturday 22nd.

201 JOHN KEATLEY/DEAN BECKETT (RS 1600) C
202 DUNCAN PERCEY/STEVE BIELBY (DATSUN 240Z) C
203 STEPHEN DICKSON/DAVID DICKSON (NOVA) 3
204 JIM AICKEN/TOM WARREN (FIESTA) 3
205 MARTIN LAVERTY/MICHAEL LAVERTY (FORD KA) 3
206 TREVOR GODWIN/IAN HARROP (ROVER MINI) 3
207 ROGER DONNAN/CONOR MURPHY (FORD PUMA) 3
208 RICHARD KEE/MARK HEWITT (NOVA) 3
209 IAN COCHRANE/COLIN HARKNESS (NOVA) 3
210 BRIAN FITZMAURICE/MAURICE McCARTHY (NOVA) 3

1 DEREK McGARRITY/JAMES McKEE (TBA) 8
2 KEVIN LYNCH/FRANCIS REGAN (SUBARU WRC) 8
3 ROBIN PHILLIPS/MARK CROWE (COROLLA) 8
4 KIERAN SHAW/C HENDERSON (SUBARU) 8
5 GLENN ALLEN/JOHN GALLAGHER (ESCORT WRC) 8
6 DENIS BIGGERSTAFF/DAMIEN McCANN (METRO 6R4) 8
7 JAMES GILLEN/JOHN McCAFFERTY (SUBARU) 8
8 KEVIN O'KANE/TBA (SUBARU WRC) 8
9 GARY WHITE/RICHARD CURRY (ESCORT COS) 8
10 BRIAN McCLOSKEY/DAMIEN DUFFIN (SUBARU) 8
11 RAYMOND MASON/PETER MARTIN (EVO 6) 2
12 BRENDAN O'HAGAN/TOMMY SPEERS (ESCORT COS) 8
14 CRAIG BENNETT/RODGER BENNETT (FOCUS WRC) 8
15 SEAN HAVERON/VINCENT FERGUS (SIERRA COS) 8
16 JOHNNY McKENNA/FRANK CONVILLE (MITSUBISHI) 2
17 PHILLIP MORROW/STEPHEN WHITFORD (MITSUBISHI) 2
18 JOHN McGLAUGHLIN/DAVID McELROY (MITSUBISHI) 2
19 SEAN DEVINE/ROBERT McDAID (SUBARU) 2
20 SEAMUS DONNELLY/BILLY McCULLINS (IMPREZA ) 2
21 STEPHEN MOORE/RAYMOND DOYLE (IMPREZA) 2
22 MICHAEL CURRAN/GLENN PATTERSON (MITSUBISHI) 2
23 DICKIE CURRAN/ (MITSUBISHI) 2
24 TERRY McGONIGLE/VICTOR CARRUTHERS (MITSUBISHI) 2
25 JIMMY CHRISTIE/TBA (IMPREZA) 2
26 GREG McCORMICK/SEAN MAGEE (ESCORT) 7
27 ANDY MAGEE/ANDY HAMILTON (ESCORT MK II) 7
28 MARK BARNETT/MARK McMULLEN (ESCORT) 7
29 CAMILLUS BRADLEY/DANNY O'NEILL (ESCORT) 7
30 TIM PEARCEY/MICK JOHNSON (ESCORT MK II`) 7
31 ALISTAIR COCHRANE/PAM NORRIS (ESCORT MK II) 7
32 JAMES CASSIDY/TBA (ESCORT) 7
33 FRANK KELLY/TBA (ESCORT MK II) 7
34 BOB SCANLON/PETER KEOHANE (MITSUBISHI) 2
35 MARTIN DOHERTY/CHARLIE BEATTY (CELICA) 8
36 BRENDAN CONNOR/KENNY BUSTARD (SUBARU) 7
37 STUART IRVINE/JIM KITSON (SUBARU) 8
38 KIERON GRAFFIN/MARK McERLAIN (EVO 6) 2
39 BOB RIDDLES/TBA (ESCORT) 7
40 AIDEN CALDWELL/TBA (ESCORT) 7
41 NIALL DRIVER/JOE SHINNORS (ESCORT) 7
42 BRENDAN CAMPBELL/CIARAN McANESPY (ESCORT MK II) 7
43 BARRY McKENNA/DONARD McCANN (ESCORT) 5
44 BERNARD O'NEILL/EUGENE O'KANE (ESCORT MK II) 6
45 CONOR KELLY/DAVID VANCE (NISSAN) 5
