GSMC Mini Stages Rally - 23 Oct 16

Posted: November 21, 2016 3:21 AM - 16963 Hits

Round 6 - 2016 Midlands East Rally Championship


Photo: James Burke

Photos

Posted: November 21, 2016 3:21 AM

In Car

Posted: October 31, 2016 6:24 AM

Jonathan Pringle & Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII) SS4


Pete Greene & Conor Comack (Ford Escort MkII) SS3

Reports During the Day:

Posted: October 31, 2016 6:17 AM

1. BARRETT TAKES EARLY LEAD IN BALTINGLASS RALLY

After the opening stage of the Germaines of Baltinglass GSMC Mini Stages Rally, it is the Maynooth crew of Ian Barrett and Eoin O?Flaherty who hold an impressive ten second lead in their Darrian GTR. Their nearest challengers are the Meath-Westmeath pairing of Jonathan Pringle and Alan Keena in a Ford Escort RS, with David Condell and Paul Kelly a further three seconds behind in another Escort.

Three crews are within four seconds of third spot, Jack Newman/Andrew Browne (Escort); late entrant Stephen McCann/Denver Rafferty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7); and local husband and wife pairing Alistair and Debbie Fingleton (Escort).

Non-starters included No. 2 seed Enda O?Brien and David Moffett at No. 5.

Crews are currently at service in Crookstown. Stage 2 of the Garda Siochana Motor Club organised Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, Killelan 1, is due to get underway at 12:22pm.

2. ALL SQUARE IN BALTINGLASS RALLY!

With three of the event?s six stages completed in the Germaines of Baltinglass GSMC Mini Stages Rally, Jonathan Pringle and Ian Barrett are tied for the lead, each on a total time of 20 mins., 55 secs. Pringle, and co-driver Alan Keena, were fastest on stages two and three, carving seven and three seconds respectively off Barrett?s early advantage, to draw level at the head of the leaderboard.

Carlow?s David Condell and Paul Kelly, who had been lying in third place, have reportedly stopped their Escort on stage three, with some mechanical problem.

Jack Newman and Andrew Browne are now in third spot. The Ashbourne crew are pleased with their progress, having recorded a time 17 seconds faster on the second run over Brewel Hill than on the first loop. They are 33 seconds off the leading duo.

Alistair and Debbie Fingleton, from the nearby hamlet of Maganey, are in fourth place, a further fourteen seconds in arrears. They are closely followed by Peter Wilson/ Karen Kelly (+3s), Martin Doherty/Raymond Scott (+2); and Northern visitors, Seamus O?Connell and Sean Magee (+3), in their newly completed 2.5 Escort.

The first competing car is due on Stage 4 of the Garda Siochana Motor Club event, Killelan 2, at 14:33pm.

3. PRINGLE MOVES CLEAR ON GARDA RALLY

Kells driver, Jonathan Pringle, and his Mullingar co-driver, Alan Keena, have moved into the lead of the Garda Siochana Motor Club?s Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally in their Ford Escort RS. Having tied for first place with the Maynooth pairing of Ian Barrett and Eoin O?Flaherty (Darrian) after stage three, they were twelve seconds faster on stage four, Killelan 2, to move clear at the head of the leaderboard.

The Ashbourne crew of Jack Newman and Andrew Browne (Escort) remain in third place, over a minute off the lead. Local couple, Alistair and Debbie Fingleton, took one second off Newman and Browne on stage four, but are still thirteen seconds back in the overall standings.

Stage 5, Brewel Hill 2, is due to start at 15:29.

4. PRINGLE POISED FOR VICTORY IN BALTINGLASS RALLY

Jonathan Pringle and Alan Keena hold a 22 second lead going into the final stage of the Garda Siochana Motor Club?s Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally. The Escort crew set fastest time on the penultimate test, Brewel Hill 3, adding ten seconds to their advantage over closest challengers, Ian Barrett and Eoin O?Flaherty (Darrian).

