2012/13 National Night Navigation Championship

Navigation/Endurance Trial Open Forum / Prizegiving - (Sat) 27 Apr 13

Posted: April 11, 2013 11:16 AM

Navigation/Endurance Trial Open Forum / Prizegiving - (Sat) 27 Apr 13

Review: Mackarel/Higgins Crowned National Champions Again

Posted: April 11, 2013 11:11 AM

Andy Mackarel & Liam Higgins have claimed their 5th National Night Navigation Championship title together and their first since the 2006-2007 season. The Monaghan/Longford duo collected four overall victories and along with two other top five placings, it was enough to secure the title despite missing the opening two rounds. Former class rivals, Colin Duffy & Sam Johnston, teamed up this season and pushed them hard all year taking two wins and other top five finishes en route to 2nd overall, just four points in arrears of the Champions. Novice pairing, Martin Tynan & Fintan Clerkin made a big impact on their first attempt at the Championship, taking 3rd overall as well as claimed their first National Championship win on the final round in Monaghan.

Richard Cassidy & Paul Phelan claimed Expert class honours, while Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry were run away winners of the Semi-Expert class. With Tynan/Clerkin finishing 3rd overall, Trevor O'Callaghan was top Novice driver with Mac Kierans the top Novice Navigator. Gerry Kelly/Seamus McTigue were comfortable winners of the Beginners class.

Round 1 Birr MC:
The overall victory in Birr was shared between Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston & Joe Shinnors/Greg Shinnors as no tie-breaker could split the two crews on the Nenagh-based event. Eoin Longworth was once again the COC. Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry took 3rd overall on the 'Semi beats Expert' rule from Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan, who got their National campaign off to a solid start. Local men David Forde/Sean Henehan had a great run to victory first time out in the Novice class while Beginners class honours went to Gerry Kelly/Seamus McTigue.

Round 2 Cork MC Star-Trek:
Local men, Dermot Whelton/Barry O'Sullivan took their maiden event win on Round 2 of the series. Sean Daly took on the role of COC with the event moving into seldom used territory in North Cork. A strong performance from the Semi-Expert duo resulted in them picking up the pieces when No.1 seeds Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston picked up a wrong approach early on. David Beamish/Daire Hayes finished 2nd overall with Johnny Kenneally/Ken Carmody completing an all Cork podium in 3rd position. Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin moved up to take Novice class honours, a position they would become familiar with by seasons end. Ted O'Riordan/Patrick O'Learly took honours in the Beginners class.

Round 3 Monaghan MC Drumlin:
Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins got their National campaign off to a winning start securing victory on the Drumlin Navigation Trial. They were pushed all the way by Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin who had a great run and so very nearly took the spoils. Local DJ Sean McCaffrey was COC taking crews through the Mid-Monaghan countryside with tricky tulip diagrams keeping crews on their toes. Behind the top two, Ciaran Coyle/Kevin Gallagher took Semi-Expert class honours and 3rd overall. Noel Lappin/Derek Mackarel emerged victorious in the Beginners class.

Round 4 Midland MC:
Championship front runners, Colin Duffy & Sam Johnston organised the fourth round of the Championship which proved to be the most difficult event of the year. Liam Higgins was on home territory so it was no surprise that he and Andy Mackarel recorded back-to-back wins but they were over 100 penalties clear of anyone else. Mickey & Ciaran Tynan finished 2nd, just holding off Joe Shinnors/Greg Shinnors who took a fine 3rd overall. Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry took Semi-Expert class honours on their home event, with Arthur & Mac Kierans winning the Novice class and Gerry Kelly/Seamus McTigue taking another win in the Beginners class.

Round 5 Cork MC 1000 Shakes:
It was back to Cork for Round 5 with Nial Murphy organising the 1000 Shakes Navigation Trial. The Macroom-based event was one again a popular one for both driver and navigator, as Mackarel/Higgins continued their winning ways with a 3rd win in a row. Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan put their experience to good measure to take a close 2nd place with former Champion Ashley McAdoo driving Francis Keenan to 3rd overall as well as victory in the Semi-Expert class. Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin were back on top to win the Novice class while Gerry Kelly/Seamus McTigue continued their winning ways in the Beginners class.

Round 6 Skibbereen MC 100 Isles:
The crews moved further south in Co. Cork for Round 6. Eric McCarthy was COC for another classic of the Navigation Trial calendar. It was one of the closest events of the year with Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston taking a 1 penalty win from David Beamish/Daire Hayes. Gerard O'Connell/Denis O'Donovan were also in close attendance to take 3rd place overall. Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry took victory in the Semi-Expert class, with Trevor O'Callaghan/Iarla McCarthy and Des Cooney/Roy White taking the honours in the Novice & Beginners class respectively.

Round 7 Cavan MC:
Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins were back on top on Round 7 of the Championship in Cavan. Thomas Wedlock took on the role of COC and ran a well-organised and challenging event. Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston kept their Championship challenge alive by taking 2nd but would go into the final round 3 points in arrears. Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry had a great run to 3rd overall and Semi-Expert class honours as a tricky timepoint around the side of a windmill caught out many crews. Mac Kierans with new driver, Bobby Sharkey took Novice class honours with Gerry Kelly/Seamus McTigue taking another Beginners class win.

Round 8 Monaghan MC:
Ciaran Tynan organised the final round of the Championship which proved to be another excellent and well-organised event. Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin put in a storming drive to take the overall win on the 'Novice beats Semi-Expert' rule, denying Ashley McAdoo/Francis Keenan their first event win together. 3rd overall on the night was enough for Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins to secure the National title from Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston who were just 1 place adrift on the night. Dermot & Laurence Keenan inherited victory in the Novice class due to Tynan/Clerkin's overall success. Fintan McGorman/Derek Mackarel completed a great night for the Mackarel family by securing a dominant win in the Beginners class.

