Midland Navigation Trial - 19-20 Feb 05

Posted: February 21, 2005 3:39 PM

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Mackarel/Higgins win event and National Championship
Report: www.motorsportireland.com
At last, a pairing has managed to win a second round of this season’s Executive Logistics National Navigation Trial Championship, with Andy Mackarel and Liam Higgins bringing their Vectra home in top place in Saturday nights Midland MC event based at the Miners’ Bar in Arigna following a string of different winners in the opening six rounds.
Coupled with a string of consistent placings, this was enough to clinch a second national title for the Monaghan/Cavan crew, as their only distant points rivals, Ray and Stephen O’Neill, were forced to limp through the second half following a broken engine mounting on their Golf, leaving them near the tail of the field.

At the end of a tough, mountainous route, the winners had 11 marks to spare over Joe Friel and Ciaran Coyle’s Carina, despite a wrong departure early in the night, with Ashley McAdoo/Adam Murray bringing their Vectra home third to again take the novice class.

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Event Report
Thanks to Mary Cox
The event attracted a great entry with 37 eventually going to post. It was ran on a very compact route mostly on the elevated area around Arigna. i.e.. The Mountain.
It was ran in two sections with the midway halt back in Arigna.

Attrition rate was rather low, but one of the favourites (Gowen/Phelan) retired very early, on route to TP1. Complete power failure the given reason.

The C.O.C. made best use of his local knowledge and help and ran a very challenging trial which resulted in some large scores. Despite this the competitors reported to be happy with the event and were glad to make it home.

The club would like to thank all those who helped on the night and who stood out on a dry but cold night.

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Results
1 Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Vectra) 27 marks 
2 Joe Friel/Ciaran Coyle (Carina) 38m 
3 Ashley McAdoo/Adam Murray (Vectra) 66m 
4 James Greenan/Aidan Friel (Vectra) 70m 
5 Fintan Larmer/Sean McCaffrey (Mazda 323) 72m 
6 Trevor Farrell/Noel Hall (Proton) 80m 
7 Kerry Stephenson/Paul Fitzpatrick (Golf) 91m 
8 Mickey Tynan/Garreth Beagan (Vectra) 103m 
9 Martin Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Astra) 106m 
10 Malachy Smyth/Damien Connolly (Peugeot 205) 114m 
11 Kevin Lunt/Sandy Mills (Golf) 116m 
12 Rodney Adams/Richard Cassidy (Kadett) 136m 

Semi-experts: 
1 Joe Friel/Ciaran Coyle 
2 James Greenan/Aidan Friel 
3 Fintan Larmer/Sean McCaffrey 

Novices: 
1 Ashley McAdoo/Adam Murray 
2 Martin Tynan/Ciaran Tynan 
3 Rodney Adams/Richard Cassidy 

• Full Results and Penalties in Excel Format

• 2004-05 National Navigation Championship