Jack Newman and Andrew Browne (Escort) are in third place, a minute behind Barrett and O?Flaherty, while Peter Wilson and Karen Kelly (Escort) have overtaken Alistair and Debbie Fingleton (Escort) for fourth, the difference between the crews standing at three seconds.

The Letterkenny crew of Martin Doherty and Raymond Scott hold sixth place, while behind them, there is a great battle in progress between the Honda Civic crews of Darren O?Brien/Michael Hamilton and Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite, who are tied for seventh going into the final test.

The cars are currently being serviced in Crookstown, ahead of the final stage, Killelan 3, which is due to start at 16:42.

5. PRINGLE/KEENA TRIUMPH IN BALTINGLASS RALLY

Jonathan Pringle and Alan Keena have taken a resounding victory in the Garda Siochana Motor Club?s Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally. The Escort crew set fastest time on all bar the first of the six stages, and took the lead after the half way point. The win caps a successful season for Pringle, the Kells driver having also won the Donegal (with Mullingar man Keena) and Imokilly Mini Stages events earlier in the year, as well as the Carlow Mark 2 Challenge.

The Maynooth pairing of Ian Barrett and Eoin O?Flaherty led initially in their Darrian GTR, having taken a ten second advantage on the opening stage. Pringle and Keena, on their first outing in three months, were second fastest, as they bedded in a new suspension on their Escort. They whittled down the gap to the leaders over the following two tests, to draw level after three of the event?s six stages. Thereafter, the Escort crew moved ahead, and remained in command to the finish, the final margin of victory lying at 31 seconds.

Pringle was a delighted winner, and said simply: ?Brilliant rally, brilliant stages, brilliant result. Happy out!?

Ashbourne crew, Jack Newman and Andrew Browne (Escort), took over third place early in the event, following the retirement of David Condell and Paul Kelly, and kept the position to the finish, a minute down on Barrett and O?Flaherty.

The Letterkenny crew of Martin Doherty and Raymond Scott (Escort) gained two places on the leaderboard on the final stage, to finish fourth, just one second ahead of Peter Wilson and Karen Kelly (Escort), with Alistair and Debbie Fingleton (Escort) ending the day in sixth, a further four seconds back .

Honda Civic crews, Darren O?Brien/Michael Hamilton and Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite, fought out the Front Wheel Drive battle, and were tied on time at the end of the penultimate stage. It was Junior runners, Brady and Tuite, who eventually took the honours, and seventh place overall. The Kerry crew of Mike Quinn and Tony Healy moved ahead of O?Brien and Hamilton on the final stage, to take eighth overall.

Results

Posted: October 31, 2016 6:16 AM

1 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII) 40m 31s,
2 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Darrian T90 GTR) 41m 02s,
3 Jack Newman/Andrew Browne (Ford Escort MkII) 42m 08s,
4 Martin Doherty/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII) 42m 19s,
5 Peter Wilson/Karen Kelly (Ford Escort MkII) 42m 20s,
6 Alistair Fingleton/Debbie Fingleton (Ford Escort MkII) 42m 24s,
7 Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite (Honda Civic) 43m 02s,
8 Mike Quinn/Tony Healy (Ford Escort MkII) 43m 10s,
9 Daren O'Brien/Michael Hamilton (Honda Civic) 43m 11s,
10 John McCabe/Niall McGaughran (Honda Civic) 43m 21s.

Leaders After:
SS1 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Darrian T90 GTR)
SS2 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)
& Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Darrian T90 GTR)
SS3-6 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Darrian T90 GTR)
SS2 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)
SS3 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)
SS4 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)
SS5 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)
SS6 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Keena (Ford Escort MkII)

COMPETITORS WELCOME RETURN OF GARDA RALLY

Posted: October 19, 2016 11:26 AM

Following a year’s absence from the motorsport calendar, the Garda Siochana Motor Club’s Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally returns this Sunday, October 23rd, and the efforts of the club have been rewarded with an entry of over 100 crews. The quality field will be lead away by the No. 1 seed, Jonathan Pringle, in his Ford Escort RS, who has been on a rich vein of form over recent months. The Cavan driver took his first overall victory on the Donegal Mini Stages Rally in the Spring, and later followed it up with another win on the Imokilly Mini Stages in Cork. He was also triumphant on the Carlow Mark 2 Challenge this year. Pringle will be guided by his regular co-driver, Alan Keena.

