Monaghan Stages Rally (J) - 25 Apr 10

Grp N Podium Places For VSM SPORT In Monaghan

Posted: April 30, 2010 8:48 PM

At the recent Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Championship VSM had two customers competing on the event, Danny MacBride / Ambrose Given and Trevor Bustard / Kenny Bustard both driving Mitsubishi Evo 8’s.

Danny and Ambrose had a good run in the JB Homes Evo 8 on the rally setting four fastest times in Group N during the day but unfortunately he finished second in Group N after a tie break with Sam Moffett. Both crews tied on 1.27.26 with the tie break rule stating that “fastest on the last stage wins” so they had to settle for second in Group N and 8th overall after being one second slower on the last stage.

Trevor and Kenny also had a bit of back luck on the rally as they spun on the very first stage and also picked up a puncture in their StockHouse Furniture Evo 8 on stage 6 and dropped over a minute to the other Group N competitors. Trevor and Kenny finished the rally third in Group N and were 19th Overall.

Next For Danny MacBride will be the Cartell.ie Killarney International Rally this weekend. Also doing the rally is Brian and Carol O'Keeffe in their Subaru N11.

Local Heroes Claim HASS Drive of the Day on Monaghan Stages Rally

Posted: April 28, 2010 5:59 PM

Ken Henderson of HASS presents David Smith and Austin Hamill
with their trophies for winning the HASS Border Championship Drive of
the Day Award on the Monaghan Stages Rally.
Photo: Cathal Doyle

David Smith and Austin Hamill from Monaghan have become the latest winners of the HASS Border Championship Drive of the Day Award. The Peugeot 106 claimed the award by taking fastest time for a class 6 crew on stage 3 of their home event, the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages.

Originally special stage 2 had been selected as the stage on which the HASS Drive of the Day award would be decided, but following the cancellation of that stage before all cars had run, it was decided that the following test would determine what crew would collect the award. A time of 9 minutes and 13 seconds by Smith and Hamill was three seconds faster than the next fastest class 6 car of Josh Moffett and Damien McPhillips; these two crews well ahead of the rest of the field. All that was needed then was to bring the car back to the finish ramp safely, whereupon Smith and Hamill were presented with their awards by Ken Henderson of Border Championship sponsors Henderson Auto Sport & Spares (HASS).

The Drive of the Day Award is presented at each of the six rounds of the 2010 HASS Border Rally Championship. Open to all registered championship competitors, a class and stage are selected at random before the start of the rally, with the winner being the fastest crew in the class on that stage to finish the rally. If the preselected stage is cancelled, the organizers can use their discretion to move either to the previous or following stages.

In Car

Posted: April 27, 2010 2:20 PM

MANUS KELLY/DONAL BARRETT SS7




Lloyd Hutchinson/Kevin Flanagan SS5

Video Clips

Posted: April 27, 2010 2:09 PM

Challenging weekend for Cunningham and Millener

Posted: April 27, 2010 2:03 PM

The weekend saw challenging conditions for Jonathan Cunningham (26) from County Galway but now living in Workington and navigator Richard Millener (26) from Workington, UK. Cunningham who currently leads the UK Fiesta SportChallenge (FSC) series run by M-Sport undertook two high class rally events in two days, taking in the Pirelli Rally in Carlisle on Saturday followed by the Monaghan Stages rally in Ireland on Sunday. After high hopes for two top podium positions, it was just not to be as the crew settled for 3rd in the FSC on the Pirelli rally after troubles hit the crew and then Cunningham failed to finish the Irish event after a gearbox failure put an end to his hectic weekend.

The first event of the weekend, the Pirelli Challenge rally was the third round of the Fiesta one make rally series as well as the second round of the British Rally Championship Challenge series. After winning the first two rounds of the FSC the Cumbrian duo were really hoping for a third win in a row. The stages were located in the famous “Killer Kielder” forest complex where the treacherous high speed corners and famous large ditches either side of the stages often cause carnage with the competing crews! As Cunningham and Millener started stage one they were instantly in trouble when the gear change cables came loose during the stage which left the pairing stuck in third gear. Due to the length and the high average speed of the stage they decided to stop to fix the problem, dropping over a minute and a half to their main rivals, a bitter blow on only the first stage of the event. With the problem now fixed the second stage of the event saw the crew back up to speed setting fourth fastest stage time and looking to claw back as much of the deficit as possible over the remainder of the day.

