2009 Southern 4 Rally Championship

Southern 4 Prizegiving - (Sat) 9 Jan 10

Posted: November 25, 2009 4:28 PM

The prizegiving for the Thomond Crystal Southern 4 Rally Championship will take place on January 9th 2010 in The West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen.

Southern 4 Prizegiving - (Sat) 9 Jan 10

DENIS CRONIN RECLAIMS SOUTHERN 4 TITLE.
Historic Championship down for decision on the Kenmare(Killarney) Historic Stages Rally

Posted: November 25, 2009 4:21 PM

A year of excellent results in his 99 spec Subaru Impreza WRC saw Denis Cronin win the Thomond Crystal Southern 4 Rally Championship, a title he last won in 2006.

Denis started the championship in the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally with a weekend long battle against last years winners Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy until gear select problems slowed the Ballylickey mans progress.

In spite of this handicap Cronin finished third overall thus claiming second place points in the Southern 4 with Liam McCarthy taking the top score for round one.

Cronin was again on the attack on round two,The Ordnance Survey Ireland Killarney International Rally of The Lakes.

An excellent fourth overall on this event saw him beat much newer machinery with the total commitment he has become renowned for. Denis took full Southern 4 points in Killarney and thus moved into the lead with Darragh O Riordans S1600 in second place and John Buttimers Impreza in third.

Cronin missed out on the Ravens Rock Rally and for the third time on as many rounds there was a new leader.John Buttimer took 14 points in the Ravens Rock which was enough with his West Cork and Killarney scores to put him into the championship lead.
However,Cronin was still just one point behind despite missing out on this event.

Mark Nangle moved into third place here with the top five being made up by Darragh O Riordan and John Somers respectively.

The Cork 20 was Cronins finest battle this year which saw him renew rivalry with Liam McCarthy once again,however,mechanical problems put an end to the latters rally on day one.

Cronin pushed on though and with his now legendary total commitment powered his Subaru to a fantastic third overall on this international event,all the more noteworthy as Denis was using a new navigator,Coleman Hurley,on this event as his regular sidekick,Helen O Sullivan,was sidelined through injury.

This partnership stayed together for the final round,the West Cork Hotel Skibbereen Fastnet Rally and finished off the year in style,for not only did Cronin take top points in the Thomond Crystal Southern 4 Rally Championship,but also finished first overall on the rally itself,ending an absolutely fabulous year for the Cronin family as Denis’ nephew, Keith, also claimed the British Rally Championship in 2009.

The historic championship is still in progress and is down for decision on the Kenmare(Killarney) Historic Stages Rally on December 6th.

Championship Points and Report after Round 6 - Fastnet

Posted: April 10, 2009 9:40 AM

Final Round for Main Field:

Southern 4 Rally Championship - s4rc.com

NEW YEAR,NEW SPONSOR FOR SOUTHERN 4.

Posted: February 25, 2009 4:28 PM

The 2009 Southern 4 Rally Championship marks the beginning of a new sponsorship deal with Thomond Crystal.

The Championship,which involves the West Cork Rally,The Killarney International Rally of the Lakes, The Ravens Rock Rally,The Cork 20 International Rally,The Fastnet Rally and the Killarney Historic Rally,attracts well over 100 entries each year and is by now one of the most established regional championships in Europe.

Speaking on the sponsorship deal PRO Pat Nolan said:
"We are delighted to have been able to secure this deal with Thomond Crystal.We are well aware of the financial constraints on companies throughout the country in these challenging times and indeed this makes the Thomond Crystal deal all the more welcome.

The Championship will be known as the Thomond Crystal Southern 4 Rally Championship and we expect our association with Thomond Crystal to be of huge benefit to us both. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank James O Sullivan and 023 Tiles for their suberb commitment to the Southern 4 over the last number of years and we sincerely hope they have benefitted as a company from their association with us."

The first round of the Championship will be The Quality Hotels West Cork Rally on the 14th and 15th of March and crews can register at document scrutiny on the Friday of the Rally.

Championship Rounds

Posted: February 25, 2009 4:25 PM

1. West Cork Rally Mar 14/15
2. Killarney International Rally of the Lakes May 2/3
3. Carrick on Suir Raven’s Rock Stages Rally Jun 28
4. Cork '20 International Rally Oct 3/4
5. Skibbereen Fastnet Stages Rally Oct 25
6. Killarney Historic Rally (Historics Only) Dec 5/6

Southern 4 Rally Championship - s4rc.com