Midland and Westmeath Navigation Trial - 11-12 Feb 12

Report: 3 in a row for Johnston/Kelly in Midland Navigation Trials

Posted: February 20, 2012 11:21 AM

Midland Motor Club crews take the top 1 and 2 places in the Midland Motor Club Night Navigation Trial which took place on February the 11th/12th last. The Venue was Drumlish Community Centre, Drumlish, Co. Longford. The event was Round 4 of the Squealing Pig Border Navigation Trial Championship and also the 2nd Round of the Johnston?s Toy Town Midland Motor Club Championship. Competitors were greeted with a warm welcome in Drumlish on what was a foggy night, which made visibility very tough and left the tough lanes and farm yards harder found than usual. Sam Johnston and Chris Kelly were best on the night taking first place with 67 marks followed by local father and son team Packie Duffy & Colin Duffy with 84 marks and Andrew Mackeral and Liam Higgins in third on 112 marks. With the top three on high marks like this it showed that clerk of the course Michael Reilly picked a tough route even for the top contenders. Midland Motor Club crews did well overall with Jeremy o Connor and Garry Hughes taking 2nd in the beginner?s class and Sean Mullervy and first time navigator Seamus Mc Tigue finishing a fine 3rd in the beginner?s class. Darren Quinn & Nigel McCloughry received the best Midland Motor Club Crew award for their performance. The event unfolded over the thirty five time points on the night. Father and son team Packie and Colin Duffy were in flying form and leading the event up until time point 26 from local lads Chris Kelly and Sam Johnston. The top two runners were followed closely by Andy Mackarel and LiamHiggins at this stage. The night then turned for the local crews as Duffys missed time point 26 and 27 and VIA 5 from getting stuck in one of many tough lanes used on the night. This put Johnston and Kelly in pole position and held this position until the finish, at the end of the night however only a few marks separated the two local crews. Mackeral and Higgins had a steady run all night and finished a credible 3rd overall on the night with Monoghan crew Michael Carbin and Evin Hughes 4th and another father and son team Arthur and Macartan Kierans a fine 5th overall. The top 5 crews all driving Subaru imprezza estates. Night Navigation Trials are now becoming popular and Midland Motor Club had many new crews to add to the field. Further Navigation classes will be available to encourage this trend. Clerk of the Course in charge of running this event was local Drumlish man Michael Reilly assisted by Shane Dalton. They put together a fantastic route and an event that tested the navigation skills and driving of every competitor and the fog just helped to make this event so tough for all involved. Each crew had to plot out the route in Drumlish Community Centre on Ordnance Survey maps, then, navigate the route adhering to a strict average speed limit of 48kph for the entire event. Along the route, there were manned time controls where they must check in. Penalties can be gained for various reasons such as arriving early or late at the controls, or for approaching from or departing in the wrong direction. The purpose of the exercise was to complete the entire route, maintaining the average speed and picking up as few penalties as possible. All rules and regulations are in accordance with Motorsport Ireland. Michael would like to thank the marshals and officials who helped on the night, Monaghan Motor Club for providing results also special thank you to the old village inn who looked after everyone with food, tea and coffee on the night Thank you to the Gardaí and the residents along and surrounding the route for their co-operation and who came out in support and welcomed this event, and a special thank you to all the land owners and farm yard owners who gave permission to use their property and quarry owner Michael blessington of Rhyne Rock for the use of his quarry on the night, only for these people the event would not have been possible or as tough of an event. Full results of the event as well as more prize giving photos can be viewed on www.midlandmotorclub.com.

After round 2 of the Johnston?s toy town club championship Nigel Mc Cloughery leads on 48 points from Colin Duffy and Sam Johnston tied on 46 with Darren Quinn on 44 points and Chris Kelly on 42 points, going into round 3 which is the midland Moto stages rally on Sunday the 25th of march. HQ for this year?s rally is the Abbey Hotel Roscommon and stages located in the four mile house strokestown area. The launch for this year?s event will take place on Sunday the 4th of March at 3pm in the Abbey Hotel Roscommon. All welcome and there will be rally cars and speakers on the day. A must for all Rally enthusiasts.

Results

Posted: February 15, 2012 5:04 PM

1 Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston (Subaru Impreza) 67 marks,
2 Pakie Duffy/Colin Duffy (Subaru Impreza) 84m,
3 Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Subaru Impreza) 112m,
4 Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 164m,
5 Arthur Kierans/Macartan Kierans (Subaru Impreza) 171m,
6 Ciaran McElroy/Damien McCabe (Subaru Impreza) 179m,
7 Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Subaru Impreza) 195m,
8 Stephen Wright/Muireann Hayes (Subaru Impreza) 201m,
9 Garreth Beagan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 279m,
10 Damien Treanor/Jonathan McGovern (Subaru Impreza) 280m,
11 Karl Reid/Ciaran Geaney (Subaru Legacy) 285m,
12 Francis Keenan/Martin Swinburne (Subaru Impreza) 288m.

Semi-experts:
1 Pakie Duffy/Colin Duffy,
2 Damien Treanor/Jonathan McGovern,
3 Sean McKenna/Garry Farrelly (Subaru Impreza) 313m.

Novices:
1 Arthur Kierans/Macartan Kierans,
2 Ciaran McElroy/Damien McCabe,
3 Stephen Wright/Muireann Hayes.

Beginners:
1 Gerry McIntyre/Aaron McIntyre (Subaru Impreza) 402m,
2 Jeremy O’Connor/Garry Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 476m,
3 Sean Mullervy/Seamus McTigue (Toyota Rav4) 511m.

Midland and Westmeath Navigation Trial - 11-12 Feb 12 - FULL RESULTS

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: January 23, 2012 10:04 PM

Available at:

Midland Motorclub

Details

Posted: January 22, 2012 1:05 AM

Preparation for the Midland Motor Club final event for 2012 the Night Navigation Trial has been underway and is set to run 11th/12th of February next. Clerk of the course Mehall Reilly and Assistant Clerk of the Course Shane Dalton have been planning the 80 mile (approx) route the competitors will take.

The Venue for the event is the community centre in Drumlish Co. Longford where competitors will be given their first route card at 18:30. and second route card at 19.30. Prize giving afterwards will be in the old village inn Drumlish.

This is Round 4 of the Squealing Pig Border Navigation Trial Championship and a reserve Round of the National Navigation Trial Championship. This is also the 2nd Round of the Johnston’s Toy Town Midland Motorclub Club Championship. The Club Championship has created a buzz around the club as the championship has become very popular after is second year of revival by the members.

The Club Championship has 13 competitors signed up so far after round 1 with Nigel Mc Cloughery 1rst and Colin Duffy 2nd and Darren Quinn 3rd after round 1. Its still not late to sign up for the johnstons toy town club championship which is set to be another tight competition for the title. Good luck to the club members, officials, marshals and all visiting competitors. Thank you for your support. We look forward to a great event.
Regs available shortly from

Midland Motorclub

Club Website

Posted: January 22, 2012 1:03 AM

Midland Motorclub