Donegal Harvest Stages Rally - DATE CHANGE (Sat) 13 Oct 18

STUNNING ENTRY FOR HARVEST RALLY PROMISES EPIC FINALE TO IRISH RALLY SEASON.

Posted: October 11, 2018 5:11 PM

Sam Pearson, Clerk of the Course for the Jacksons Hotel Harvest Stages Rally in Ballybofey on 13th October 2018, has confirmed that entries have now closed for the Harvest Stages rally with one of the biggest fields ever assembled for a one-day event in Ireland.

“We have 140 rally crews ready to take the start line at Jacksons Hotel on Saturday, from an entry of almost 200. That’s the biggest one-day entry in the country this year, and one of the biggest ever. We received 40 more entries than we can start for the main event, and they go on the reserve list, waiting to see if some spaces become available.”

“On top of that we have another 18 crews entered in the Junior category, leaving us with close to 160 rally cars battling it out for the prizes in the Triton National Rally Championship, the Sligo Pallets Border Championship and the Donegal Commercials Donegal Motor Club Championship.”

“There are no less than five winners of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and three winners of the Triton National Rally Championship listed in the top ten, with newly-crowned 2018 champion Josh Moffett, number 1 seed Donagh Kelly, Declan Boyle, Josh Moffett joining former Donegal International rally winner Gareth McHale, who makes a welcome comeback to the sport. Between them they have won just about every rally - and rally championship - in the country, many times over. It’s an epic entry.”

“Declan Boyle in a Ford Fiesta WRC leads the Triton National rally series from fellow Donegal man Joe McGonigle in his Mini WRC with Monaghan’s Josh Moffett in hot pursuit in his Fiesta WRC. Saturday will see the crowning of the overall 2018 Champion.”

“We have some of the best drivers coming from Scotland, headed by British Rally Champion David Bogie in a brand-new car at number 10. He leads away possibly the best quality Ford Escort entry list we have ever seen in Donegal, and that’s saying something.”

“Everywhere you look there are rally winners, including Donegal’s new Irish Tarmac champion Kevin Eves in his Toyota Corolla. Stuart Darcy brings his Darrian T90 to Ballybofey to continue an epic title battle with Gary Kiernan for the Irish National championship. The Escorts won’t have it their own way in the modified category.”

Our rally programme is now available and includes a tribute to Gerald Hunter, the Clerk of the Course for the “Rally in the Valley” in 2010, the last time the Harvest was based in Ballybofey. It was a huge success thanks to him, and we continue to miss Gerald’s energy, leadership and sense of fun. He will be fondly remembered by all in the Motor Club this weekend.”

“We are still asking for Marshals to come forward to help with the running of the rally. The Chief Marshal for the Rally is Club Secretary John Crumlish who can be contacted on the Motor Club’s website: www.donegalmotorclub.com. “

“Donagh Kelly’s Ford Focus WRC will lead the field away from Ballybofey at 9.15 on Saturday morning and the rally arrives back to the finish ramp at Jacksons Hotel at 5.15 in the afternoon. In between will be one of the most hotly contested Harvest Rallies in years. I would ask that everyone travel safely, get to the stages early and follow the instructions of the marshals at all times.”

Entry List Update

Posted: October 9, 2018 3:08 PM

Withdrawals
6 Barry McKenna/Leon Jordan (Ford Fiesta R5+) [20]
7 Callum Devine/Brian Hoy (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
26 John O'Donnell/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
39 Brendan McDaid/Brian Hoy (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
43 Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming (Toyota Corolla) [13]
82 Eamon McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort) [12]
84 Conor Murphy/Kieran O'Donoghue (Ford Escort) [14]
88 Brian Brady/Gary McNamee (Honda Civic) [11F]
131 John Mullholland/Aidan O'Connor (Ford Escort) []
R20 John Hegarty/Patrick McGlynn (Honda Civic) [11F]
R23 Patrick Bradley/Aidan Sweeney (Ford Escort G3) [13]
R26 Nigel Brennan/Rebacca Brown (Honda Civic) [1]
R30 Philip Greenlee/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort MkII) [13]

First on Reserve:
Sam Stewart/Alan Johnston (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]

Late Entries
J18 Nigel Brennan/Rebacca Brown (Honda Civic) [16]

Donegal Motor Club

TRITON TITLE AWAITS - Preview courtesy of Triton Showers - Proud sponsors of the Irish National Rally Championship.