The second seed will be Enda O’Brien, also in an Escort. He and co-driver, John Butler, led the early stages of the Wexford Rally last month, and eventually finished second overall, behind a WRC Subaru. O’Brien, from Kilkenny, also won the Modified category of the Abbeyleix Rally at the start of the season.

Another Escort crew, David Condell and Paul Kelly are at No. 3. Condell, from Carlow, was runner up to Pringle on the Mark 2 Challenge, the difference between them just nine seconds at the end of the rally, and a victory in Baltinglass would go some way to avenging that defeat.

The remainder of the top ten is equally full of strong contenders. Jack Newman (Escort) finished fourth overall in Baltinglass last year, and will be guided this time out by Andrew Brown. David Moffett, from Ballinode, Co. Monaghan, won the Junior section of the 2014 Donegal International Rally, and took the Border Championship the same year. He was a Billy Coleman Award nominee in 2015, and is a brother of Richard Moffett, winner of the 2013 GSMC Rally. David has yet to select a co-driver for Sunday.

The Kerry crew of Mike Quinn and Tony Healy (Escort), seeded at number six, have finished in the top three in each of the last two Baltinglass rallies.

The Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally 2016 will be the sixth and final round of the LoughranSigns.com Midlands East Rally Championship, in which the Laois father and son crew of Joe and Eddie Moffitt in their Class 1 Honda Civic currently hold the advantage. Their closest challengers are James Cassidy and Declan Smith in a Class 12 Ford Escort.

The first stage of the rally will get under way shortly after 11am on Sunday morning. The route will consist of three loops of the Brewel Hill and Killelan tests in east Kildare. Service, after stages 1, 3 and 5, will be based in Crookstown village. The winning crew is due at the Finish in Baltinglass at 5.30pm.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 18, 2016 10:05 AM

