Cork Startrek Navigation Trial - 31 Oct-1 Nov 09

Event Report: Maguire & Coyle Pop the Cork

Posted: November 11, 2009 2:24 PM

Monaghan driver Shane Maguire and Donegal navigator Ciaran Coyle took overall victory on Cork Motor Club’s Star-Trek Navigation Trial, Round 2 of the 2009-2010 National Night Navigation Championship. After 115 miles of competitive navigating, engine cc’s decided the event between Maguire/Coyle and last year’s winners Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo with both crews on clean sheets. The tie-break went in favour of Maguire’s 1.8 litre Impreza over Kierans’ 2.0 Impreza, securing Shane his first event win. Multiple champions Ger Gowen (Limerick) and Paul Phelan (Dublin) claimed 3rd overall on 4 penalties. The furthest cleanest rule resulted in them taking 3rd from round 1 winners, Gareth Beagan/Stephen Thornton who also finished on 4 penalties.

The first half of the event saw the crews loop over some classic Cork Forestry stages in the Ballyhoura Mountain range north-east of Buttevant before heading on to the petrol halt, just north of Kanturk. It was certainly an exciting and challenging start to the event with the first seven timepoints based on the forest tracks of Ballyhoura. Competitors encountered problems as early as TP2, where amazingly, all but three crews took a wrong approach. An unmapped road 40 metres before the intended slot was the source of the trouble. However after much debate and protest the timepoint was eventually scrubbed. A long, challenging and rough lane out to TP3 led the crews up into the mountains. As the mountain lanes opened up, thick fog caused a few anxious moments. As the event left the mountain lanes, the constant rain and saturated roads presented the next problem for drivers. By C12, Semi-expert crews, Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes and Colin Fitzgerald/Daire Hayes jointly led on clean sheets. Eight expert crews were also on clean sheets, so the event was still all to play for. By control B, the two semi-expert crews continued to lead on clean sheets. Six experts also remained clean. By this point, No.1 seeds Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins were delayed with engine problems due to the conditions and had dropped 18 penalties.

The rain continued to fall unabated as the event continued west towards the Rock Chapel and Newmarket areas. There was a major change at the front of the field at TP104. The timepoint caught out Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes, as they received a controversial double visit which ruined their chances of a top result. Class rivals, Colin & Daire now moved into a clear overall lead. By TP111, Colin & Daire still led but only three experts were still clean, Michael & Ciaran Tynan, Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo and Shane Maguire/Ciaran Coyle. There was a real sting in the tale of the event with four plot and bash timepoints among seven timepoints in just 7 miles. TP116 was very tight. Colin & Daire missed a slot and dropped 6 penalties as a result. Michael & Ciaran dropped 2 penalties at TP116. Shane & Ciaran and Arthur & Ashley showed their driving and plotting skills to clean this very demanding section to complete the night without losing a single penalty.

There was a major shake-up in the race for 3rd place. The Tynans received a massive 100 penalties for failing a stop sign, demoting them from 3rd to 18th, a sour end to what had been another fine run. Ger Gowen/Paul Phelan inherited 3rd place on 4 penalties on furthest cleanest from Gareth Beagan/Stephen Thornton. Donal Healy/Peter Keohane were the leading locals, securing 5th overall on 5 penalties.

So after some 6 competitive hours of competition it was engine cc’s that gave Shane & Ciaran their first win together, kick starting their National Championship campaign in fine style. In his victory speech Ciaran paid tribute to COC Martin Sheehan and his team and all the marshals that turned up to ensure all timepoints and stop signs were manned.

Expert:
Top points in this class will be split between 1st and 2nd overall crews, due to both crews finishing on clean sheets. Ger & Paul get their season up and running with a fine 3rd place. Gareth & Stephen’s fourth place finish results in them now sharing the championship lead with Arthur & Ashley after the opening two rounds. Donal Healy/Peter Keohane & Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors bagged some useful championship points. There were hard luck stories for a number of crews. Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins struggled home to 7th in class after their mechanical woes. Ray & Stephen O’Neill retired late on, while both Michael & Ciaran Tynan and Ger O’Connell/Niall O’Keefe fell victim to those tricky stop signs.

S/Expert:
Colin Fitzgerald & Daire Hayes took the class victory after a tight battle with Monaghan duo Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes. Colin & Daire were also in the run for overall victory right up until TP116. In the end they took the class victory on furthest cleanest from Tadhg O’Shea/Brendan Fahy. Johnny Kenneally/Ken Carmody took a steady 3rd place. Another night to forget for Carbin/Hughes, TP104 costing them the class and 3rd overall. Colin & Daire now open up a two point lead in the class in the championship from Carbin/Hughes with round 1 winners Declan Tynan/Andrew Grennan in 3rd place.

