Mayo Autocross - 15 Oct O6

Posted: October 19, 2006 4:27 PM

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HAT-TRICK FOR KELLY ON MAYO AUTOCROSS SECURES CHAMPIONSHIP WIN As MURPHY CLAIMS YOUNG DRIVER TITLE
Conor Kelly from Beragh in Co. Tyrone reaffirmed his dominance of Mayo & District Motorsport Club’s Loose Surface Autocross with his third victory of the season on Sunday at Harrington’s Quarry, The Valley, Swinford. In doing so, the Nissan Sunny driver scooped the prestigious Frank Harrington Award presented to the top overall driver over M&DMC’s four autocross events of the year.

In the Mayo & District Motorsport Club Young Driver Championship, Shrule’s Matthew Murphy took a comfortable win after seeing his championship rivals succumb to mechanical problems.

The final round of Mayo & District Motorsport Club’s Loose Surface Autocross took place over a shortened course of 1.1 km lapped 3 times, with each competitor getting 3 timed runs. Fastest out of the blocks was Trevor Farrell in a Ford Escort, the Newtownbutler man setting a benchmark of 2 minutes 40.41 seconds. Mervyn Galbraith was a strong second while Foxford’s James McGreal upheld local honour with third fastest time. A minor surprise was that Conor Kelly languished in an unaccustomed 7th place, while other former winners yet to make their mark were Ronnie Coulter in 12th and Walter Burke in 14th positions.

By the second run however, Conor Kelly had clearly woken up, a time of 2:36.0 a whopping 8.76 seconds faster than his first run, and good enough to propel him into the overall lead. Moving into second was yet another Tyrone man, young Stephen Lipsett setting an impressive time of 2:37.79 in his Peugeot 106. Mervyn Galbraith held onto third with 2;38.65 while Williamstown’s Walter Burke was another to post a much improved time of 2:39.59 to claim fourth ahead of early leader Trevor Farrell. James McGreal improved his time slightly, but overall slipped to 6th overall just ahead of his class rival Michael Sweeney from Boyle.

The final run saw most of the leading runners once again improve their times, but when all was done and dusted, the leading duo of Conor Kelly and Stephen Lipsett maintained station to record a Tyrone 1-2 finish. They were made to fight for it however, as Mayo & District club members Walter Burke and James McGreal put in storming final runs to take the next two places, despite an untoward rock damaging James’ Impreza just before the finish. The top eight positions were rounded off by Mervyn Galbraith, Michael Sweeney, Niall Mimnagh and Trevor Farrell.

With Conor Kelly winning the Frank Harrington award, the runner-up spot was taken by Walter Burke, winner of the opening round, while 2005 champion Ronnie Coulter finished third. Class awards were won by Mervyn Galbraith, Mark McCaffrey, Niall Mimnagh, Trevor Farrell, David Dennison, Mickey McGillin and James McGreal.

Mayo & District Young Driver Challenge
In the second major championship reaching conclusion on Sunday, a fantastic battle looked on the card for the Mayo & District Young Driver Challenge as the title contenders battled it out tooth and nail on the first run. Matthew Murphy from Shrule took the early lead but his time of 2:49.71 was only 0.24 seconds faster than rival Mervyn Fahy. Adding further spice to the mix was Ciaran Walsh, who, sharing the same Honda Civic with Mervyn as well as with his brother David, was less than another second back.

However that was as good as it got for the Ballinrobe triple drivers. On the second run, a slipping clutch manifested itself, ultimately stranding the car by the side of the road stuck in gear. With the demise of his championship rivals, Matthew Murphy was able to cruise home to take a popular championship victory in his Peugeot 206.

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Results
1 Conor Kelly (Sunny) 2m 33.41s,
2 Stephen Lipsett (Peugeot 106) 2m 34.05s,
3 Walter Burke (Escort) 2m 35.50s,
4 James McGreal (Impreza) 2m 37.07s,
5 Mervyn Galbraith (Nova) 2m 38.65s,
6 Michael Sweeney (Lancer) 2m 38.79s.