After a short service halt at Carlisle racecourse and fitting two brand new Pirelli tyres to give the crew all the advantages possible they headed out for the final three stages. The first of the afternoon loop saw the pairing set third overall fastest time and fastest Fiesta time, despite a big moment during the stage where a high speed right hand bend over a blind crest saw the Fiesta ST drift into a famous Kielder ditch and strike a pile of logs which luckily bounced them back onto the road. After getting to the end of the stage both Cunningham and Millener were amazed they got away with the scare, but at the same time were happy they were making good in roads on the time they lost in the morning and finishing second in the Fiesta Challenge was still a real possibility.

Before starting the penultimate stage Cunningham checked over the car for damage after the incident with the log pile but the car seemed to be undamaged, however disaster was again soon to strike again. With a rush to make the time control for the next stage the bonnet pins were left undone and on only the first corner the bonnet flipped up and smashed the Fiesta ST windscreen forcing the pairing to stop in stage for the second time during the event. Having lost concentration and more time they dropped more valuable time to all the FSC crews and fell to fifth FSC crew overall.

With only one stage remaining the aim was now purely to have a clean run and get a finish along with some all important championship points. However, to the crews surprise a third quickest stage time and again fastest FST time would see the pairing leapfrog up the results to third FSC overall and eighth overall in the BRC Challenge, a great positive result after the problems suffered during the day. The result also sees both Cunningham and Millener retain the lead of the FSC drivers and co-drivers series.

As soon as the event had finished Cunningham jetted home to Ireland to compete in the Monaghan Stages Junior Rally where he would continue his Dunlop Junior Championship campaign. Cunningham was joined by his brother for the event as navigator and the pairing set third fastest time on stage one followed by fourth fastest on Stage two, the times were made even more impressive because Cunningham was unable to compete on the event recce as it was the same day as the Pirelli Rally. Stage three saw the Honda Civic being driven to the limit and a great stage time was to follow but on a long straight whilst trying to select fourth gear the gearbox cried enough causing instant retirement for the talented Irishman.

It was a bitter blow after the problems faced on Saturday; however Cunningham knows he has to look at the positives from the two events - without the problems at the Pirelli rally he would have been fighting for a third FSC win and on the Sunday his times would have been good enough to get him on the podium.

Cunningham and Millener will next be in action in four weeks time on the Jim Clark Challenge Rally where the FSC and BRC Challenge series switch to asphalt for the famous event based in the Borders region of the UK.

Driver Jonathan Cunningham said:
“It was an awesome experience competing on two events in two days but a real shame the results didn’t quite go to plan. The Pirelli was an incredible event as the stages are so fast and technical but two small annoying problems ruined our chances of winning, but fair play to Damien [Smith] he drove really well and deserved the win. The event in Monaghan was very disappointing as I felt my times were improving on every stage, but I have to stay positive and now I am looking to the next event, the Jim Clark and hope to get back to winning ways at this event.”

UK Navigator Richard Millener said:
“It was a shame that we could not make it three wins in a row but luck was just not with us this weekend! We are happy with our pace when we had a clean run through the stages. We still have a lot of work to do though to catch Julian [Wilkes] in the BRC Challenge standings but we hope the switch to asphalt for the next event will be better for us as it is Jonny’s preferred surface, but we shall find out at the end of May!”

MAGUIRE IS MONAGHAN HERO
Report courtesy of Dunlop - Proud sponsors of the National Rally Championship

Posted: April 26, 2010 12:54 PM

Dunlop National Rally Championship leader, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) withstood a strong challenge from Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) to notch up his first victory of the current campaign on the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop series. At the conclusion of the nine stage event, Maguire, who has now won his home event for a sixth time, (his co-driver, Enda Sherry has tasted victory for a fourth consecutive season) finished 26 seconds ahead of Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru) with Mel Evans/Patrick Walsh (Subaru WRC) a further 32 seconds behind in third.
Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Ford Escort) won the Modified category and were fourth overall.  The Group N category was won by Sam Moffett/Domhnall Lennon (Mitsubishi), 20 year old Moffett also won the Dunlop "Driver of the Day" award.

Overnight rain made the conditions very slippery as Kevin Barrett set the pace on the first stage, his Subaru extracting a four second lead over the Subaru of Niall Maguire with fellow Monaghan ace, Daniel McKenna in his Mk. 2 Ford Escort, a stunning third, two seconds further behind.  Remarkably, McKenna reckoned his choice of a soft compound tyre cost him time.  Mel Evans slotted his Subaru into fourth place despite stalling at the start line.  Although the Escort of Gary McPhillips was misfiring, he was in fifth place - a second ahead of the Subaru WRC of Derek McGarrity.  The top ten also included the Escorts of Manus Kelly and Rodney Wilton, Maurice Moffett (Toyota Starlet), John Cairns (Subaru) and John O'Donnell (Escort).