Posted: October 9, 2018 12:55 PM

Following a long hot summer the temperatures remain high for the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the outcome of which will be decided on the Jackson’s Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally, the seventh and final round of the series on Saturday next.

After an eventful season three drivers - current series leader Donegal’s Declan Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC), Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Ford Fiesta WRC) and Donegal’s Joe McGonigle (Mini WRC) are vying to reap the rewards and claim the prestigious Vard Memorial Trophy. Boyle, a champion in 2013 and 2014 is favourite to claim his third title and join Monaghan’s Niall Maguire, the only triple national rally winner. Currently, Lettermacaward driver Boyle leads both Moffett and McGonigle by twelve points and even if either of his rivals were to win (finish as the top Triton registered competitors 20 points) and also claim the single bonus point from the Power Stage, a top eight (ten points) championship finish will still be enough for Boyle to claim the title.

On last month’s Sligo Rally, both Boyle and Moffett spurned opportunities to close in on the title, remarkably, both crashed out within a stage of each other leaving McGonigle take the maximum points and the lead of the seven round series.

In the last round in Clare where McGonigle was a non-starter, Moffett took victory while Boyle finished fifth (fourth in terms of the series and annexed fourteen points) to move into the lead of the championship.

It certainly was an unusual event for Boyle with the Sligo incident playing on his mind.
“Clare was one of the toughest rallies, I was trying not to make any mistakes and I was very slow at the start. We (with co-driver James O’Reilly) made our pacenotes with just a finish in mind, particularly after the silly off in Sligo. On the second and third loops we picked up the pace and got the points we required.”

How Boyle adapts will be key but there is no doubt that he will have learned from the experience in Clare.
v Meanwhile, Moffett is bidding to clinch his inaugural Triton Showers title as he tries to emulate his older brother Sam, who won the series last year and also won Irish Tarmac and Forest titles, the first driver to achieve the feat in the same season. Unlike his rivals, Moffett’s points tally is from five events as he missed out on the Circuit of Kerry earlier in the season. Although McGonigle has been very consistent, he needs both drivers to hit trouble to secure the title.

The organising Donegal Motor Club has attracted a capacity entry of 140 crews with over 40 more on reserve and 16 entries in the Junior category – certainly, the biggest of the season. Donegal’s Donagh Kelly, a former Triton champion is the top seed in his Ford Focus WRC. This will be his first outing in the car since he crashed out of the lead of the Donegal International Rally last June, having contested the earlier rounds of the Triton campaign that included victory in the Circuit of Kerry, Kelly is eligible to score championship points in Donegal. Josh Moffett, Sam Moffett, Boyle and McGonigle are next on the seeded list.

Monaghan’s Barry McKenna will drive the Ford Fiesta R5+ he campaigned in this season’s National Forest Championship and it will be interesting - given how quick he was on gravel surface - to see if he can match the pace of the top seeds.

Billy Coleman award winner Derry’s Callum Devine (Ford Fiesta R5) is another stellar entry along with former Irish Tarmac champion Gareth MacHale (Ford Fiesta R5), the Dubliner made a return to rallying after a lapse of over six years on the last Triton round in Clare where he finished eighth overall. The Donegal top ten is completed by Tyrone’s Frank Wray (Subaru WRC) and the Ford Escort of Scotland’s David Bogie (Ford Escort).

Another title down for decision in Donegal is the rally.ie award (highest placed two-wheel drive competitor in overall standings. That award rests between Donegal’s Stuart Darcy (Darrian T90) and Cavan’s Chris Armstrong (Ford Escort) with the former leading by four points. Over the last two rounds Armstrong has gained 15 points on his rival to set up the title decider in Ballybofey.