46 MALACHY DONNELLY/WENDY BLACKLEDGE (ESCORT MK 11) 6
47 DERMOT O'HAGAN/MARTIN McGARRITY (PEUGEOT 106) 5
48 DAVID GRAHAM/TONY McDAID (PEUGEOT) 5
49 GERARD McFALL/BRENDAN BOYLE (ESCORT COS) 8
50 JAMES KENNEDY/JAMES McCULLOUGH (ESCORT) 7
51 DREW STEWART/STEVEN PARK (ESCORT MK II) 6
52 VINCENT O'KANE/DERMOT McGILL (SUBARU) 2
53 STEVEN CLEARY/EUGENE CLEARY (ESCORT) 6
54 ADRIAN HETHERINGTON/MICHAEL FALOON (ESCORT MK II) 7
56 SEAN McBRIDE/GERARD HASSON (ESCORT) 6
57 SAMUEL WILSON/ANDREW WILSON (RENAULT) 6
58 JAMES WYLIE/RAYMOND MOORE (ESCORT MK II) 6
59 ROGER PRIESTNALL/JAMES ORTON (PROTON) 5
60 PETER DONNELLY/TBA (ESCORT) 7
61 GEOFFREY NEVIN/PAUL NEVIN (ESCORT MK II) 6
62 MERVYN WILLIAMSON/GEORGE HAMILTON (ESCORT MK 11) 6
63 PAUL McERLEAN/GARETH HYNDMAN (ESCORT ) 6
64 MICHAEL McCOLGAN/TBA (ESCORT) 6
65 P J McDERMOTT/TBA (ESCORT) 7
66 PAUL McKENNA/NIAL McKENNA (COROLLA) 7
67 MARTIN DOWNEY/NOEL DOWNEY (ESCORT MK II) 7
68 ANDREW SIMMS/ANDREW KNOX (ESCORT MK II) 6
69 AARON CUNNINGHAM/RYAN O'CONNOR (ESCORT MK II) 6
70 ANDY HAWTHORNE/MARTIN DUFFY (ASTRA) 7
71 BRIAN BROGAN/TBA (ESCORT) 5
72 DANNY McIVOR/CAOL McIVOR (ESCORT COS) 2
73 DONAGH KELLY/TBA (VW GOLF) 8
74 SEAN FOY/TBA (SAPPHIRE COS) 2
75 MARSHALL KENNEDY/TBA (306) 1
76 GREGORY SHAW/EDDIE DUGAN (ASTRA GSI) 1
77 RAYMOND SCULLION/PATSY CORR (ASTRA) 1
78 ANDREW GAMBLE/MARTIN RICE (ASTRA) 1
79 MARTIN COLLINS/STEPHEN O'NEILL (COROLLA) 1
80 PETER THOMPSON/WILLIAM DONNELL (PEUGEOT 306) 1
81 PHILIP McCONNELL/SINEAD McCAFFERTY (ESCORT) 6
82 BRIAN McFALL/DAMIAN McAULEY (ESCORT COS) 6
83 DAMIEN QUINN/MARTIN DONNELLY (SUBARU) 8
84 AIDEN DONNELLY/SHANE CULLEN (LANCIA) 8
85 WILLIAM CONVERY/MARIAN McPEAKE (ESCORT MK II) 4
86 JIM WILSON/DAVID NEILL (ASTRA ) 1
87 NEIL WALKER/GARY PRICE (SUNBEAM) 4
88 DEREK CROSSAN/STUART McCLEAN (HILLMAN) 4
89 BRIAN McGILLION/MICHAEL McGILLION (SUBARU) 2
90 CONNOR McCLOSKEY/NOREEN McDAID (206) 5
91 GARETH HOARE/RICHARD BEATTIE (PEUGEOT) 5
92 JOHN G HUGHES/PAUL HUGHES () 6
93 RONNIE BOYD/NIGEL BOYD (ESCORT MK II) 6
94 JAMES McKELVEY/GRAHAM PATTERSON (ESCORT MK II) 6
95 WILLIAM O'KANE/MICHAEL McCLOSKEY (SUBARU) 2
96 EMMA McKINSTRY/TBA (PEUGOET) 5
97 JOE McWILLIAMS/MICKY McWILLIAMS (COROLLA) 1
98 JOHN TAGGART/RYAN McCLOSKEY (ESCORT MK II) 6
99 ALAN ATCHESON/TBA (ESCORT) 6
100 DAMIEN HYNDS/IAN HYNDES (SUNBEAM) 4
101 PAUL McKINSTRY/PAUL BURNETT (PEUGEOT 106) 5