Unfortunately, Barrett retired with head gasket trouble.  Maguire was quickest through stages two and three to move into a 15 second lead over Evans.  At the Monaghan service, Maguire reported that the stages were still very slippery, meanwhile, Evans continued to stall his Subaru at the stage starts.  McPhillips maintained third even though his Escort continued to be troubled by a misfire.  McGarrity in fourth, was 34 seconds off top spot but reckoned he could take time out of his rivals on the second loop. 

Wilton lost time when he encountered the punctured Escort of Daniel McKenna, he reckoned the episode cost him as much as twelve seconds.  Although McKenna made it to the stage finish, he retired on the road section.  Another local ace in trouble was Maurice Moffett, intercom woes distracted him and he lost over 20 minutes with an off road excursion, he withdrew at the service halt.

Kelly was sixth followed by John Cairns (Subaru) and Enda McNulty (Ford Escort).  The final places in the top ten were occupied by John O'Donnell (Ford Escort) and Group N leader, Danny McBride (Mitsubishi).

McGarrity duly clocked the best time on S.S. 4 to move into third - 25 seconds off the lead with Evans 14 seconds off top spot.
Maguire was quickest through S.S. 5 but McGarrity gained nine seconds on the sixth stage to cut Maguire's advantage to 17 seconds at the final service halt.  Evans in third - seven seconds adrift of McGarrity- clipped a rock and bent the steering on Stage 6. 

Meanwhile, McPhillips changed the plugs in his Escort that showed a great improvement through stages five and six.  The similar Escorts of Rodney Wilton and Manus Kelly completed the top six.  John Cairns (Subaru) held seventh while the Escorts of Damien Gallagher, Eugene Ferry and Brian Brogan rounded of the top ten.

On the first stage of the final loop, Maguire and McGarrity shared equal fastest time. On the penultimate test, McGarrity  lost a few seconds on one of the junctions soon after the stage start that ended his chances of reeling in Maguire.  Maguire sealed victory, his sixth in Monaghan, with fastest time on the final stage and finished 26 seconds ahead of McGarrity.  Evans was third.  In terms of the Dunlop series, Maguire has an eight-point advantage over Evans and McGarrity, who are equal second.

Meanwhile, McPhillips won the Modified category, Rodney Wilton crashed his Escort on the penultimate test.  In the race for Group N honours, Monaghan's, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi) set a cracking pace on the final loop to edge out Danny McBride (Mitsubishi) on a tiebreak.  Moffett also win the Dunlop "Driver of the Day" award.  

 

More Photos

Posted: April 26, 2010 12:36 PM

crspics.com - Counihan Rallysport Pictures
rallyphotographer.com - John O'Neill
James Burke Motorsport Photography
LINK REMOVED - Sideway Shot Motor Sport Photography
Joe Lane Photos
M. Schayer Rally Photography (rallyphoto.biz)

Gp Winners and Driver of the Day Award: Sam Moffett/Domhnall Lennon (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N)

Results

Posted: April 26, 2010 12:24 PM

1 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC) 82m 12s
2 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC) 82m 38s
3 Melvyn Evans/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRC) 83m 10s
4 Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Ford Escort Mk II) 84m 49s
5 Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett (Ford Escort Mk II) 85m 25s
6 John Cairns/James Cairns (Subaru Impreza 555) 86m 36s
7 Sam Moffett/Domhnall Lennon (Mit. Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 87m 26s
8 Danny MacBride/Ambrose Given (Mit. Lancer Evo 8 Gp N) 87m 26s
9 Seamus O’Connell/Sean McGee (Ford Escort Mk II) 87m 31s
10 Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Ford Escort Mk II) 87m 57s

Group N Production class:
1 Sam Moffett/Domhnall Lennon,
2 Danny MacBride/Ambrose Given,
3 Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard (Mit. Lancer Evo 8 Gp N) 90m 32s.

Class winners:
Stephen Bradley/Jonathan Gallagher (Civic),
Pakie Duffy/Colin Duffy (Civic),
Johnny Leonard/Jackie Donaldson (Micra),
David Leonard/Adrian Foley (Saxo),
Anthony Masterson/Andrew Browne (Integra),
John Cairns/James Cairns,
Lloyd Hutchinson/Kevin Flanagan (Mini Cooper S),
Enda McLoughlin/Karen Kelly (Escort),
Peter Wilson/Seamus Cooke (Civic),
Gerry Smyth/Gregory McQuillan (Ford Escort Mk II),
Victor Hunter/Michael Doherty (Ford Escort Mk II),
Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney,
Andy Mackarel/Richard Cassidy (Mit. Lancer Evo 4).