The Modified category has a splendid entry and aside from the aforementioned pair it also features Donegal duo Kevin Eves (Toyota Corolla) and Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) and the Escorts of Gary Kiernan, Jonathan Pringle, Gary McPhillips, Damian Tourish, Damien Toner, Brian Brogan, Wesley Patterson and John Bonner.

A number of Donegal drivers are also involved in the quest for class honours within the Triton series. In Class 4, Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi EvoIX) holds the edge over Tyrone’s Aidan Wray while in Class 13, Johnny Jordan (Toyota Starlet) and Daniel Conaghan (Ford Escort) are separated by four points in favour of the latter. Darcy has a five-point lead over Cavan’s Chris Armstrong in Class 14.

Former national rally champion in 2000 - Donegal’s Paul Harris will co-drive for Donall Barrett (Ford Escort), they are seed at 100.

Seeded Entry Lists

Posted: October 4, 2018 4:07 AM

1 Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Ford Focus WRC) [7]
2 Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Ford Fiesta WRC+) [20]
3 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
4 Declan Boyle/James O'Reilly (Ford Fiesta WRC+) [20]
5 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Mini WRC+) [20]
6 Barry McKenna/Leon Jordan (Ford Fiesta R5+) [20]
7 Callum Devine/Brian Hoy (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
8 Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
9 Frank Wray/Joe Mc Nulty (Subaru Impreza WRC S11) [8]
10 David Bogie/John Rowan (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
11 Kevin Eves/Sean Ferris (Toyota Corolla) [14]
12 Declan Gallagher/John McCarthy (Toyota Starlet) [14]
14 Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
15 Jonathan Pringle/Paul Sheridan (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
16 Stuart Darcy/Patrick Brides (Darrian T90) [14]
17 Chris Armstrong/Chris Melly (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
18 Gary McPhillips/James McNulty (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
19 Damian Tourish/Domhnaill McAlaney (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
20 Damien Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
21 Brian Brogan/Damian McGettigan (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
22 Welsey Patterson/Ray Fizpatrick (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
23 John Bonner/Rory Kennedy (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
24 Johnny Jordan/Gary McNern (Toyota Starlet) [13]
25 Kyle McGettigan/Dale McGettigan (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
26 John O'Donnell/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
27 Aidan Wray/Kieran Mc Grath (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [4]
28 Barry Groundwater/Neil Shanks (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [20]
29 Gordon Morrison/Cameron Fair (Subaru Impreza) []
30 Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
31 Shaun Sinclair/Iona Sinclair (Mitsubishi WRC Proto) []
32 Trevor Bustard/John McCafferty (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [4]
33 David Leonard/Niall Burns (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer) [20]
34 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curren (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [20]
35 James Laverty/Paul Hughes (Subaru Impreza) [4]
36 Gary Cairns/Mark Preston (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [4]
37 Conor Mc Crossan/Kevin Flanagan (Skoda Fabia) [20]
38 Patrick McHugh/Pauric O'Donnell (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
39 Brendan McDaid/Brian Hoy (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
40 Martin McGee/Odhrán McGee (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
41 Johno Duggan/Ciaran Marron (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
42 JF Shovelin/Brendan McElhinney (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
43 Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming (Toyota Corolla) [13]
44 Daniel Conaghan/Terence Magee (Ford Escort MkII) [13R]
45 William McFadden/Demi McFadden (Ford Escort G3) [13]
46 Paul Purtill/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
47 Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
48 Martin Doherty/Darragh Doherty (Ford Escort RS1800) []
49 Jason Black/Conor Dunlop (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
50 Tim Enright/Paul Kelly (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
51 James McCarville/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
52 Geoffrey Dolan/Conor Murphy (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
53 Paul Clarke/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
54 Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer) [20]
55 Michael McCollum/Michael Pearson (Subaru Impreza) [15]
56 Gary Cooney/Liam McIntyre (Subaru Impreza) [7]
57 Brian Watson/Sean Donnelly (Subaru Impreza WRC S11) []
58 Anthony Cairns/Mark Preston (Subaru Impreza) [20]
59 Lee Hastings/Alistair Wyllie (Subaru Impreza) [20]
60 Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [7]
