rally.ie logo

Glens of Antrim Rally (Date Change) (Sat) - 27 Oct 12

Posted: October 29, 2012 7:38 AM - 14215 Hits

Round 7 - 2012 Irish Forest Rally Championship

Jennings claims the Valvoline title as Henry takes his maiden Valvoline victory in the Glens of Antrim Rally.

Posted: October 29, 2012 7:38 AM

Gary Jennings is the new Valvoline Forest Rally Champion after he finished ninth overall (and fifth of the Valvoline registered crews) on Saturday’s Glens of Antrim Rally. The Glens rally was the seventh and final round of the 2012 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland Rally Championship, reports Austin Shinnors championship pro. A native of Kesh Co.Fermanagh, Jennings is the first driver from the Northern Ireland to win the series in five years, and he is the eighth Ulsterman to win the National Forest Championship in its twenty one year history. Jennings was favourite to land this years title after his brilliant form in the early events in the trusty Impreza 555.However, Saturday was a nail biting day for Jennings and codriver Barry Mc Nulty, as the engine in the Subaru did not run properly all day.

The rally was organised by the Mid Antrim MC and it was based in Garvagh near Coleraine and it consisted of six stages and a 64km/40 stage-mile route, with Springwell and Cam forests traversed three times. It attracted a total of seventy entries of which eighteen failed to finish. The event was won by NI rally champion Derek Mc Garrity in a Subaru S14 WRC. Second place was claimed by Martin Cairns in a Subaru WRC ahead of the Mini WRC of Derek Mc Geehan.

Desi Henry was fourth overall and winner of the Valvoline registered runners. Henry campaigned in the BRC this year in a CitroenDS3R3, but for the Glens the Portglenone man drove a Mitsubishi Evo6. It was Henry’s first ever rally in a four wheel drive and he was partnered by Liam Moynihan. Liam Regan was second in the Valvoline class, the Belfast man driving his unique Peugeot 206 four wheel drive. In third place was Enda Mc Nulty the Tyrone just ahead of Stephen Wright who was fourth in the rally and fourth in the championship. Jennings was fifth and the new champion was followed home by Frank Kelly who was once again best 2WD pilot in his Escort Mk2.Colin Britton was seventh, a position that consolidated his second place in the series. The Strabane driver was slowed by drive shaft failure, but he could have lifted the crown if he won the rally and Jennings was lower than seventh championship driver. However Britton’s co-driver Arthur Kierans is the 2012 winning codriver, as Jennings had different co-drivers during the year.

Shane Mc Girr was eighth in his exciting Starlet RWD, the result gives the Tyrone driver championship win in class five. Ger Lucey had another good run to ninth place and the result gives the Corkman a championship win in class eight. Finishing off the top ten was Adrian Hethrington, the Escort driver clinching 3rd in class five in the championship. The Escort of Shay Power was next, and the Kilkenny man won the 2WD class in the championship. Another Escort was next, this one a left hand drive in the hands of Tommy O’Connell who is the first ever winning driver in the Historic class in the Forest Championship. The Dungiven man was codriven by Brian Duggan of www.rally.ie fame. Duggan from Co.Kerry, is now the first ever winning codriver in the historic class. The junior category was claimed by Michael Ryan in the Honda Civic. A good result for the Cashel driver, who bounced back to a fourth place in class despite a trio of DNF’s earlier in the season.

The principal retirements in the Glens rally were: Andrew Fanning (burst radiator), Jer Connors (drive shaft), Seamus O’ Connell (engine stage 4) and Vincemt Mc Aree.(off stage1).

At the Rally Prizegiving, Forest Subcomittee Chairman John Quill said “I want to congratulat Gary Jennings on his championship victory and I would like to thank the Mid Antrim Club for organising a fabulous rally. They put huge effort into running the rally especially when they had to change their original route. The new compact layout was fabulous and very popular with the crews”

Results

Posted: October 29, 2012 7:07 AM

1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC) 37m 09s
2 Martin Cairns/Kevin Flanagan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 37m 11s
3 Derek McGeehan/Damien Connolly (JCW Mini WRC) 37m 45s
4 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 37m 58s
5 Liam Regan/Damian Duffin (Peugeot 206 4WD) 38m 08s
6 Enda McNulty/Ronan O’Kane (Subaru Impreza WRX) 38m 15sv 7 Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 GpN) 38m 35s
8 Stephen Wright/Suzanne Wright (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 38m 38s
9 Garry Jennings/Barry McNulty (Subaru Impreza 555) 38m 47s
10 Frank Kelly/Graham Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2) 38m 56s.