Novice:
Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston from Co. Longford made sure their long trip to Cork paid off with an excellent run to take 9th overall and an impressive class win. Pre-event favourites Kevin Keenan/Barry Garvey had to settle for 2nd place just ahead of leading local crew Dermot Whelton/Barry O’Sullivan.

Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston may have been running as Beginners on the night but they were well ahead of the all the novice crews over the first timecard, just down 1 penalty. They were even among three crews to get a correct approach at TP2, although it was later scrubbed. Kevin Keenan/Barry Garvey took a more adventurous route to TP7 and indeed Kevin remarked they were lucky to make it out of that lane at all. This detour cost them a whopping 8 penalties. They found themselves in 3rd in class, 1 penalty behind Paul Casey/Stephen Quinn.

Chris & Sam’s impressive run continued and the Midlands crew dropped just one more penalty before the petrol halt. Paul Casey/Stephen Quinn remained 2nd on furthest cleanest from Keenan/Garvey. Dermot Whelton/Barry O’Sullivan were next up, a further six penalties in arrears. Keenan/Garvey suffered another set back with a wrong approach at TP111, although they were also lucky to escape a double visit at TP104. The final time card resulted in another major shuffle of the leading crews as Keenan/Garvey climbed back to 2nd place in class. Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston were safely secure in 1st place, despite dropping 11 penalties on the last section. Dermot Whelton/Barry O’Sullivan finished in 3rd place, losing out on 2nd place by just 1 penalty. Paul Casey/Stephen Quinn dropped 45 penalties on the last timecard which demoted them to 4th, with Johnny Casey/Vincent Goggin taking 5th.

Round 3 takes the crews to County Monaghan for its premier event, the Drumlin Navigation Trial. Normally run as the opening round of the championship, the event has moved to a later November date to accommodate southern-based competitors Front running driver Andy Mackarel is the COC and the event will be based out of Newbliss. Maps 27A and 28A are required. Entry forms and regulations are available from the Monaghan Motor Club website.

Results

Posted: November 2, 2009 4:31 PM

1 Shane Maguire/Ciaran Coyle (Subaru Impreza 1.8) 0 marks,
2 Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo (Subaru Impreza 2.0) 0m,
3 Ger Gowen/Paul Phelan (Subaru Impreza) 4m,
4 Garreth Beagan/Stephen Thornton (Subaru Impreza) 4m,
5 Donal Healy/Peter Keohane (Toyota Starlet 4x4) 5m,
6 Colin Fitzgerald/Daire Hayes (Subaru Impreza) 6m,
7 Tadhg O’Shea/Brendan Fahy (Vauxhall Astra) 6m,
8 Alan Shinnors/George Shinnors (Subaru Impreza) 8m,
9 Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston (Vauxhall Vectra) 13m,
10 Johnny Kenneally/Ken Carmody (Vauxhall Vectra) 13m.

Semi-experts:
1 Colin Fitzgerald/Daire Hayes,
2 Tadhg O’Shea/Brendan Fahy, 3 Johnny Kenneally/Ken Carmody.

Novices:
1 Kevin Keenan/Barry Garvey (Subaru Impreza) 25m,
2 Dermot Whelton/Barry O’Sullivan (Mazda 323) 26m,
3 Paul Casey/Stephen Quinn (Subaru Impreza) 59m.

Beginners:
1 Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston,
2 Brian O’Mahony/Ian Stanley 104m,
3 Timmy Foley/Conor Collins (Toyota Corolla) 256m.

Full Results

• Cork Motor Club

Regulations Available

Posted: October 21, 2009 9:52 AM

Startrek Night Navigation Trial takes place on Saturday night and Sunday morning, October 30 and November 1.

Similar to last year, the event will be based at Buttevant G.A.A. Community Centre, where check-in and scrutiny will begin from 7pm on the Saturday evening.

The event will again be a counting round of the National Navigation Trial Championship, the Munster Navigation Trial Championship and CMC’s own Club Championship.

This year will see an increase to 115 miles in the total distance of the event.

Regulations and Details:

• Cork Motor Club

Details

Posted: January 1, 2009 12:01 AM

Details on Club website
Regulations available shortly

• Cork Motor Club