61 John Cairns/James Cairns (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [20]
62 Marty Gallagher/Dean O'Sullivan (Peugeot 208 R2) [2]
63 Lee McLaughlin/Christy McLaughlin (Honda Civic) [11F]
64 Michael Hamilton/Dylan Donoghue (Honda Civic) [11F]
65 Cathal Mulgrew/Darren O'Brien (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
66 Conor Watters/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [14]
67 Shane Cullen/Conor O'Loan (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
68 Stanley McKeown/Nigel Gourley (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
69 Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
70 Chris McLaughlin/Loretta Kelly (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
71 Christy Gallagher/Lee Cullen (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
72 Paul Crosby/Trisha Greavy (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
73 Sean Heraghty/Gary Lockhart (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
74 Justin Smyth/Greg Mc Quillan (Ford Escort) [12]
75 Vincent Collins/Fintan Kilroe (Ford Escort) [12]
76 William Armstrong/Philip Armstrong (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
77 Kevin McLaughlin/Kieron McGinley (Honda Civic) [11F]
78 Donal Kelly/Shane Byrne (Honda Civic) [11F]
79 Liam McMullan/John Coll (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [20]
80 Alan Atcheson/TBA (Ford Fiesta) [20]
81 Jack Maguire/TBA (Ford Fiesta) [20]
82 Eamon McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort) [12]
83 John Hendy/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
84 Conor Murphy/Kieran O'Donoghue (Ford Escort) [14]
85 Paul Carron/Sean Brunton (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
86 David Kelly/Kenny Bustard (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
87 Paddy McDaid/Timmy Lunn (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
88 Brian Brady/Gary McNamee (Honda Civic) [11F]
89 Damian Campbell/Declan McGarrity (Ford Escort) [13]
90 Gary McElhinney/Shaun Lafferty (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
91 Stephen Reynolds/Emmett Brosnan (Ford Escort) [13]
92 Jason Tuthill/Ben Taggart (Ford Escort) [13]
93 JT Sean Warnock/Dessie Wilson (Ford Escort) [13]
94 Anthony McCann/Damian McCann (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
95 Michael McDaid/Dáire Maguire (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
96 Roy Baldrick/Dermot Friel (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
97 Kevin Kelly/Keith Harris (Ford Escort) [13]
98 Clive McGonigle/Steven Tinney (Ford Escort) [13]
99 John Ward/Hugh Martin Molloy (Subaru Impreza) [15]
100 Donall Barrett/Paul Harris (Ford Escort) [11R]
101 John Kelly/Niall Kelly (Toyota Corolla) [10]
102 Shane Carr/Ciaran Carr (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
103 Danny MacBride/Emmett McNulty (Honda Civic) [11F]
104 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Honda Civic) [11F]
105 Brian Quigley/Andrew Wedlock (Honda Civic) [11F]
106 Chirstopher Brennan/Martin Huges (Honda Civic) [11F]
107 Ruairi McGarrity/Martin McGarrity (Peugeot 106) [3]
108 Teighernán Kelly/Shane O'Donnell (Honda Civic) [11F]
109 Ger Lyons/Steve O'Brien (Honda Civic) [11F]
110 Stephen Reynalds/Derek Mc Carthy (Honda Civic) [1]
111 Raymond McLaughlin/Martin McBrearty (Ford Puma) [2]
112 Mark Ewing/Francie Devine (Honda Civic Type R) []
113 Des Lyons/Ashling McAndle (Honda Civic) [11F]
114 John Dolan/Jack McGinley (Ford Escort) [13]
115 John McHugh/Brian Boyle (Toyota Corolla) [13]
116 Derek Gurney/Sean Doherty (Ford Sierra) [13]
117 William Smyth/Darryl Smyth (Toyota Starlet) [13]
118 Desmond Roche/TBA (Honda Civic) [1]
119 Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge (Peugeot 306) [3]
120 Stuart Robb/Chris Harley (Toyota Corrlla 6T) [11R]
121 Rory Thomas/Aidan Thomas (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
122 William Vance/Billy Vance (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
123 Paddy Shields/Barry McBride (Toyota Starlet) [13]
124 Adrian Rankin/Keith Peoples (Ford Escort) [11R]
125 Ciaran Brogan/Sean Brogan (Ford Escort) [13]
126 Andrew Stewart/Tony Gallagher (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 4) [15]
127 James McGreal/Chris Mitchell (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 6) [15]
128 John Duffy/John Egan (Honda Integra) []
129 Greg McGroary/Donal Bradley (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
130 Kevin Bradley/Buddy Holly (Ford Escort) [11R]
131 John Mullholland/Aidan O'Connor (Ford Escort) []
132 Philip Hamilton/Joe Comerford (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
133 David Gordon/David Callaghan (Rover MG) [9]
134 Paddy Walker/Stephen Diver (Honda Civic) [1]
135 Mark McMullan/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
136 Drew McMullan/Richard Gordon (Peugeot 206) [11F]
137 Brendan Friel/Jason McCahill (Nissan Micra) [9]
138 Joe Moffett/Eddie Moffett (Honda Civic) [1]
139 Malcolm Pedlow/John Henderson (BMW 20002) [18]
140 Iarla Carty/Jack Carty (Morris Mini) [17]
140 Mark G Finnegan/Brian Loughlan (Suzuki Swift) [9]
141 Alistair Glenn/Lee Simpson (Peugeot 206) [2]
142 Lisa Thomas/Hayley Baskin (Honda Civic) [1]

