Clare Restricted Single Stage Rally - 23 Apr 06

Posted: April 26, 2006 11:42 AM

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Ruan’s Anthony O’Halloran, navigated by Killarney’s Diarmuid Falvey took a well-deserved first ever win on last Sunday’s Clare Single Stage Rally. This was the first tarmac event of the year for O’Halloran and with expectations of a win very high there was no shortage of pressure on this first time pairing going into the first stage.

Glorious sunshine and dry roads greeted rally crews and spectators for the event, which took place over what is one of Irelands classic rally stages Ruan. O’Hallorans main rivals would prove to be Clare crew Mike Maloney navigated by Marie Casey Mk11 Escort and Paul Purtill navigated by David Lyons of Limerick also Mk 11 Escort.

As the first cars blasted through Ruan Village the atmosphere was electric, with drivers commenting that it was like entering a stadium such were the crowds. Mid way through the first stage O’Halloran at the wheel of his ubiquitous Opel Manta was driving very hard, and this showed, as he was 3s faster than Purtill, and 7s. faster than Maloney and. Over the second half of the stage this gap was further increased and by the end of the stage he had 10s on Maloney and 21s on Purtill. O’Halloran later commented that “I was driving on the door handles on the first run, we had a few scary moments, and it would be hard to repeat that run and get away without damaging the car”. Over the 9.25 mile stage O’Halloran crossed the line in 7.49, Purtill 7.59 and Maloney 8.08.

Having changed his tyres for the second stage O’Halloran was now on a harder compound. The effect of this was that the tyres did not get up to temperature until a third of the way through the stage. Mid-way through the stage his times reflected this as Purtill was equal on time, Purtill had done the opposite in service and fitted a softer compound and clearly his times reflected his choice. Maloney had also benefited from this and was quicker by 1s over O’Halloran. However by stage finish O’Halloran made some of the time back, crossing the line in 7.52, Purtill 7.54.and Maloney 7.55

Coming into the final stage the pressure was on to keep the car on the road, if you make any mistakes you will throw away any chance of a win or a good finish for that matter. This final run was a matter of time management for O’Halloran and Falvey. They needed to push hard to maintain their lead but also get the car to the finish. By mid-point Purtill had gained 1s on O’Halloran with Maloney clocking the same time. Coming into the final mile of the stage O’Halloran and Falvey had a heart in the mouth moment, when they heard a racket coming from the engine, so much so that they thought it had blown, lifting off the throttle for a few seconds and a quick check of the gauges with everything reading normal and no sign of smoke it was foot down and across the finish line in 7.57. Purtill posted a 7.55 and Maloney 7.58. The root of the problem turned out to be the right front tyre which had started to flail rubber on the inside edge, pulling down and bending a tin arch liner which then got caught against the tyre.

As Anthony and Diarmuid crossed the finish ramp at St.Flannans College in Ennis, their excitement and relief was clear to be seen and in doing so Anthony became the first Clare driver to win a Clare Rally. Anthony and Diarmuid would like to extend their gratitude to the Organising Committee, Lynch Hotels who sponsored the event, the Marshals, and their service crew.

The next event for Anthony O’Halloran will be Killarney’s International Rally of the Lakes where he is seeded at No.42. This event is the third round of the Pirelli Tarmac Championship and the event will take place over the May Bank Holliday weekend. This will be Anthony’s first time competing on the event; Ennis man Kevin Synott who has contested the event on a number of occasions will navigate him.

A major word of thanks goes out to our sponsors without whom we would not be rallying, KECO Ltd, Grp4 Fabrications, Drift 2 Motorsport, Banner Quick Fit, Hogan Furniture, McMahon Haulage, Kelleher Signs, Q8 Oils and Mantis Marketing.

Other clare crews who featured in the results included:
Al & Pat Meaney were the winners in class one in their Suzuki Swift.
Patrick Kelly & Dermot Molloy were third in class five also driving a swift.
Kevin Synott & Charlie McEnery finished second in class six driving a Honda civic.
Keith Naughton & Joe Dunne second in class seven.
Edward Cogan & Tony Shannon were the winners in class nine driving a Suzuki swift.
In class ten Brendan Casey & Ross Kenny were second in a ford escort while Tony Tuttle & Donna McNamara won the class also in a ford escort.
Tommy Flanagan & Martin McMahon took the Best Clare Motor Club Award.