JUNIOR RALLY:
1 Darren McKenna/Nicola McKenna (Toyota Corolla) 47m 46s,
2 John Doogan/Pierce O’Callaghan (Ford Escort) 50m 01s,
3 Donal Kelly/Christopher McKenna (Honda Civic) 50m 29s.

Leaders After:
SS1 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS2-9 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS2 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS6 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
& Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS9 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Full Results: results.shannonsportsit.ie (Angus Sealy)

Rally News by Michael & Zoe Patterson

MAGUIRE ON HOME GROUND
Preview courtesy of Dunlop - Proud sponsors of the National Rally Championship

Posted: April 23, 2010 12:46 PM

Dunlop National Rally Championship leader, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) will have home advantage for Sunday's fourth round of the series where the principal opposition will be his title rivals and fellow Subaru aces, Kevin Barrett, Derek McGarrity and Mel Evans.
Maguire, who has won the national series on three previous occasions, is the only driver within the top quartet to have finished all the previous rounds in Nenagh, Castlebar and Tralee.  He was third in the recent Circuit of Kerry, his best result of the season, however, he is acutely aware of the need to annex the maximum twenty points in Monaghan as he bids to consolidate his position. 

On last year's non-championship event in Monaghan, Maguire netted a convincing victory but the quality of the opposition on Sunday means he will have to be on the pace right from the start.
Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), who lost the Circuit of Kerry on a tie-break with Mel Evans, is seeded at number two and has shown he has the pace to trouble Maguire.   

Circuit of Kerry winner, Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) is only six points off the top of the Dunlop leaderboard and will be keen to continue his recent good form that also includes victory in the Circuit of Ireland.
Welsh ace, Mel Evans is making a strong impression in the current campaign.  A winner in Nenagh and Castlebar, he will find the roads of County Monaghan a new experience, however, he too has the pace to mix it with his Dunlop rivals.  The popular overseas driver retired from the Circuit of Kerry when a turbo pipe split.  The remainder of the top ten features some of the top Modified category drivers in the country and will provide plenty of thrills and spills.  Local heroes, Gary McPhillips (Ford Escort), Daniel McKenna (Ford Escort) and Maurice Moffett (Toyota Starlet) will be out to impress on home territory.   

McPhillips is a regular top finisher, the last time the event was a round of the Dunlop series in 2008, he won the two wheel drive category and finished sixth overall.  Meanwhile, McKenna (Escort) is quickly forging a name for himself, on the first round of this year's Dunlop series in Nenagh, he battled his way back from 92nd on the opening stage, where his Escort developed transmission woes, to finish 22nd. overall and was the recipient of the inaugural "Driver of the Day" award.  Meanwhile, Donegal's, Manus Kelly, who damaged his Ford Escort quite extensively on the Circuit of Kerry, will be determined to score valuable points in the race for the rally.ie award.  Cavan's, Rodney Wilton and Donegal's, Declan Boyle complete the top ten and are well capable of winning the two-wheel drive category.  Other entries include John Cairns (Subaru), Adrian Hetherington, Seamus O'Connell, both in Ford Escorts and Lloyd Hutchinson (Mini), who is fifth overall in the series and the top two-wheel drive contender.  Eugene Ferry (Escort) is one of a number of drivers called from the reserve list.

The Group N entry includes Donegal pair, Danny McBride (Mitsubishi) and Trevor Bustard and Monaghan's, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi). 
Currently in the race for the Patterson's RallyNews Group N award, Craig Breen in his Ford Fiesta S2000 shares the lead with the more conventional Group N Mitsubishi of Kevin Kelleher followed by Neil Pierce (Honda Civic) and Alan Ring (Mitsubishi).  

Full Steam Ahead For Round Two of HASS Border Rally Championship

Posted: April 23, 2010 11:21 AM

The 2010 HASS Border Rally Championship resumes this week-end on the Monaghan Stages Rally, and once again promises lots of motorsport drama as competitors strive for every vital point as they bid for championship honours.

Ireland’s leading rally championship for clubmen continues to go from strength to strength. More and more drivers and co-drivers are attracted to the unique class based format of the six round series which allows all competitors, regardless of what car they drive, an equal chance of claiming the overall title. Henderson Auto Sport & Spares, the Raphoe, Co. Donegal specialists for everything to do with Ford Escort road and rally cars, have returned for a second year as title sponsors, while the big news for 2010 is that Irish terrestrial television channel TG4 is providing coverage of this year’s championship, bringing the series to a whole new audience.

Following an exciting opening round on the Mayo Stages Rally last month, it is still too soon to identify who this year’s title challengers are likely to be. What we do know however from past years, is that this championship has a history of being decided on tie-break scores, such is the level of competition between title challengers. As such, those drivers and co-drivers who scored well in Mayo have already taken an important step towards being in with a shout of glory come the final round on the Donegal Harvest Stages Rally in October.