Reserve List
R1 Barry Melly/Alvin Alcorn (Ford Sierra) [11R]
R2 Michael Brazil/Darragh Mullen (Peugeot 205 RWD) [13]
R3 Shaun Murphy/Damien McKenna (Ford Escort) [13]
R4 Adrian Cannon/Pauric Keeney (Honda Civic R3) [3]
R5 Peter McCarry/Niall Cambell (Ford Escort) [13]
R6 Kieran O'Kane/John Frew (Opel Ascona) [14]
R7 JP Logue/James Logue (Honda Civic) [11F]
R8 Gerard McGinley/Michelle McGinley (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
R9 Mickey Brennan/Ryan Brennan (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
R10 Andrew McTaggart/Shane McTaggart (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
R11 Robert Reilly/Eamon Conway (Honda Civic) [11F]
R12 Keith Ewing/Sean Quigley (Honda Civic) [16]
R13 Johnny Orr/Wesley Finlay (Honda Civic) [3]
R14 Ivan Stewart/Joe Friel (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 9) [20]
R15 Daniel Kelly/TBA (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
R16 Hazel O'Callaghan/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
R17 Leonard Tuite/Jack McKenna (Ford Escort MkII) [10]
R18 Seamus McDaid/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
R19 Barry Gallagher/Jonathan Jacob (Honda Civic) [11F]
R20 John Hegarty/Patrick McGlynn (Honda Civic) [11F]
R21 Dermot McGroary/Colin Arnold (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
R22 Mark Roarty/Shane Sweeney (Honda Civic) [1]
R23 Patrick Bradley/Aidan Sweeney (Ford Escort G3) [13]
R24 Andrew Barron/Drew Browne (Vauxhall Nova) [9]
R25 Mark O'Leary/David O'Leary (Ford Escort) [11R]
R26 Nigel Brennan/Rebacca Brown (Honda Civic) [1]
R27 Barney Greenan/TBA (Ford Escort) [9]
R28 Stephen McGurk/Mark O'Connor (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
R29 Mark Taheny/Stephen Gallagher (Honda Civic) [1]
R30 Philip Greenlee/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
R31 Shane Murray/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [13]
R32 Christy Carey/Mairead Duane (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer 8) [20]
R33 Cathal Sheridan/Mark Deery (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
R34 Gerry McIntyre/Paul Clarke (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
R35 Philip Green/Charlie Bonner (Toyota Corolla) [11]
R36 Sean McQuaid/Ivan Wilkinson (Ford Escort) [12]
R37 Tim Flood/Anthony Smith (Ford Escort) [11R]
R38 Simon Devlin/Michael Laverty (Ford Escort) [13]
R39 Richard Hickey/Cathal Murphy (Honda Civic) [11F]
R40 Lee Burke/Martin Gallagher (Ford Escort MkII) [12]
R41 Paul McDermott/TBA (Honda Civic) [3]

