Sligo (Connacht) Restricted Single Stage - 30 Jan 05

Posted: February 2, 2005 12:45 PM

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205 Challenge - Colfer Takes 2nd Win
With three different winners from the first three rounds of the inaugural Rory Galligan Rally Irish 205 Challenge, round four, the Sligo Single Stage (30th January 2005), looked set to be another close fought battle.

Twelve crews crossed the start ramp on a misty Sunday morning and made their way to the ten-mile stage run along the Sligo coast. Just four seconds separated the top three on the opening stage with James Stafford/Niall Whitty coming out in front, Graeme Colfer/Jack Newman in second and Adrian McElhinney/Stephen Furey third. However stage one saw the first retirement of the day when William Mavitty/Martin McGarrity crashed out.

Crews remarked about how slippery the conditions were on the opening run but these seemed to improve for stage two. Graeme Colfer/Jack Newman took twenty-seconds off their previous stage time and snatched the lead, with Adrian McElhinney/Stephen Furey now second and in true 205 Challenge tradition Seamus O’Grady/Oonagh Roche and James Stafford/Niall Whitty tied for third place. Martin Ewing/James Ewing and Adrian McBride/Ciaran McAnespy rounded off the top five.

It was all to play for on the final stage with four crews battling for the top spot. The stage dried out even further and following the ten-mile run it was Graeme Colfer/Jack Newman who came out on top. Round three winner Adrian McElhinney/Stephen Furey took second place and Seamus O'Grady/Oonagh Roche were in third. Unfortunately James Stafford/Niall Whitty retired on the final stage with a clutch problem, promoting Martin Ewing/James Ewing to fourth place and Adrian McBride/Ciaran McAnespy to fifth place.

With his second win of the year Graeme Colfer now extends his championship lead to fifteen points.

The next round of the championship will be a new challenge for all the crews when they move onto gravel for the Tolputt Keeton Winter Stages in Sweet Lamb, Wales.

205 Challenge Results

1. Graeme Colfer/Jack Newman 32:28.0
2. Adrian McElhinney/Stephen Furey +0.25.0
3. Seamus O'Grady/Oonagh Roche +0:41.0
4. Martin Ewing/James Ewing +1:14.0
5. Adrian McBride/Ciaran McAnespy +1:33.0
6. Michael Taylor/Colin Beck +1:38.0
7. Tommie Rafferty/Brian Purcell +1:39.0
8. Emma Britton/Paula Nooney +2:09.0
9. Stephen McGee/Joe Timoney +3:11.0
10. David Kidd/David McDowell +7:11.0

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Billy Coleman Award Winner Gets 2005 Off To A Winning Start
Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Winner Eamon McElvaney kicked off his 2005 season with an outstanding 3rd overall in the Sligo Single Stage (30th January 2005).

The Sligo Single Stage, which was run along the Atlantic coast, began in damp, misty conditions and despite a treacherously slippery opening stage the young Monaghan driver set a blistering stage time and was lying 5th overall after the first run.

A blockage on the second stage meant that many of the top crews were given a stage interrupted time and so it was all to play for on the final of the three stages.

A mist descended as the Peugeot 106 driver began the stage three, however he did not let this break his concentration and set another fantastic stage to snatch 3rd place overall all by just 1 second. This result also gave Eamon Class 6 victory by almost a minute.

“I am absolutely over the moon, 3rd place overall is my best ever finish and to take the class win just added to the day” commented Eamon.

Eamon now hopes to compete in the Birr Multi Stage Rally on 27th February.

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Rally Results

1 Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCafferty (Corolla) 29m 33s
2 David Leonard/Eamonn Ferry (Nova) 30m 05s
3 Eamon McElvaney/Alan Keena (Peugeot 106) 30m 16s
4 Stuart Darcy/Declan Gallagher (Civic) 30m 17s
5 James Browne/Terence McGee (Escort) 31m 04s
6 Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Escort) 31m 05 
7 Tomas O’Rourke/John McGrath (Astra) 31m 06s 
8 Shane Feely/Jim McGrath (Peugeot 106) 31m 11s
9 Raymond Conlon/James O’Reilly (Corolla) 31m 19s
10 Mervyn Deane/Derek Deane (Escort) 31m 56s

Full Results and Times on: www.connachtmotorclub.com

• Irish 205 Challenge

Photos: James Burke www.jamesburke.biz
Photos: PEESPEED PHOTOGRAPHY www.peespeed.cjb.net

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PRE EVENT INFORMATION

• Full entry for the Sligo Park Hotel Single Stage Rally
• Entry List Available
• 205 Challenge Preview - New Prize Money For Round 4 of Irish 205 Challenge

25/01/05
With entries closing on Wednesday last, a capacity field will take on the challenge of the carefully selected stage of Clerk of the Course, Rosmary Walsh, who is very happy with the diversity of the entry which has attracted a bumper field extending across all eleven classes. As the 2005 season opener, it gives the opportunity to a number of crews to unveil new machinery and the more relaxed format of a single stage that provides for longer service times to iron out early teething problems gives competitors that facility. Being also round 4 of the 6 round 2004 /2005 Irish 205 Challenge has also shown dividends with fifteen of the seventeen championship registered drivers entering Sligo’s single stage.

Scrutiny takes place between the hours of 3pm and 8pm on Saturday at Hendersons Garage on the Bundoran Road. The ten miler gets underway with the Mullen & Mc Loughlin sponsored familiarisation run commencing at 10.43 on Sunday morning, followed by three timed runs , Devaney Car Sales SS1, Sligo Airport SS2 and Benbulben Creche & Montessori School SS3 before returning to Sligo Park Hotel with first car due on the finish ramp at 17.35 .

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22/01/05

1 D McLoughlin/C Donnellan (Peugeot 205) 13 
2 J Kearny/D O'Connell (Escort MkII) 13 
3 E Power/D Brannigan (Renault Clio S1600) 6 
4 P Boyce/W Hamilton, (Peugeot 205) 13 
5 J McGettrick/J McDermott (Escort) 13 
6 D Leonard/D Ferry (Nova) 11 
7 E McElvaney/A Keena (Peugeot 106 GTi) 6 
8 S Feely/J McGrath (Peugeot 106 GTi) 6 
9 S Darcy/TBA Honda (Civic Type R) 3 
10 T O'Rourke/TBA (Opel Astra GSi) 3 

• Full Entry List on www.connachtmotorclub.com

205 Challenge Preview - New Prize Money For Round 4 of Irish 205 Challenge
With three round complete and three rounds remaining, round four of the Rory Galligan Rally Irish 205 Challenge looks set to be a close fought battle. There have been three different winners on the first three rounds of the championship and with fifteen crews entered for the Sligo Single Stage there could easily be yet another first time winner.

The event, which takes place on Sunday 30th January 2005, is based in Sligo town and is the fourth and last tarmac event of the series before the championship moves to gravel for the final two events.

The Irish 205 Challenge is also delighted to announce a new sponsor and with that new on event prizes for the top three finishers. MCD Trailers from Donegal Town will award vouchers of Eur 200 to first place, Eur 100 to second place and Eur 50 to third on each event.

Vouchers are to purchase anything from MCD Trailers, includes, tyres, trailers, rally parts and rally services.

• www.connachtmotorclub.com

• Irish 205 Challenge