A review of the various class results from Mayo show that in class 2 Adrian Cannon and Ivan Hernon started their season in fine style with maximum points ahead of their fellow Donegal competitors Stephen Bradley and Jonathan Gallagher. Another Donegal crew, Trevor and Kenny Bustard finished highest of the class 4 field while second placed Shane Maguire and Paul Kelly will be hoping to go one better on their home event in Monaghan. Continuing the strong Donegal theme were Shane and Niall Timoney who topped class 5, while in class 6 David Leonard and Adrian Foley from Sligo were the pacesetters.

In class 7 Meath’s Anthony Masterson and Andrew Browne headed Border series regulars Roger Kennedy and Wendy Blackledge, while team-mates Kevin Barrett / Sean Mullaly and Nial Maguire / Enda Sherry took the top two places in class 8. In class 9 the Mini of Lloyd Hutchinson and Kevin Flanagan astounded many with their pace in Mayo, the Wicklow crew taking maximum category points ahead of Pa Bellew and Willie Fitzpatrick, and reigning champions Thomas Carolan and Declan Smith.

Enda McLoughlin and Michael Reilly are the early class 10 pace-setters ahead of John Kelly and Adrian Flynn, while Mervyn Wedlock / Adam Kinkade lead Stephen Furey / Niall McCalliog in class 11. Gerry Smyth / Gregory McQuillan will be hoping home advantage will yield another class win this week-end, the Monaghan men heading Eamonn McGuigan / Michael Moran in class 12. Donegal’s Victor Hunter / Michael Doherty took class 13 honours in Mayo ahead of Samuel Kelso / Gareth Doherty.

Class 14 looks set to produce some titanic struggles this year but in Mayo it was Donegal cousins Declan and Brian Boyle who came through to take maximum Border Championship points ahead of Damien Gallagher / Paul Garry and Camillus Bradley / Crawford Henderson.

HASS Drive of the Day Award
Separate to the main championship battles there will be much interest in the HASS Border Championship Drive of the Day Award which will be presented to one lucky crew on the Monaghan Stages Rally. The prize is awarded to the fastest registered Border driver and co-driver in a particular class on a particular stage to subsequently finish the event, the class and stage selected by draw before the start. In Mayo, class 14 was the selected category, with fastest time in stage 4 to determine the winner. Fastest on the test were Daniel McKenna / Andrew Grennan ahead of Manus Kelly / Donall Barrett, but with neither crew managing to make it to rally finish, the honour of HASS Border Championsionship Drive of the day went to Camillus Bradley and Crawford Henderson.

Reserve List as of Friday Morning 23/04/10

Posted: April 23, 2010 9:36 AM

No Driver/Co-Driver Class
146 John Dolan / Joe Dolan 12
147 Andrew Stewart / Tony Gallagher 6
148 Sean Flanagan / Brian Duggan 4
150 Adrian Cannon / Ivan Hernon 2
151 Ollie Tynan / Damien McConnell 11
152 Ciaran Kennedy / Paul McGuinness 2

Final Instructions + Town Overview Map Available

Posted: April 21, 2010 10:55 AM

Final Instructions and Town Overview Map Available on Club website:

• Monaghan Motor Club

Entries Update as of Tuesday 20/4/10

Posted: April 21, 2010 10:54 AM

Out:
J5 Patrick Bradley / Niall McDaid (Nova)
31 Daniel Conaghan / Trevor Graham [13]

In:
Juniors: Gary Egan / Michael Haran Impreza
Main Field: Damian Toner / TBA

Double Header Weekend for Cunningham

Posted: April 21, 2010 8:04 AM

This coming weekend will see Jonathan Cunningham (26) from County Galway but now living in Workington, Cumbria take on two high class rally events in just one weekend. He will start by continuing his Fiesta SportChallenge trophy campaign at the Pirelli Rally based in the city of Carlisle, round three of the highly competitive one make series. The following day he will fly out to Ireland to compete in the Monaghan Junior Rally where he will compete on the next round of the Dunlop National Junior Rally championship.

The first event of the weekend, The Pirelli Challenge rally sees Cunningham reunite with his UK based co-driver Richard Millener (26) from Workington, UK. Millener had to miss out on the previous Irish Junior championship round Cunningham competed on only a fortnight ago but he will be back in the hot seat on this event to help the young Irishman try and make it three out of three wins in the UK Fiesta SportChallenge series. The pair currently top the points table, seven points ahead of Richard Parry Jones / Sara Price.