1 Jonathan Pringle/Alan Kenna (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
2 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
3 David Condell/Paul kelly (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
4 Jack Newman/Andrew Browne (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
5 David Moffett/TBA (Toyota Starlet) [13]
6 Mike Quinn/Tony Healy (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
7 Alister Fingleton/Debbie Fingleton (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
8 Marty Toner/Sharon Clarke (Talbot Sunbeam) [14]
9 Seamus O'Connell/Sean Magee (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
10 Sam Smyth/Alan Smyth (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
11 Shane Cullen/Tommy Cuddihy (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
12 Peter Wilson/Karen Kelly (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
14 Maurice Moffett/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet) [14]
15 Martin Doherty/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
16 Seamus Doyle /Noel Coogan (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
17 Jason Roche/John McCarthy (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
18 Ryan Loughrin/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
19 Richard Harney/Brian Harney (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
19 Gary Reidy/Diarmuid Falvey (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
20 James Bradley/Maria Kehoe (Honda Civic) [11F]
21 Gary McNamee/Dean O'Sullivan (Honda Civic) [11F]
22 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
23 Liam Bowhan/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet) [13]
24 Graham Kelly/Dean Kelly (Ford Fiesta Rwd) [14]
25 Leo Doyle/Gordon Manley (Ford Escort MkI) [13]
26 James Cassidy/Declan Smith (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
27 Johno Doogan/Ciaran Marron (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
28 Niall Braniff/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) []
29 Martin Lordan/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [9]
30 Vincent McAnee/J.P McAree (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
31 Joe Kiernan/Darragh Smith (Renault Clio) [13]
32 Barry Morris/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) []
33 Darren O'Brien /Michael Hamilton (TBA) [TBA]
34 Russel Dagg/Trevor Culbert (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
35 Colin O'Rourke/Tommy Rooney (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
36 Kevin Cole/Matthew Kirwan (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
37 Gerry Kelly/Mark McDermott (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
38 Mark Nongle/Brian Miller (Subaru Impreza WRX) [20]
39 John Badge/JP Ruth (Peugeot 306) [3]
40 Pa Bellew/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
41 Shane Buckley/Lorcan Moore (Honda Civic) [13]
42 Jason O'Brien/David O'Brien (Honda Civic) [11F]
43 John McCabe/Niall McGaughran (Honda Civic) [11F]
44 Enda Geraty/Heather Wende (Honda Civic) [11]
45 John McCabe/Stephen McCabe (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
46 Noel O'Brien /Donal Sinclair (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
47 Sean Doyle/Brian Halligan (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
48 Corey Eves/David McGuiness (Toyota Corolla ) [11R]
49 Donal Crossan/Paurick Doogan (Ford Escort) []
50 Shane Hade/Marita Tobin (Toyota Corolla ) [11R]
51 Philip McDonald /Sean Corcoran (Honda Civic) [11F]
52 Mark Hayden/Peter Ryan (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
53 David Hughes/Pat Knox (Honda Civic) [16]
54 Seamus Heaney/Michael Culleton (Honda Civic) [11F]
55 Declan Byrne/Gary Deegan (Honda Civic) [2]
56 Colum Browne/Paddy King (Honda Civic) [11F]
57 Andy Nash/Ray Nash (Honda Civic) [11F]
58 Ed Colton/Claire O Mahony (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) []
59 James McCann/Jenna McCann (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [15]
60 David Forde/T.J Obrien (Subaru Impreza) [15]
61 John Carroll/Eugene Mcgrath (Honda Civic) [2]
62 Francis Kelly/Brian Hutton (Vauxhaul Nova) [10]
63 Ciaran Cloke/David Creane (Peugeot 306) [7]
64 Stephon O'Connor/Mark Oconnor (Corolla) [14]
65 Brian Walker/Paul Walker (Ford Puma) [11F]
66 David Keane/Damien Burke (Vauxhaul Nova) [10]
67 James Sunderland/John Bracken (Honda Civic) [1]
68 Patrick Delaney/Stephen Delaney (Mk II) [12]
69 John Pettit/Michael Coleman (MK II) [11R]
70 Evan Downey/TBA (Toyota Corrolla) [11R]
71 Tom Holton/Stephen Reynolds (Honda Civic) [16]
72 Brian Brady/Leonard Tuite (Honda Civic) [16]
73 Adam Faulkner/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]
74 Sean Dunphy/Sean Bates (Honda Civic) [1]
75 Brendan Furlong/Brendan Kearns (Peugeot 205 ) [10]
76 Richie Dalton/Majella Wickham (Subaru Impreza) [4]
77 Don Keatins/TBA (Ford Escort) []
78 Dominic loughran/Lee Annett (MKII) [12]
79 Brian Cooney/Warren Tigh (Mk II) [12]
80 John Forde/Eamonn Bates (Citroen C2) [10]
81 Thomas Walsh/TBA (Peugeot 205) [10]
82 Mark Allen/Dermot Doran (Honda Civic) [11F]
83 Colette Rooney/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
84 Steven Brennan/John Rooney (Honda Civic) [2]
85 Andy Purser/Brian Grant (Peugeot 205) [10]
86 Joe Moffitt/Eddie Moffitt (Honda Civic) [1]
87 John Haues/Andy Huaes (Honda Civic) [3]
88 Ned Kelly/TBA (Pugeot 106) [6]
89 Wayne O'Reilly/Ciaran Grall (Mk II) [12]
90 Padraig Gorman/Shane Gorman (Toyota Starlet) [10]
91 Robert Leech/Conor Flynn (Proton Satria) [2]
92 Martin Dunbar/Paul Furlong (Mk I) [10]
93 Paul Driver/Barry Driver (Ford ) [10]
94 John Barry/Liam Fitzgerald (Mini Cooper) [9]
95 Dermot Hassett/Niamh Power (Chevrolet Kalos) [9]
96 Eoin Kenny /Bobby Bouher (Austin Mini) [9]
97 Paul Moore/Martina Moore (Peugeot 106) [10]
98 Joesph McDonald/Anthony Kavanagh (Peugeot 206) [11F]
99 Brendan Keenan/Sean Lynch (MK II) [11R]
100 Damien Driver/Anthony Driver (Opel Corsa) [11F]
101 Laura Mulrooney/Mike Murphy (Peugeot 205) [10]
102 Darragh Mullen/Derek Lynch (Citroen C2) [11F]
103 Niamh Driver/Luke Dillon (Suziki Swift) [9]
104 William Ashton/Riccardo Pellegrini (Toyota Corolla) []