Junior
J1 Sam Stewart/Alan Johnston (Ford Escort MkII) [11R]
J2 Corey Eves/Adrian Reynalds (Toyota Corolla) [16]
J3 Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre (Toyota Starlet) [16]
J4 Gareth Black/Callum Maguire (Toyota Starlet) [16]
J5 Ryan Moore/Christopher Moffit (Honda Civic) [16]
J6 Neil Martin Brogan/Danny Cannon (Honda Civic) [16]
J7 Darragh Mc Nern/Trevor Graham (Toyota Twincam) [16]
J8 Brian Moore/Lorcan Moore (Honda Civic) [16]
J9 Nicholas Alcorn/James McGlinchey (Honda Civic) [16]
J10 Michael Cahill/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]
J11 Eoin Kelly/Cormac McDermott (Corsa) [16]
J12 Gary Byrne/Dylan Doonan (Honda Civic) [16]
J14 Mickey -Joe Browne/Sean Browne (Honda Civic) [16]
J15 Shane McFadden/Eimear McFadden (Honda Civic) [11F]
J16 Josh Harris/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]
J17 Jack Cairns/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]

Tartan Army on Wheels heads for Ballybofey

Posted: September 25, 2018 2:22 PM

Sam Pearson, Clerk of the Course for the Jacksons Hotel Harvest Stages Rally in Ballybofey on 13th October 2018 has expressed his surprise at the flood of entries already received for what is one of the biggest one-day rallies in the country, and flagged that the closing date of Wednesday 3rd October is coming up fast.

It has also emerged that a strong Scottish contingent are making the trip to compete on what is also regarded as the most sociable rally in the calendar. Not only has British Rally champion David Bogie entered but top championship runners Gordon Morrison, Brian Watson, Lee Hastings, Shaun Sinclair and Barry Groundwater are also entered. A Tartan army on wheels, no less.

Said Sam: “The Harvest stages is the finale of three different rally championships, not least the Motor Club’s own Donegal Commercials series, and is very popular with clubmen in the County. We have received over 100 entries already and event Secretary Shauna Harper reports that more and more are coming in every day.”

“We first heard from Scotland that David Bogie was coming, and now it’s almost a mini invasion of the best possible kind. These guys all have very strong results and I’ve no doubt they are going to be in the frame for trophies when we get to the finish ramp at Jacksons Hotel on the Saturday evening. It’s a fantastic boost for the Harvest and another mark of how popular Donegal is for rally competitors.”

“The overall champion in the Triton National Rally championship will be decided on the Harvest, and many of its classes, but as priority is only open for championship runners who enter before the closing date of October 3rd, it would be wise to have everything in order well before then, and entries can be made on the Motor Club’s website: www.donegalmotorclub.com ”

“The Rally is also the closing round of the Sligo Pallets Border rally championship – a hugely popular series in its own right - and most of the top border runners are entered. We are looking at a really high quality entry, and there’s a real buzz about the rally office already.”

“We will be using stages that have never been used before, and are monitoring them very closely to ensure the rally runs smoothly. It will be an open contest on a level playing field to crown the winners of three major championships.”

“We are working closely with the Management and staff at Jacksons Hotel for what is going to be an action-packed weekend and again I would urge everyone to get their bookings made early. The Hotel is running a special rate for the rally which is available on their website: www.jacksonshotel.ie or by telephone at: 00-353-7491-31021.”

“We will be holding a marshals training event in the Hotel on Sunday 7th October and are calling for all available marshals, or anyone who is available for training, to contact us via our website and help us run a safe event.”

“We will be announcing more about the Rally in the coming weeks, and once the entry list is finalised. As an early taster, and bearing in mind the list is growing by the day, we have entries from the following so far:

In WRC cars:
Declan Boyle, Sam Moffett, Francis Barrett, Frank Wray, PJ McDermott, Brian Watson, Shaun Sinclair, Gareth Sayers.