R 102 BRIAN MULDOON/DAVY BURNS (MITSUBISHI) 2
R 103 STANLEY BALLENTINE/RONNIE WILSON (MITSUBISHI) 2
R 104 BRICE HETHERINGTON/JUSTIN DILWORTH (CORSA) 4
R 105 NIALL McKENNA/JOHN BROGAN (PEUGEOT) 1
R 106 VIVIAN HAMILL/EDDIE QUINN (ESCORT MK 11) 6
R 107 JASON KELLY/MARTIN BRADY (PEUGEOT 106) 5
R 108 BRIAN HACKETT/TBA (EVO 4) 2
R 109 JUSTIN McGUIGAN/BRIAN CAMPBELL (PEUGEOT 106) 1
R 110 JOHNNY  DORRION/EDDY MCDAID (ESCORT) 5

• www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk

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20/04/04
Preparations are well under way for the The KBB Doors Tour Of The Sperrins, 4th Round of The “Pacenotes” N.I.Rally Championship. With regulations have been published recently, entries are steadily coming in every day. Over thirty have been received to date, with some of the leading drivers in the championship already in. Interest from Scottish and Southern Ireland drivers has never been as high, so along with the usual drivers the event is shaping up to be a classic.

Clerk of The Course Philip Shaw has put a different twist on some of the stages to be used, and along with the road improvements that the club has undertaken should provide everyone with an enjoyable event. The rally will start from the popular Walsh’s Hotel Maghera at 10am on Saturday 22nd May to tackle 12 stages. Five stages will be tackled before service, with these stages being repeated before another service with a final of loop two more stages. Ist car is due back at Walsh’s Hotel for the champagne spraying at approx 6pm.

Scrutiny for the event will be held on Friday 21st in the Station Road Business Park, Maghera from 7pm to 10pm. This will give spectators to chance to see some of the latest WRC cars at close quarters before they tackle the stages that lie ahead. A text message service will be in operation again this year, and any one can sign up for the service in Walshs’ for £2

Post-event prize giving will take place back in Walsh’s Hotel Maghera, where hot food, videos and craic will be in abundant supply. The KBB Doors Tour of the Sperrins will again be the fourth round of the “Pacenotes” N.I. Championship and will be the first opportunity for competitors to bolt on their forest tyres. In this year’s Championship seven out of the nine rounds will count, with a further one point allocated for starting a round. No doubt the Championship will be starting to take shape by this stage and both old and new names to the Championship showing their skills. If you would like to enter the event just log onto our web site or contact our club secretary and a set will be posted out to you. If you’re not a competitor, please feel free to contact our chief marshal and we will be delighted to see you helping out in a very important role at the event.

If you want to help on the event contact the following

Chief Marshall
Tony McHugh +44 7769 587948

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31/03/04
Magherafelt and District Motor Club look forward to seeing you compete on the 2004 KBB Doors Tour Of The Sperrins Rally. The club have spent in the region of £20,000 in the last few months upgrading the road surfaces to be used on this year’s event

• Regulations and Entry Form and further details available from www.magherafeltmotorclub.co.uk