Final Instructions

Posted: October 25, 2012 11:04 AM

Available at:

Seeded Entry List

Posted: October 25, 2012 11:04 AM

NO DRIVER/NAVIGATOR (CAR) [CLASS]
1 DEREK MC GARRITY/JAMES MCKEE (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC S14) [7]
2 GARY JENNINGS/BARRY MCNULTY (SUBARU IMPREZA 555) [6]
3 COLIN BRITTON/ARTHUR KIERANS (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
4 ENDA MCNULTY/PAUL SHERIDAN (SUBARU IMPREZA) [7]
5 STEPHEN WRIGHT/SUZANNE WRIGHT (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 6) [6]
6 VINCENT MC AREE/JP MCAREE (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
7 MARTIN CAIRNS/KEVIN FLANAGHAN (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC S12B) [7]
8 KEVIN BARRETT/DECLAN TUMILTY (SUBARU IMPREZA WRC S11) [7]
9 DEREK MCGEEHAN/TBA (JCW MINI WRC) [7]
10 PETER MCCULLOUGH/TOMMY SPEERS (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [6]
11 DESI HENRY/TBA (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 6) [8]
12 SHAY POWER/PAUL COLLINS (FORD ESCORT MK11) [5]
14 SHANE MCGIRR/JACKIE ELLIOTT (TOYOTA STARLET) [5]
15 FRANK KELLY/GRAHAM HENDERSON (FORD ESCORT MK11) [5]
16 GERARD LUCEY/JAMES LUCEY (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 8) [8]
17 NIALL HENRY/JOHN ROWAN (SUBARU IMPREZA N12) [8]
18 JOSH MOFFETT/TBA (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
19 SAM MOFFETT/JAMES O'REILLY (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
20 ADRIAN HETHERINGTON/GARY NOLAN (FORD ESCORT MK11) [5]
21 SEAMUS O'CONNELL/SEAN MAGEE (FORD ESCORT MK11) [5]
22 JAMES KENNEDY/HEATHER KENNEDY (FORD ESCORT MK11) [5]
23 LIAM REGAN/DAMIAN DUFFIN (PEUGEOT 206 4WD) [6]
24 ANDREW BUSTARD/DAVID YOUNG (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
25 HUGH MCQUAID/CHRIS MELLY (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
26 ORAN DONNELLY/PAUL HUGHES (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
27 JER CONNORS/TBA (SUBARU IMPREZA WRX) [6]
28 ROBERT MCKELVEY/AARON JOHNSTON (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 8) [8]
29 DARREN MCKELVEY/DENVER RAFFERTY (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 6) [8]
30 JAMES LAVERTY/FRANCIS REGAN (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
31 RAYMOND MASON/PAUL HONE (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
32 KIERON GRAFFIN/PADDY ROBINSON (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO) [8]
33 GARETH SAYERS/GARETH GILCHRIST (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO) [8]
34 ROBERT MOFFETT/TBA (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
35 JOSEPH MCGONIGLE/CIARAN GEARY (RENAULT CLIO MAXI) [5]
36 DAMIEN MCGURRAN/TBA (TOYOTA COROLLA) [5]
37 BRENDAN CAMPBELL/KEVIN CREIGHAN (FORD ESCORT MK11) [5]
38 EAMON DOHERTY/TBA (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
39 DEAN RAFFERTY/TBA (HONDA CIVIC) [9]
40 IAN MILLAR/RONAN O'NEILL (FORD ESCORT MK11) [3]
41 NIALL DONNELLY/EAMON GALLAGHER (FORD ESCORT MK11) [3]
42 MICHAEL RYAN/TBA (HONDA CIVIC EG6) [9]
43 PADDY MCTOAL/CONNOR O'LOAN (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
44 ASHLEY RUTLEDGE/BRIAN ROBINSON (HONDA CIVIC) [3]
45 MARTIN LAVERTY/VINCENT FERGUS (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 8) [8]
46 COLM MCFALL/TBA (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
47 DECLAN MCNAUGHTON/JOE AGNEW (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
48 TOMMY O'CONNELL/BRIAN DUGGAN (FORD ESCORT MK11) [11]
49 ROB DENNIS/BOB STOKOE (FORD ESCORT MK11) [11]
50 RONAN CAMPBELL/THOMAS WEDLOCK (FORD ESCORT MK11) [11]
51 RYAN BRADLEY/CAHAL MCGREGOR (FORD ESCORT MK11) [3]
52 DAVID SMITH/AUSTIN HAMALL (EVO) [6]
53 PADDY WALKER/JOHN SWEENEY (PEUGEOT 206 CUP CAR) [3]
54 AARON CUNNINGHAM/RYAN O'CONNOR (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
55 BEN GORMLEY/TBA (SUBARU IMPREZA) [8]
56 DEREK CROSSEN/ANDREW BUSHE (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 6) [6]
57 DAVID KERR/BENNY GRAINGER (PEUGEOT 205) [2]
58 AARON MAWHINNEY/CHRIS MCKENNA (FORD ESCORT MK11) [2]
59 DERMOT MCCAFFERTY/PADDY MCCRUDDEN (SUBARU IMPREZA) [6]
60 RICHARD TANNAHILL/BRIAN CRAWFORD (MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 9) [8]
61 MICHAEL MCCARROLL/TBA (FIESTA ST) [5]
62 OWEN MCTOAL/DAVID BIRT (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
63 BRICE HETHERINGTON/THOMAS NUGENT (FORD ESCORT MK11) [4]
64 ANDREW FANNING/DEREK GIBBS (FORD PUMA) [3]
65 DOMINIC LEONARD/BRIAN HOY (HONDA CIVIC) [3]
66 JOHN CROSSLEY/JOE GALLAGHER (FORD ESCORT MK11) [1]
67 EOIN MCGUCKIAN/TBA (FORD ESCORT MK11) [1]
68 BILL ARBUTHNOT/JASON MCGUKIN (SUBARU) [6]

