Skibbereen Restricted Single Stage - 25 Apr 04

Posted: May 19, 2004 5:41 PM

The rally based around the town of Rosscarbery got under way with number one seed Tom Murphy taking the lead over the ten-mile test, his Escort posting a time of 10:54. Kiely was well in touch with a time of 10:56 despite suffering a spin. Next up was John Somers in his rapid 1600 Vauxhall Nova, his time of 11:05 surprising a lot of the more powerful machinery. Number 4 seed Michael Curran and car number 5 Willie Power both stopped the clocks on a time of 11:10. Willie finding his Darrian nervous under braking, causing him to overshoot near Reenascrena village. James Stafford was also flying in his Nova finishing on a time of 11:16. Willie Whitty was quickest of the class 12 machinery on 11:18. Local man Fintan Canty next quickest on 11:20 in his class 10 Escort. Tim O’Donovan and Killarney’s Adrian Randles both had times of 11:25, while Clonakilty pairing of Willie McCarthy and Humphrey Deegan were just outside the top ten.

Casualties of the first run included local hopefuls Diarmuid Keohane/Pamela Delaney, their Escort sideline early in the stage with axle problems. Another local to end his run early was Fachtna McCarthy; he struck a chicane in his hired Escort resulting in a bent compression strut

After a 40-minute service in Drinagh village the action recommenced, this time it was reversal of fortune for Tommy Kiely, he went quickest with a time of 10:49 while Murphy spun and droped 13 seconds to the new leader. Willie Power still suffering with brake maladies came in at 11:04, now holding third. A further twelve seconds back was Willie Whitty having stopped the clocks on a time of 11:08. Adrian Randles move up to fifth with Tim O’Donovan now occupying sixth. Michael Curran was demoted to seventh after the second run, his engine developing a misfire. Fintan Canty, Sean Ryan and Willie McCarthy completed the top ten. John Somers great run ended when he pulled a drive shaft on a rough section at the start of the stage.

After the penultimate run, just 14 seconds separated fifth and tenth overall. At the top it looked like Tommy Kiely had the edge over the similar machine of Tom Murphy with eleven seconds the margin. Willie Power a further 29 in arrears. Drama struck on the road section to the final stage when Tom Murphys Escort retired with axle problems. Kiely went on to set a time of 10:55 on the final stage giving him a winning margin of 23 seconds from Willie Power who set joint fastest time of the day (10:49) on the final run, promoting him to second overall. Tim O’Donovan was rewarded with third overall; he went hard on the final stage and closed the gap on Willie Whitty who was slowed when his throttle stuck open. The two crews tied on overall time, O’Donovan having gone fastest on the last stage, won the tiebreak. Fintan Canty finished fifth and first in class 10. Michael Curran crashed his Escort on the last stage, barrel rolling into a field, thankfully the crew were unhurt, and miraculously the car was only slightly damaged. Sean Ryan moved up to sixth overall and first in class 13 on the final run. Adrian Randles followed him home in seventh. Willie McCarthy was 8th; Jason Costello and Charlie McEnery were 9th in their 1600 Sunbeam triumphing also in class 11. Keith Power rounded off the top ten in his Ford Puma Kit Car and sealed first in class 6 with a comfortable lead.

A lot of novices competed in their first event over the weekend; the best of the new comers were PJ O’Donovan and Patrick O’Farrell in their Toyota Corolla finishing a fine 31st overall. Spare a thought for newcomer Keith McElhiney in his class 3 Civic who competed on his first event over the weekend. Keith finished a fine 40th overall despite incurring two and a half minutes of road penalties. His stage times put him a very impressive 13th overall on his first ever rally. Watch this space!

1 Tommy Kiely/Michael Cuddihy (Escort) 00:32:40
2 Willie Power/Adrian Deasy (Darrian) 00:33:03
3 Sm Tim O'Donovan/Sean Hayde (Corolla) 00:34:02
4 Willie Whitty/Johnny Whitty (Escort) 00:34:02
5 Fintan Canty/Gerard McCarthy (Escort) 00:34:04
6 Sean Ryan/Michael Maher (Peugeot) 00:34:05
7 Adrian/Aileen Randles (Escort) 00:34:06
8 William McCarthy/Humphrey Deegan (Escort) 00:34:31
9 Jason Costello/Charlie McEnery (Sunbeam) 00:34:42
10 Keith Power/Fergal Talbot (Puma) 00:35:03

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