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Results
Pos Driver/Codriver (Make) Total
1 Anthony O' Halloran/Diarmuid Falvey (Opel Manta) 23:38
2 Paul Purtill/David Lyons (Ford Escort) 23:49
3 Mike Moloney/Marie Casey (Ford Escort) 24:00
4 Mike Quinn/Paddy O' Rourke (Ford Escort) 24:18
5 Willie Whitty/John Whitty (Ford Escort) 24:26
6 John Nolan/John Smithwick (Ford Escort) 25:14
7 Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Ford Escort) 25:22
8 Michael Mc Namara/Richard Mc Namara (Ford Escort) 25:24
9 Garry Reidy/Stephen Reidy (Ford Escort) 25:24
10 Neil Pierce/Enda O' Leary (Honda Civic) 25:30

Leaders After
SS1-3 Anthony O' Halloran/Diarmuid Falvey (Opel Manta)

Stage Winners
SS1 Anthony O'Halloran/Diarmuid Falvey (Opel Manta)
SS2 Anthony O'Halloran/Diarmuid Falvey (Opel Manta)
SS3 Paul Purtill/David Lyons (Ford Escort)

Full Results:
rally.connect.ie (Angus Sealy)

Photos:
GER LEAHY PHOTOGRAPHY & PR
Peespeed Photography

Clare Motor Club

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PRE EVENT NEWS

EARS will be providing tyre services on both the Monaghan Stages Rally and Clare Single Stage events this weekend.

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• Entry List available
• Marshals Required
• Event Details
• Regulations available

Clerk of the Course Dermot Kelleher, Nigel Bridge (sponsors Lynch Hotels),
Fiona O'Shea (Lynch Hotels), Event Secretary Jane Cogan,
and models Ciara Flynn, Amy Fitzgerald, Laura Conlon, and Sara Niland.
Photo: Aidan Sweeney Photography

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18/04/06
Top 20
1 Anthony O' Halloran/Diarmuid Falvey (Opel Manta 2.0) [13]
2 Mike Moloney/Marie Casey (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
3 Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
4 John O' Sullivan/Niall O' Sullivan (Peugeot 205) [13]
5 Mike Quinn/Paddy O' Rourke (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
6 Paul Purtill/David Lyons (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
7 Willie Whitty/John Whitty (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
8 Michael Mc Namara/Richard Mc Namara (Ford Escort 2.0) [12]
9 Alan James Doherty/Colm Doherty (Vauxhall Corsa) [13]
10 John Reddington/Grainne Mc Enery (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
11 Diarmuid Keohane/Peter Keohane (Ford Escort 2.0) [12]
12 John Nolan/John Smithwick (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
14 Jason Costello/Derek Flynn (Ford Escort 2.0) [13]
15 Don Keating/Nicky Condon (Nissan Sunny GIT) [13]
16 Terance O' Shaughnessy/Eugene Mc Grath (Toyota Corolla) [11]
17 Ed Synan/Kieran Cusack (Ford Puma) [6]
18 Garry Reidy/Stephen Reidy (Ford Escort) [13]
19 Padraig Egan/Rory Moloney (Ford Escort) [13]
20 Diarmuid O'Toole/Barry Murphy (Ford Fiesta) [13]
21 David Whitty/Frank O' Dwyer (Ford Escort) [13]

Full Entry List on:

Clare Motor Club

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Marshals are URGENTLY required for this event! If you would like to help, please call Gerry on 086-2766267. Marshals rendevous is at Rynn's Esso filling station on the Lahinch road, Ennis, at 09:30 on Sunday 23 April.

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25/02/05
Event Details
Clare Motor Club are hosting a Restricted Single Stage Rally on Sunday, 23rd April, 2006. The rally which allows cars of up to 2.0L and 2 wheel drive only is aimed primarily at new comers to the sport.

The Rally is Sponsored by the Lynch Hotels Group and is based at The West County Inn Hotel, Limerick Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

The Clare Motor Club have decided to use one of the Classic Clare Stages which will prove a challenge to all competitors.

Clerk of the Course for the event is Dermot Kelleher from Clarecastle.

Top Clare competitors expected to compete in the event include Anthony O¹Halloran in his Open Manta, Mike Moloney in his Rotary Powered Mk11, Pat Casey also from Ruan in a MK11, brothers Michael and Richard McNamara from Killanena in a Mk11, Padraig Egan and Kieran Bailey also in Mk11 Escorts. Navigator Jim Casey from Ennis will also compete with Limerick Driver Aidan Walsh who will be hoping for a top ten result. A great local entry along with the top 2WD competitors from around the country competing, the event looks to be very competitive and there should be some great action on the stage.

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Regulations and Entry Form:
Check the Clare Motor Club Website for Regulations:

Clare Motor Club

Event Secretary Jane Cogan. Jane can be contacted for Regulations on 086-6080529 between 7pm and 9pm only.

All entries on an official entry form together with the appropriate fee E300.00 to be returned by post to Jane Cogan, Main Street, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.