Valvoline Forest Shoot Out In The Glens

Posted: October 24, 2012 2:37 PM

Next Saturday’s Glens of Antrim rally is the seventh and final round of the 2012 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally Championship. This popular championship has provided huge excitement and very competitive racing in all the classes throughout the season. Any one of three drivers can claim the Valvoline crown this afternoon and many of the classes are still to be resolved according to championship pro Austin Shinnors.

Monaghan’s Stephen Wright is the championship leader with 101 points, his Evo 6 scoring well on every rally. His season started on a great note, finishing second in opening round in Donegal and he followed with very consistent scores: a third, a fifth, two sixths and an eighth place.

Just three points behind is Colin Britton with 98 points. The Strabane driver in his Evo9 is having a great season to-date with a first on round six in Omagh, a second, two thirds and one fourth place. Britton had one retirement, when the transmission let go on round five in Mitchelstown.

Vincent Mc Aree is next up just four points adrift of Britton. The Monaghan man had a bad start to the year with a mechanical retirement in the Evo9 in Donegal but he recovered well and he has been well on the pace with two seconds, one third, one fourth and a sixth place.

Garry Jennings in a Subaru Group A. is in fourth place. He is six points behind Mc Aree and a total of thirteen from Wright. The Kesh man won in Donegal and Mitchelstown and he collected maximum points on the second round in Carrick where he trailed home the non-registered Craig Breen. Sensationally he finished second in Moonraker (round 3) after a roll but did not start Cork due to issues at scrutiny. A bigger disappointment awaited Jennings in Omagh when his engine expired at the start of the last stage. He was in third place at the time and he would has claimed the crown if he completed the rally in that position.

Fifth place is claimed by Ger Lucey who is the leading non-Ulster driver on the leaderboard. Lucey has 76 points accumulated in his Evo8 thanks to one sixth and three sevenths and a eighth. The Corkman retired on Carrick.

The above scores are the maximum points scored by each driver. However when dropped scores and bonus points are taken into account, the leaderboard takes a different shape. The main contenders are Jennings, Britton and Mc Aree. Jennings remains favourite to claim the 2012 Valvoline Forest Crown, and it is for him to lose. Colin Britton would need to win on Saturday and have Jennings score less then 14 points (which is 7th championship finisher) to win. For McAree to win he would need to win the rally and have Jennings non-finish and Britton to finish four championship places behind him.

The Glens of Antrim Rally is based in the Coleraine/Limavady area using Cam and Springwell forests. The format is 2 stages run three times with approximate mileage of 67km (42 miles). Scrutiny takes place on the morning of the event with the start and service all held within the same central location.

Tension, drama and nail biting will dominate the Saturday’s racing. At the end of the day the Valvoline Forest Crown will be lifted by an Ulsterman. The question is will he be from Fermanagh, Tyrone or Monaghan?

