Donegal Motorclub Awards Night

Donegal Motorclubs prize giving returned on the 22nd February. Missing from the clubs calendar for a number of years, it was re-introduced through the help of Donegal Commercial Vehicles and their sponsorship of the 2024 DMC Club Championship. 

CEO Brendan McDaid came on board to reignite the championship in 2024 through the club's events. The championship began in March with the Navigation Trial based in Termon. The famous Donegal international rally was round 2. The Knockalla Hillclimb in September counted for 2 rounds with Saturday and Sunday giving drivers a chance to score double points. The Harvest rally was the penultimate round before the October Navigation Trial in Glenswilly.

Drivers were required to start 4/6 counting rounds with codrivers to start 3/4 counting rounds (no navigator required on Hillclimb) and bonus points available for any registered competitor marshalling on a DMC event. 

At the end of the championship the following were the final results: 

Drivers 

Conor Harvey 1st

Mac Walsh 2nd 

Kevin Gallagher 3rd 

Co-drivers 

Aidan Friel 1st

Eamon Doherty 2nd 

Darren Curran 3rd

Special guest on the night was Tyrone WRC Co-Driver Aaron Johnston. Currently in a full time seat with Toyota Gazoo Racing alongside driver Takamoto Katsuta, the pair finished 2nd in the previous weekend's Rally Sweden. 

A few awards were presented on the night to club members representing the club on an international level and volunteers, who have dedicated their time to assisting the club over the years. 

Special achievement awards: 

Eamonn Kelly - competing in the JWRC and billy Coleman award winner, Kelly has been contending various rounds of the JWRC with help of the Motorsport Ireland Academy. Kelly also won the 2024 historic San Remo rally in a BMW M3.

Kyle McBride - a blistering performance in the JBRC in 2024 and assisted by the MI academy, McBride also contested various rounds of the European rally championship with some fine results. 

Ryan MacHugh - the winner of the 2024 Donegal sports star award for motorsport, Machugh won the JBRC in only 4 rounds. This result earned him a nomination for the famed Billy Coleman award in 2024. 

Conor Wilson - The Carndonagh man competed at a high level in 2024 and travelled to the Central European Rally to compete in a round of the WRC.

Volunteer awards: 

These awards were presented to some of the most dedicated volunteers within the club, these people have played pivotal roles over the years in the assistance of running events. 

The awards were made to the following:

Elizabeth Devine - chief timekeeper for a number of years alongside husband Danny Gormley.

Albert Moore - equipment officer within the club, helping to set up stages and organise the equipment before the next event 

Paddy Coyle - paddy has a few roles under his belt over the years including service manager and Pairc Feirme manager.

A special presentation was made to the event secretaries for 2024, these hard working individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure all documentation is up to date and in order. presentains were made to the following Ladies:

Sharon Walsh

Hayley Baskin

Suzanne McClafferty 

Anne-Thresa Boyle

The club also had an award for Hard Charger of the Year for 2024. This award is presented to a club member who displays maximum determination and speed on events. This award was presented to Gavin Russell & Daniel Callaghan for their drive in June's Donegal international Rally and the Harvest Rally in October. Competing in class 11F, the pair won the class on both occasions and had a commanding drive to stay ahead of the pack. 

J1000 competitors had an interview with Highland radio's Oisin Kelly about the 2024 season and their plans for 2025 and received a Donegal motor club merchandise pack courtesy of Donegal Commercial Vehicles. Jayden McElhinney was also on hand to talk about his adventures competing in the cadet karts in Ireland and the UK. 

The club would like to thank everyone who attended on the night and to everyone who helped in any way along with the generous businesses who donated spot prizes on the night.

Brendan McDaid has once again come on board to sponsor the 2025 Club Championship, Which begins on March 22nd at the March Navigation Trial.