In Class 14:
David Bogie, Ian Barrett, Johnathon Pringle, Chris Armstrong, Wesley Patterson, Gary Kiernan, Stuart Darcy, JF Shovelin, John Bonner, Kevin Eves, Martin McGee, Gary McPhilips.

Marty Gallagher has entered his Peugeot 208 R2, and Donal Barrett is entered in an Escort co-driven by Paul Harris. Johnny Jordan has entered his Starlet and Malcolm Pedlow brings his distinctive BMW 2002 to Ballybofey where he’ll meet Martin & Darragh Doherty’s immaculate Historic Escort RS1800 to help him light up the stages.”

Rally Launch - (Tue) 25 Sep 18

Posted: September 24, 2018 3:48 AM

Official Launch of the 2018 Jackson’s Hotel Harvest Rally, Ballybofey
Tuesday 25th September 2018, at 7pm.
Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey
All are welcome.

PRESS RELEASE 1 - THE BOGIE MAN IS AT THE DOOR……. WITH BAGPIPES!

Posted: September 3, 2018 2:42 PM

Sam Pearson, the new Clerk of the Course for the Donegal Motor Club’s Harvest Stages Rally based at Jacksons Hotel & Leisure Centre in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal on 13th October 2018 has announced not only that the Regulations for the Rally are now available in the download section of the Motor Club’s website: www.donegalmotorclub.com, but that the first entry is already on its way.

“I invite all competitors to Jacksons Hotel in Ballybofey for what we plan to be a fitting climax to three major rally series – the Triton Showers National, The Sligo Pallets Border and the Donegal Commercials Motor Club Rally Championships. We will be running 118 Kms of rally stages, most of which have never been used before, contained in a compact route of just 130 road Kms. We are using three stages, repeated three times. They are in excellent condition and will provide the battleground to decide the winners of three great championships” said Sam.
“Service will be centralised in Ballybofey and the layout of the rally should prove to be very cost effective.”

The Rally is already generating strong interest, not least from overseas, with the news that David Bogie, the British and Multiple-Scottish Championship winner is queueing up at the door with a very special entry. A week after he competes for Skoda on Rally GB, the UK’s round of the World Rally Championship, the winner of the National Section of the Donegal International Rally in 2016 will take to the start line in the Harvest Rally with a highly developed Mark 2 Escort.

“I have always loved coming to Donegal and had a great win at the International Rally in 2016. That was some weekend! We have a lot of friends in Ireland who keep telling us we should come back and do the Harvest. When I saw they had nearly fifty Mark 2 Escorts in the rally last year I could hardly believe it. It’s the natural home of these cars. My Escort is being rebuilt with a special Millington Engine, and the Harvest will be its first outing. I can’t wait to get it out and enjoy the crack again in Donegal” said David. “I’m hearing that a fair number of Scottish drivers want to do the rally this year. Be warned, this often ends with bagpipes…..”

The Rally HQ will be the fabled Jacksons Hotel and Leisure Centre in Ballybofey, a long-term supporter of the Motor Club. The newly refurbished 108-room hotel is running special accomodation packages for rally weekend and enquiries can be directed to their website at: www.jacksonshotel.ie or 00-353-7491-31021.

The Harvest Rally attracted a full capacity entry when based in Dunfanaghy in 2017 and at Killybegs in 2016. Its return to one of the most popular host venues, at Jacksons Hotel, promises to deliver a memorable weekend of motorsport. The Clerk of the Course is asking that all available marshals, or people who can assist with marshalling, contact the Club through its website. More details will be announced in the coming weeks. Regulations, Entry forms and up to date information is now available on the Donegal Motor Club website - link below.

Regulations Available / Date Change to (Sat) 13 Oct 18

Posted: February 20, 2018 5:21 AM

Donegal Harvest date change from Saturday 6th of October to Saturday 13th of October 2018.

Regulations available at:

Donegal Motor Club