Entries Received (23/10/12)

Posted: October 19, 2012 9:35 AM

Available at:

Valvoline Forest Rally Championship Notice:

Posted: October 18, 2012 1:22 PM

"Anyone travelling for the Glens of Antrim who may not yet have sent in their entry to let the entry secretary for the event know of your intention to compete."
Telephone: 00442893342153 / 02893342153
e-mail assenman@aol.com

RiverRidge Recycling Glens of Antrim Rally

Posted: October 12, 2012 8:49 AM

Mid-Antrim Motor Club are pleased to announce RiverRidge Recycling as the headline sponsor of the Glens of Antrim Rally. The scrutiny, start, service and finish of the event will all be based within the company's premises which is only a stone's throw from the two special stages in Cam and Springwell. This means a very compact event to keep costs down for competitors.
Clerk of the Course William Carey today said
"We are glad to welcome RiverRidge Recycling as our headline sponsor, I was extremely impressed by their professional facilities and it is an ideal location to base the rally from. The Management team was very helpful and I appreciate their support of our event."

RiverRidge Recycling is a long established waste management company providing a full range of waste management services from waste haulage to recycling and landfill.

NOTICE: Event moves to Cam and Springwell forests

Posted: October 11, 2012 1:30 PM

Mid-Antrim Motor Club would like to announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, the Glens of Antrim Rally will now be based in the Coleraine/Limavady area using Cam and Springwell forests. The format is now 2 stages run three times with approximate mileage of 42 miles. Scrutiny will remain on the morning of the event with the start and service all held within the same central location.

Although the need to change location has been a major setback to the organising committee, we are excited by the challenge of running two of the best smooth and flowing forest stages in the country. Closing date for entries is the 20th October and we look forward to welcoming you to our event!

The Glens of Antrim Stages Rally 2012

Posted: September 12, 2012 11:08 AM

The Mid Antrim Motor Clubs Glens of Antrim Stages Rally will be held on Saturday 27th October 2012. A week earlier than its traditional slot on the annual calendar is not the only change to the event this year, a new Rally HQ, new Clerk of the Course and part of a new Championship is just some of the changes.

Clerk of the Course this year is William Carey, William would be better known for his exploits behind the wheel of a MK11 Escort and has been taking a break from competing has stepped up to take on the role of COC for the event. This has brought several new ideas to the event which should make the event more competitor friendly.

The Rally this year will be the Final Round of the 2012 Valvoline MI National Forest Rally Championship. The event is no stranger to being the Final Round of a Championship and you can be sure that a warm welcome is waiting for all the Crews travelling up to compete in the Co Antrim Forests for the first time. With a number of local crews eager to return to competing in the forests it will make for some interesting battles.

The event this year has a new format and new Rally HQ. The event this year will be a one day event, there will be no recce and scrutiny will be on the morning of the event. Safety notes will be available from a couple of suppliers. The event will be based in Con Magees GAC, Glenravel, this will double as Rally HQ and Service Area. The event itself will be fought out over 10 stages including the mighty Slieveanorra and Parkmore Stages. With approximately 42 stage miles and 85 road miles it is a very compact event.

Regulations / Entry Form (Rev 2)

Posted: September 12, 2012 10:43 AM

Mid Antrim Motor Club will host the final round of the 2012 Valvoline Forest Rally Championship

Posted: July 6, 2012 9:46 AM

The National Forest Rally Championship sub committee are pleased to announce that Mid Antrim Motor Club will host the final round of the 2012 Valvoline Forest Rally Championship on Saturday October 27th. The Glens of Antrim will be held in the Ballymena area of County Antrim, the club will release details shortly.

This event replaces the Dogleap which was due to host round 6 in August. Round 5 will be held this coming weekend at The Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally in Mitchelstown by Tipperary Light Car & Motorcycle Club, Round 6 in now being held by Omagh Motor Club at the Bushwacker Rally on Saturday September 22. The Glens of Antrim becomes round 7.

The sub committee are very grateful to Mid Antrim Motor Club, The ANICC and the Rallies Committee of Motorsport Ireland for facilitating the amendments made to the 2012 calendar. This addition allows us meet the commitments we made to competitors and sponsors at the beginning of the year.

Club Website

Posted: July 6, 2012 9:45 AM

Topics: Glens (Mid Antrim Motor Club)  Forest Championship 

Upcoming Events

 Past Events

 Future Events