So once again, the National Night Navigation Championship proved to be an exciting affair with it all going to the wire in the final round. Congratulations to Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins on another National title in a dominant year for them as they also won the Border Navigation Championship once again. Sam Johnson’s partnership with Colin Duffy seems to have taken him up another gear and their overall success in the Munster Navigation Championship lays a good foundation for another assault next year. Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin are surely a crew to watch next season after an impressive debut on the National Championship.

The complete prize winners are

1st overall – Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins
2nd overall – Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston
3rd overall – Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin


1st Expert – Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan
2nd Expert – Joe Shinnors/Daire Hayes
3rd Expert – David Beamish/Greg Shinnors

1st Semi-Expert – Pakie Duffy/Nigel McCloughry
2nd Semi-Expert – Ashley McAdoo/Francis Keenan
3rd Semi-Expert – Sean McKenna/Gary Farrelly

1st Novice – Trevor O'Callaghan/Mac Kierans
2nd Novice – Eoghan Corr/Iarla McCarthy
3rd Novice – David Forde/Brendan Treanor

1st Beginner – Gerry Kelly/Seamus McTigue
2nd Beginner – Richard O'Mahony Jnr/Richard O'Mahony Snr
3rd Beginner – David O'Donaghoe/Patrick O'Leary

POINTS AFTER FINAL ROUND

Posted: November 29, 2012 8:46 PM

2012/13 National Night Navigation Championship - POINTS AFTER FINAL ROUND

2012-2013 National Night Navigation Championship Preview

Posted: October 18, 2012 11:04 PM

The 2012-2013 National Night Navigation Championship will take place between the months of October 2012 and March 2013. The Championship will consist of eight events organised by six different motor clubs in counties Tipperary, Cork, Monaghan, Longford, Leitrim and Cavan. This season looks set to be one of the most open for years with a number of crews targeting Championship glory. Last season, Monaghan's Michael Carbin & Evin Hughes clinched their maiden national title after twice previously finishing as runners-up. They were pushed all the way by Darren Quinn/Nigel McCloughry who were competing in only their second full season. Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston finished 3rd overall for the second successive year.

It is all change for the new season, as Michael Carbin & Evin Hughes have elected not to defend their national title, leaving the door open for a another new pair of champions. With his regular driver Darren Quinn having emigrated to Australia, Nigel McCloughry has teamed up with Pakie Duffy and they will hope to continue the excellent form shown by Nigel last season. Sam Johnston and Colin Duffy who duelled all the way in the Semi-expert class last year have teamed up for 2012-13 with Colin taking over from Chris Kelly in the drivers seat. The combination of two top navigators in the same car could be the recipe for success for this crew. Not letting the midland crews have all their own way will be Cork brother and sister, Daire and Muireann Hayes. Daire won the Munster navigation championship and has contested several National championship in recent years, and will be fully focused on the top prize this season. Muireann contested her first full championship last year and having already recorded one overall win and one other top five finish to her name, there's no denying that the Expert's and Semi's will be looking over their shoulder in 2012-13. Paul Phelan has won an incredible nineteen national titles, but still continues to compete at the highest level. Paul, with regular driver Richard Cassidy won the Star-Trek event last year and and his many years of experience will surely aid him in the coming season. Many other crews, such as Limerick brothers Alan & George Shinnors and Joe & Greg Shinnors are also well capable of winning the championship making it extremely difficult to identify the crew to beat in 2012-2013.

Birr motor club host the opening round of the Championship in 2012-2013. Eoin Longworth returns as COC with the event moving its base to Nenagh. David Beamish/Muireann Hayes won this event last year after making the break on the infamous Devil's Bit Mountain. The Championship then moves to North Cork on the first weekend of November, scene of Richard Cassidy/Paul Phelan's fine win in 2012. The very next weekend, Monaghan Motor Club's famous Drumlin Navigation Trial takes place. It is one of the most prestiges events in this discipline and the one every crew wants to win. Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes won here last year kick-starting their Championship bid in the process. The Midland Navigation Trial is Round 4, won in 2012 by local men Chris Kelly/Sam Johnston. After the Christmas break, the championship returns to Cork for the second Cork Motor Club event, the 1000 Shakes. This challenging Macroom-based event was the scene of Pakie & Colin Duffy's first event win together last season. The 100 Isles event, organised by the Skibbereen Motor Club is Round 6. Alan & George Shinnors & Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes tied for the overall win back in February. Cavan is next up, scene of Ciaran McElroy/Damien McCabe's maiden event win. The final round of the series takes place in Monaghan again, where Gary McElhinney/Damien Connolly came through to take overall victory.

Championship Rounds (2013 Dates Confirmed)

Posted: October 4, 2012 12:24 PM

• 1 Birr Navigation Trial - 20-21 Oct 12
• 2 Cork Startrek Navigation Trial - 3-4 Nov 12
• 3 Monaghan Drumlin Navigation Trial - 10 Nov 12
• 4 Midland Navigation Trial - 24-25 Nov 12
• Reserve Skibbereen Carbery Navigation Trial - 8-9 Dec 12
• 5 Cork 1000 Shakes - 19-20 Jan 13
• 6 Skibbereen 100 Isles 2-3 Feb 13
• Reserve Midland - 9-10 Feb 13
• 7 Cavan - 2-3 Mar 13
• 8 Monaghan - 9-10 Mar 13