Clonmel Arms Stonethrowers Rally (Tipperary) - 12 Aug 01

Posted: August 15, 2001 5:41 PM

With the rally almost in Frank Meaghers back door, it was a surprise when Harris set the fastest time on the opening stage. Meagher re set the height and diff setting of his Ford Focus but was still beaten by the Donegal Man over SS2.

On SS3 it all went wrong for Meagher, when the throttle cable broke on his Ford Focus, stranding the car on the middle of the road and blocking the following cars. 7 mins later Meagher made it out of the stage, with all other crews getting a time of 9 mins. Eamonn Boland took second, always in Harris' shadow, with David Armstrong putting on a great performance to take third place in the ex-James Cullen Escort Cosworth.

Roy White/Des Cooney dominated Group N, finishing 6th overall, before he returns to Belgium. Jimmy Lambert was fastest 2WD in the beautiful Mk II.
Retirements included Peader Hurson on SS2, who was third after the first stage, Johnny O'Sullivan/Jakes Kelly withdrew the Escort WRC after 4 mins was lost with a broken throttle cable on SS2, George Cullen/Greg Shinnors crashed out in the ex-Ian Greer Celica, and Philip Shaw stopped on SS1. A puncture sidelined Anthony O'Halloran/Sean Morairty 2 stages from home.

Top Ten
 1 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza Sti)........56:35
 2 Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)........57:35
 3 David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort RS Cosworth)....58:51
 4 Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Toyota Celica GT-Four).59:25
 5 Patrick Elliot/Martin Cahill (Subaru Impreza 555)........59:43
 6 Roy White/Des Cooney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)..GpN......59:47
 7 Tim McNulty/Julian Nagle (Subaru Impreza 555)............59.51
 8 Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman (Escort Mk II 2.0).........1:00.00
 9 Kieran Molloy/Brian Bolland (Mit. Lancer Evo 6)..GpN...1:01.09
10 Tom Holton/Andrew Cullen (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD).....1:01.19

Stage Winners

SS1 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza Sti)
SS2 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza Sti)
SS3 cancelled
SS4 Frank Meagher/Michael Meagher (Ford Focus WRC)
SS5 Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza Sti)
    Frank Meagher/Michael Meagher (Ford Focus WRC)
    Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Frank Meagher/Michael Meagher (Ford Focus WRC)

Ford Ka Championship
Ford Ireland Ka Challenge - Round 3
1. John Carroll - 66.01
2. Trevor Harding - 67.50
3. Gerry Keyes - 68.23

• Full Results and Stage Times
• Ka Championsip Results & Report
• Rally News from Stonethrowers
• Photos by Seamus Counihan