Limerick Motor Club held the first round of the Tallybrooke National Autocross Championship and the Eamonn Barrett Transport & CJN Plant Munster Autocross Championship in a sun-soaked quarry in west Limerick on Sunday 9th March with a bumper entry, that was comprised of almost one-third Junior competitors.

In honour of International Women’s Day and Sport Ireland Women in Sport Week, Limerick Motor Club had the initiative to afford more opportunity for females to take on more official roles at their Autocross. The team for this year’s event was led by Clerk of the Course (COC) Elaine Shinnors. Elaine is well known nationally for her time involved in the National Forestry Championship and in more recent years registrar for the MIJRS. Elaine is no stranger to the COC role and has also held multiple other roles in club events over the years.

Elaine’s Deputy COC for the event was Lisa Foley O’Connor. Lisa comes with experience from her time as entry and event secretary working with clubs around the Munster area, and we are lucky to have her knowledge base as part of the team and lending her skillset and expertise to this role.

The safety aspect of the event is an important job for all motorsport events and for this job Elaine sought out Eadaoin Hallinan. Eadaoin is well suited for this role with the experience and knowledge she has gained over the recent years helping many motor clubs set-up events.

Rules and regulations form part of all events, and Club Member Ita Doonan took the role of Club Steward. Living outside the county bounds doesn’t stop Ita from being an active club member, and she is always willing to offer her expertise and insights.

Our entry secretary this year was one of our youngest club members, Ellie Walsh. Ellie jumped at the opportunity to take on the role all while juggling the Leaving Cert workload. We are very fortunate to have an enthusiastic cohort of younger members in our club, willing to take on roles and broaden their motorsport-horizons

There is no event complete without having results, Bridget O’Rourke normally associated with the with club’s annual hillclimb can always be relied upon to take on any role and complete it with utter dedication.

The chief timekeeper for the event was Margaret McCloskey. Margaret is no stranger to autocross, or any element of motorsport having worked on rallies, hill climbs and autocross for Clare Motor Club and other clubs around the country and is a very experienced timekeeper.

As we had some junior entries in the event Elaine reached out for the assistance of one of the familiar faces of the Women in Motorsport Commission, Noelle Horan. With Noelle’s experience and knowledge, we were delighted to have her as part of the team.

Women also shone in the competition Sunday, with Limerick Motor Club member Jenna Mulcaire winning overall fastest two wheel-drive saloon. This was Jenna’s first time to take this overall award in her trusty Nova which she has gained experience in since her first time competing at this same event last year. We have no doubt this will be the first of many overall awards, well done Jenna! Jenna comes from a well-known motorsport family, with her father Liam and brother Cathal no strangers to autocross and rallying.

Clare Motor Club’s younger women in motorsport took home awards yesterday also, with Kayla O’Sullivan, the third generation from her family to compete in motorsport, taking 2nd in Class 9 and Sadbh McMahon bringing home the Ladies’ Award - well done to these up-and-coming junior drivers!

It was winners all round for the O’Connor dynasty – with Mike O’Connor Snr winning 1st overall in the four-wheel drive saloons and Mike O’Connor Jnr winning Fastest Time of the Day in his Class 12 buggy, another family that has three generations competing with the third generation Mikey O’Connor taking home 1st in Class 9 also.

Limerick Motor Club would like to thank all competitors, officials and the landowner for making the Autocross such a success.

If you would like to keep up to date with club events check out www.limerickmc.ie.