The Pirelli rally, based at Carlisle racecourse, sees the crews take in six fast and demanding stages within the infamous “Killer Kielder” forest complex, the largest man made forest in the whole of Europe. The forest which is renowned for its high speed stages will test Cunningham and Millener to the max as they try to continue to improve on their pace from the first two rounds of the season. The Pirelli rally also makes up the second round of the British Rally Championship Challenge series which Cunningham / Millener currently lie third overall. With the pairing aware they need to increase their speed out of the box from the start of the event to have any chance of taking victory hey will both be psyching themselves up before the event to get them into the zone! With the event also being on the duo’s home territory there will be extra incentives to do well and they hope to be able to return to Carlisle and spray the champagne at the end of a successful and exciting day. As soon as the event finishes, the weekend will only be half complete for Cunningham. He will leave the North of England behind to drive straight to Prestwick airport where he will fly to Dublin and make his way to his second rally of the weekend, the Monaghan Junior Rally.

This event sees a ten strong field of Junior rally championship entrants who will all be fighting for the overall win. Cunningham will hope that his competitive driving the day before will help him to be on the pace from the very first corner and with main championship rival Kevin O Connor sitting out the event the talented Irishman will be hopeful for a victory. The event will also see him switch cars from his Fiesta ST Gp.N car to his highly tuned Honda Civic.

For the Monaghan event Cunningham will have his brother Patrick navigate for him as Millener is unable to make the short journey over the water. The Junior championship event takes in four stages and Cunningham will hope to get to the finish on Sunday afternoon having made it two wins in two days and ending the weekend in spectacular fashion.

Driver Jonathan Cunningham said:
“I am really looking forward to this weekend. To compete in two events in two days will be a great challenge and I can’t wait for it. To win both events will be an incredibly difficult task but something I know I am capable of. I will be trying my hardest to drive to the best of my ability but I will have strong competition pushing me hard on both days.”

UK Navigator Richard Millener said:
“I really missed navigating on the last event Jonny competed on in Ireland but I just don’t have the budget to compete in both series at the moment, so I am really looking forward to getting back into the navigators seat at the Pirelli Rally. With it being the week of my birthday and effectively our home event I really hope we can make it three wins in a row. It will be an exciting yet challenging day and I am really can’t wait to get started.”

Entries Update

Posted: April 18, 2010 9:35 PM

Withdrawn:
34 Anthony Hand / Emmet Sherry [11]
44 Kieran McCarra / Colm Murphy [13]
101 Damian O'Reilly / Mark Hamill [9]
125 Richard Kelly / Sean Kelly [13]

In From Reserves:
Danny Daly / Sean Daly [12]
Eugene Ferry / Derek Heena [14]
Colm Brady / Enda Gerety [11]
Noel Keely / Liam Fleming [11]

Junior Entry List

Posted: April 18, 2010 9:34 PM

J1 Darren McKenna / Nicoal Mckenna (Corolla)
J2 Damien Whoriskey / Michael McCalfferty (Escort)
J3 Donal Kelly / Christopher McKenna (Civic)
J4 Johno Doogan / Pierce O'Callaghan (Escort)
J5 Patrick Bradley / Niall McDaid (Nova)
J6 Jamesie Ward / Pauric O'Donnell (Corolla)
J7 Shane Carr / Stephen Peoples (Nova)
J8 Ian McClure / Jason Johnston (Corolla)
J9 Christopher Armstrong / TBA (Saxo)
J10 Jonathan Cunningham / Patrick Cunningham (Civic)