Loughran Signs Midlands East Rally Championship 2016 - Joe & Eddie on Track for Championship Win.

Posted: October 14, 2016 4:45 AM

Last years Loughran Signs Midlands East Rally Championship Runner Up crew of Joe & Eddie Moffitt are on course to lift the Ian O’Flynn Memorial Cup & Joe Lane Perpetual Cup respectively for an outright win in this years series. The popular Raheen, Portlaoise based Father & Son crew look set to win this prestigious championship driving there usual trusty Honda Civic but James Cassidy & Declan Smith may even still clinch it if Joe & Eddie should falter. James & Declan are previous championship winners. Another Laois based crew are lying 3rd Overall they are Clonaslee’s Seamus Heaney & Michael Culleton.

Class leaders are Darragh Kenny/David Gibbons, Jenna McCann/Gary Deegan, Neil & Gerard Tohill, Anthony Masterson/Tom Clinton, David Keane/Eamon Burke, Joe Fay/Derek Lynch, Philip McDonald/Shane Corcoran, Kevin Cole/Matthew Kirwin, Alaistair & Debbie Fingleton, Chris Armstrong/Chris Melly, David Forde/Kieran Reid, David Leonard/Niall Burns & Tom Holton/Stephen Reynolds.

Entries Received - 02/10/16

Posted: September 26, 2016 11:39 AM

Damien Driver
George Condell
John McCabe
Stephon O'Connor
Don Keatins
John Forde
Paul Driver
Brian Brady
Tom Holton
Johno Doogan
Laura Mulrooney
Thomas Walsh
Kevin Cole
Joesph McDonald
David Forde
Francis Kelly
Brian Cooney
Colette Rooney
Andy Purser
Dermot Hassett
Niamh Driver
Marty Toner
Vincent McAnee
Trevor Keeble
Eoin Kenny 
Paul Moore
Colin O'Rourke
Noel O'Brien 
Brian Walker
Chris Armstrong
Gary Kiernan
Padraig Gorman
Mark Allen
Leo Doyle
Alister Fingleton
Seamus Doyle 
David Hughes
James McCann
Pa Bellew
Mark Hayden
Ciaran Cloke
Jonathan Pringle
Liam Bowhan
Patrick Delany
Stephen McCann
Graham Kelly
Richie Dalton
Wayne O'Reilly
Niall Braniff
Brendan Furlong
John Pettit
Maurie Moffett
Jason Roche
Joe Moffitt
Seamus Heaney
Ian Barrett
Enda O'Brien
Martin Dunbar
Joe Kiernan
John Badge
Declan Byrne
Evan Downey
James Bradley
Donal Crossan
Shane Hade

GARDA SÍOCHÁNA MOTOR CLUB RALLY RETURNS TO MOTORSPORT CALENDAR

Posted: August 6, 2016 3:24 AM

The Garda Síochána Motor Club (GSMC) is pleased to announce that its popular Mini Stages Rally will return to the motorsport calendar on Sunday, October 23rd, after a year’s absence. The event will be based at, and sponsored by, Germaines Hotel in Baltinglass, and will be the final round of the Loughransigns.com Midlands East Rally Championship.

The 2016 edition of the GSMC Mini Stages Rally sees Dave Lynch return to helm as Clerk of the Course, and he is currently finalising the route, which will consist of three loops of two stages in counties Wicklow and Kildare.

Regulations and Entry Forms will be available shortly.

Club Website

Posted: August 6, 2016 3:24 AM

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