William Creighton and Liam Regan got their assault on the British Junior Rally Championship off to a great start by bringing their Fiesta R2 to victory in the opening round, the Cambrian Rally in North Wales.
The Co Down pair started sensibly on their first outing in the new car, holding fourth place following the first of seven stages as they became accustomed to the Ford, and climbing to the Junior category lead by half distance.
By the finish, they were 22 seconds clear of Scotland’s Finlay Retson, with Donegal’s David and Darragh Kelly in third position, another 77 seconds behind.
In the main rally, Motorsport Ireland Young Rally Driver of the Year Josh McErlean in his Hyundai i20 climbed from an early sixth place to third after stage four, but the Billy Coleman Award winner then damaged his car’s steering when he clipped a rock, and was forced to retire. Kerry’s Noel O’Sullivan co-drove Welshman Osian Price to second place overall, 38 seconds behind winner Matt Edwards.
Former National Navigation Trial champions Pakie Duffy and Evin Hughes scored a runaway win in the Midland MC event at Drumlish, Co Longford, finishing a crushing 74 marks ahead of runners up Derek Mackarel and Conor Boylan at the end of an 80 mile route made more difficult by the stormy weather conditions.
Veteran Joe McCann came out best in a close finish to the MEC Sporting Trial at Inch, Co Wexford, a single mark ahead of Roy Stewart, with Siobhan McCann another mark behind in third place.
Below are results for Motorsport Ireland competitions that took place over the weekend.
MIDLAND M C NAVIGATION TRIAL AT DRUMLISH, CO LONGFORD (ROUND 3 OF SQUEALING PIG BAR & RESTAURANT BORDER CHAMPIONSHIP):
1 Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 11 marks,
2 Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 85m,
3 Mickey Carbin/Conor Mohan (Subaru Impreza) 102m,
4 Aidan Keenan/Sean Marron (Subaru Impreza) 112m,
5 Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue (Subaru Impreza) 113m,
6 Aidan Sherry/Oisin Sherlock (Subaru Impreza) 115m,
7 Jack McKenna/Ryan Treanor (Subaru Legacy) 121m,
8 James McCabe/Shane Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 124m,
9 Mickey Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 135m,
10 Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 139m,
11 Kieran McCarra/Aaron McElroy (Toyota Starlet) 148m,
12 Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna (Subaru Impreza) 160m.
Semi-experts: 1 Mickey Carbin/Conor Mohan, 2 Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue, 3 Jack McKenna/Ryan Treanor.
Novices: 1 Aidan Keenan/Sean Marron, 2 Kieran McCarra/Aaron McElroy, 3 Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna.
Beginners: 1 Damien Hagan/Ryan Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 162m, 2 Paddy Callaghan/Sean Cahill Jnr (Subaru Impreza) 193m.
MOTOR ENTHUSIASTS’ CLUB JENKINS CUP SPORTING TRIAL AT GURTEEN, INCH, CO WEXFORD:
1 Joe McCann (JMcVW) 8 marks,
2 Roy Stewart (Erskine-Harley Davidson) 9m,
3 Siobhan McCann (JMcVW) 10m,
4 Morgan Evans (Mog-Honda) 10m,
5 Alan Watkins (Sheane VW) 13m,
6 John Alvey (Sheane VW) 14m,
7 Enda Byrne (VW) 15m,
8 Philip Hughes (Hughes-Honda) 19m,
9 Robin Taylor (VW) 21m,
10 Paddy Redmond (VW) 23m,
11 Victor Sweeney (Sweeney-Suzuki) 23m,
12 Ian Sweeney (Sweeney-Suzuki) 28m.
Grade winners: Siobhan McCann, Roy Stewart, Paddy Redmond, Alan Murton 31m.