Time and Distance Schedule

Posted: April 16, 2010 8:47 AM

Time and Distance Schedule

Entry & Reserve List

Posted: April 16, 2010 8:33 AM

No. Driver/Co-Driver [Class]
1 Niall Maguire / Enda Sherry [8]
2 Kevin Barrett / Sean Mullally [8]
3 Derek McGarrity / James McKee [8]
4 Melvyn Evans / Patrick Walsh [8]
5 Gary McPhillips / Mark Tierney [14]
6 Daniel McKenna / Andrew Grennan [14]
7 Maurice Moffett / Jason McKenna [14]
8 Manus Kelly / Donall Barrett [14]
9 Rodney Wilton / Conor McMahon [14]
10 Declan Boyle / Brian Boyle [14]
11 John Cairns / James Cairns [15]
12 Adrian Hetherington / Gary Nolan [14]
14 Seamus O'Connell / Sean Magee [14]
15 Damien Gallagher / Paul Garry [14]
16 Brian Brogan / Damien McGettigan [14]
17 Des Moore / Damien Morrissey [14]
18 Enda McNulty / Paul Sheridan [13]
19 Danny MacBride / Ambrose Given [4]
20 Trevor Bustard / Kenny Bustard [4]
21 Russell Woods / Martin Byrne [13]
22 Victor Hunter / Michael Doherty [13]
23 Raymond Conlon / James O'Reilly [13]
24 John O'Donnell / Johnny Baird [13]
25 Ronan Curley / John McKinley [14]
26 Samuel Kelso / Gareth Doherty [13]
27 Mac McKenna / John Loughran [13]
28 Damien Hagan / Fiona Boa [13]
29 Lloyd Hutchinson / Kevin Flanagan [9]
30 Michael Conlon / Aidan Boyle [13]
31 Daniel Conaghan / Trevor Graham [13]
32 John McQuaid / TBA [14]
33 Jim McKenna / Thomas Treanor [11]
34 Anthony Hand / Emmet Sherry [11]
35 Stuart Darcy / Leon Jordan [11]
36 Gerry Smyth / Gregory McQuillan [12]
37 Arthur Kierans / James Culliney [12]
38 James Cassidy / John Norris [12]
39 James Browne / J Magee [13]
40 David Roe / Sean Brunton [13]
41 Peter Wilson / Seamus Cooke [11]
42 Mark Wedlock / Adam Kinkade [11]
43 Enda McLoughlin / TBA []
44 Kieran McCarra / Colm Murphy [13]
45 Andrew Mackarel / Richard Cassidy [15]
46 Sam Moffett / Domhnall Lennon [4]
47 Richard Moffett / Patrick Brides [11]
48 Anthony Cairns / Martin Cairns [15]
49 Cathal McGlone / Ciaran Geaney [4]
50 Shane Maguire / Paul Kelly [4]
51 Vincent McAree / J P McAree [4]
52 Kieran Roarty / James Doherty []
53 Martin Tynan / Ciaran Tynan [6]
54 Martin McPhillips / TBA [11]
55 David Leonard / Adrian Foley [6]
56 Andrew Lang / David Fitzsimons [9]
57 Alaistair Hetherington / TBA [12]
58 Shane Cullen / Connor Murphy [12]
59 Gerard McQuaid / Gary Quinlan [11]
60 Adrian Fox / Ciaran McPhillips [10]
61 Shane McGirr / Niall Connolly [11]
62 John Kelly / Adrian Flynn [10]
63 Josh Moffett / Damien McPhillips []
64 Jimmy Gillespie / Jason Gillespie [13]
65 Dermot Cannon / John McLoone [13]
66 Eamonn McGuigan / Michael Moran [12]
67 Damien Sherry / Janice Mackarel [11]
68 Patrick Herity / David Currid [11]
69 Stephen Bradley / Jonathan Gallagher [2]
70 Gerry Casey / TBA [13]
71 Paddy O'Reilly / Cian Curley [14]
72 Ryan McCloskey / Ronan O'Neill [12]
73 Pakie Duffy / Colin Duffy [3]
74 Fearghal McDonald / Damien McDermott [12]
75 Ian Gunning / Ted O'Shaughnessy [13]
76 Kevin Kelly / Paul Hegarty [13]
77 Brendan McAree / Paul Fitzpatrick [6]
78 Ashely McAdoo / Adam Murray []
79 Aaron McQuaid / Aidan Coyle [10]
80 Barry Treanor / Colm Connolly [10]
81 Laurence Sherry / Peter Farrell [10]
82 Pa Bellew / Willie Fitzpatrick [9]
83 Anthony Masterson / Andrew Browne [7]
84 Thomas Carolan / Declan Smith [9]
85 Jonathan McKenna / Sean McMeel [6]
86 David Smith / Austin Hamill [6]
87 Sean Agnew / Seamus Connolly [6]
88 Michael Carbin / Barry Garvey [10]
89 Seamus Doherty / Peter Byrne [11]
90 Alan Sweeney / Timmy Lunn [11]
91 Patrick Connolly / Steven McElroy [4]
92 Sean Sherry / Fintan Sherry [10]
93 Cathal Sheridan / Declan Tynan [10]
94 Damien McCabe / Keith McConnon [9]
95 Chris Melly / Daniel Melly [13]
96 Gene McDonald / Aaron Duffy [10]
97 Barry McKenna / Raymond Knox [13]
98 Paddy Walker / Brendan McElhinney [6]
99 Gerry McIntyre / Marty Sherlock [11]
100 Paddy Boyce / Kevin Kearney [13]
101 Damian O'Reilly / Mark Hamill [9]
102 Patrick Bonner / Anthony Bonner [12]
103 Andrew Knox / Rodney Stewart [11]
104 Colin Currid / Raymond Currid [9]
105 Martin O'Reilly / Declan McKenna [2]
106 Johnny Leonard / Jackie Donaldson [5]
107 Aidan Donnelly / Raymond Loughran [13]
108 Clive Gillespie / Edward Nesbitt [15]
109 John Crumlish / Gerard Mullan [4]
110 Alan McMahon / Benny Grainger [3]
111 Pauric McGee / Fergal Loughney [2]
112 Conor Foley / Brendan Cumiskey [10]
113 Thomas Boylan / Sean Daly [10]
114 Stephen Kellett / Russell Waller [2]
115 Shane Briscoe / TBA [2]
116 Christopher Brennan / Micheal Brennan [11]
117 Gavin Kelly / Eamonn Gillespie [14]
118 Paul Carron / John Coll [11]
119 Roger Kennedy / Wendy Blackledge [7]
120 Fergal McEntee / Aidan McEntee [11]
121 Eamonn McCafferty / Kenneth McHale [5]
122 Padraig Doogan / Claire McAree [11]
123 Padraig McGee / Paul Friel [11]
124 Shane Carberry / TBA [2]
125 Richard Kelly / Sean Kelly [13]
126 Peter Barrable / Martin Connolly [6]
127 Mark Slowey / Gerard McKenna [9]
128 Steven Rushe / Gary Reid []
129 Francie McKenna / Sean Craig [10]
130 Vincent Collins / Fintan Kilroe [10]
131 Barry Gallagher / TBA [9]
132 Eoin McGreal / Jonathan Rice [10]
133 J P Tate / Colin Smith [11]
134 Kevin Cleere / Sean Sheridan [10]
135 David Smyth / Stephen Smith [11]
136 Pauric Sheridan / Aidan Reynolds [13]
137 Shane Timony / Niall Timony [5]
138 Darren McGill / Ciaran McGill [9]
139 Liam Branley / Joseph Devanney [6]
140 Jonathan Thompson / Finbar Boyle [9]
141 Loretta Kelly / Martin Brady [2]
142 Otto Gropler / Paul Mc Glinchey [5]