Class winners:
Mervyn Galbraith,
Mark McCaffrey (Riva) 2m 43.00s,
Stephen Lipsett,
Trevor Farrell (Escort) 2m 39.10s,
David Dennison (Astra) 2m 40.00s,
Walter Burke,
James McGreal.

Download Full Results and Times

Photos
Rallyportfolio.com

Mayo & District Motorclub

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• Entry list on line
• Regulations on line

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10/10/06

Number Driver (Car) [Class]
101 Micheal Melly (Vauxhall Corsa) [1]
102 Tommy Donlon (Peugeot 106) [1]
103 Jimmy Brennan (Vauxhall Nova) [1]
104 Martin Doherty (Suzuki Swift) [1]
105 Paul Curran (Opel Corsa) [1]
106 Stephen Wright (Opel Corsa) [1]
201 Marc Mc Caffrey (Lada) [2]
301 Conor Kelly (Nissan Sunny) [3]
302 David Leonard (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
303 Niall Mimnagh (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
304 Mervyn Fahy (Honda Civic) [3]
305 Matthew Murphy (Peugeot 206) [3]
306 David Walsh (Honda Civic) [3]
307 Ciaran Walsh (Honda Civic) [3]
308 John Burke (Peugeot 206) [3]
309 Cormac Lyons (Peugeot 205) [3]
310 Niall Morley (Peugeot 205) [3]
311 Brendan Corcoran (Toyota Corolla) [3]
312 Pat Needham (Toyota Corolla) [3]
313 Enda O'Brien (Toyota Corolla) [3]
314 Darragh Kelly (Peugeot 205) [3]
315 Fergal Conroy (Honda Civic) [3]
316 Adrian Mc Elhinney (Peugeot 206) [3]
317 Andy Walsh (Honda Civic) [3]
318 Jonathon Cassidy (Nissan Sunny) [3]
319 Peter Conroy (Honda Civic) [3]
320 Grannia McDaid (Peugeot 206) [3]
321 Stephen Lipsett (Peugeot 106) [3]
322 Liam Devaney (Peugeot 205) [3]
323 Patrick Durcan (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
324 James Gilmartin (Vauxhal Nova) [3]
325 Kieran Carroll (Honda Civic) [3]
326 Paul Conlon (Honda Civic) [3]
327 Ultan Mc Gowan (Peugeot 205) [3]
328 Justin Gilmartin (Honda Civic) [3]
329 Elaine Gilmartin (Honda Civic) [3]
401 Trevor Farrell (Ford Escort) [4]
402 Richard Farrell (Ford Escort) [4]
403 Gerard Burke (Talbot Avanger) [4]
404 Patrick Herity (Toyota Corolla) [4]
405 Adrian Fahy (Ford Escort) [4]
406 Mervyn Wilson (Ford Escort) [4]
407 James Culliney (Ford Escort) [4]
408 Mark Culliney (Ford Escort) [4]
409 Sean Lyons (Toyota Corolla) [4]
410 Patsy Curran (Ford Escort) [4]
501 Ronnie Coulter (Vauxhall Astra) [5]
502 David Dennison (Vauxhall Astra) [5]
601 Walter Burke (Ford Escort) [6]
602 Mickey Mc Gillin (Ford Escort) [6]
603 Conor Lee (Ford Escort) [6]
604 Brian Farrell (Ford Escort) [6]
605 Gerald Mc Tiernan (Ford Escort) [6]
606 Jason Mc Tiernan (Ford Escort) [6]
607 Gerard Mc Loughlin (Opel Manta) [6]
701 James McGreal (Subaru Impreza) [7]
702 Noel Driver (Escort) [7]
703 Sean McHugh (Subaru Impreza) [7]
704 Michael Sweeney (Mitsubshi Lancer) [7]
705 James Lannon (Mitsubshi Evo) [7]
706 Stephen Harron (Subaru Legacy) [7]
707 Darrell Harron (Subaru Legacy) [7]

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15/09/06

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Mayo & District Motorclub