Reserves
Danny Daly / Sean Daly [12]
Eugene Ferry / Derek Heena [14]
Colm Brady / Enda Gerety [11]
Noel Keely / Liam Fleming [11]
Damian Toner / TBA [14]
Davy Graham / Mark Vaughan [6]
Clive Kilpatrick / Ian Johnson [8]
Daniel Breslin / Jonathan Jordan [11]
David Donoghue / Alan Dolan [11]
Enda McStravog / Alan Keena [12]
Ambrose Gaughan / Derek Molloy [9]
John Dolan / Joe Dolan [12]
James McNulty / John McElhinney [13]
Andrew Stewart / Tony Gallagher [6]
Sean Flanagan / Brian Duggan [4]
Ivor Scott / Brendan Peoples [12]
Adrian Cannon / Ivan Hernon [2]
Ollie Tynan / Damien McConnell [11]

• Monaghan Motor Club

Posted: April 16, 2010 8:32 AM

Pictured at the launch are:
Dessie Keenan, Assistance COC; Ronnie Hawe, Deputy COC;
Damien Hagan, Committee member and competitor;
Conor Maguire, Clerk of Course;
Martin Monaghan, Hillgrove Hotel;
Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry, competitors and committee members
Photo: Rory Geary

Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally

Posted: April 13, 2010 3:02 PM

Monaghan Motor Club once again welcomes the support of Colm and Audrey Herron at the Hillgrove Hotel as this excellent Hotel and Leisure facility greatly enhances the spectacle of the annual Motorsport weekend in Monaghan.

This event, which is round 3 of the Dunlop National Championship and round 2 of the HASS Border Rally Championship, has already attracted a large quality entry.

• Monaghan Motor Club

Closing Date for Entries (including priority) - 12th April

Posted: April 9, 2010 12:55 PM

Closing date for entries 12th April.
National championship competitors will not have priority after that date.
Looking like the rally will have a reserve list this year.

Regulations Available / Details

Posted: January 1, 2010 12:01 AM

The Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally is now just three weeks away and preparations for this major event are in full swing.
The rally takes place on Sunday 25th April with Conor Maguire as Clerk of the Course.
Conor and his team have been working hard since last year to ensure that everything is in readiness for what is one of the biggest sporting events in County Monaghan.

Regulations and entry forms are available on the County Monaghan Motor Club website.

The Hillgrove-sponsored event is the 2nd round of the HAAS Border Stages Rally Championship, 4rd round of the National Rally Championship and 3rd round of the Junior Rally Championship.

• Monaghan Motor Club