ALMC Stages Rally 2012

Motorsport Photographer Sligo
Melvyn Evans and co driver Aled Davies in a Subaru Impreza WRC S12B won the 2012 City North Hotel backed ALMC Stages Rally by one minute and twenty eight seconds from James Belton with Mark Glennerster also in a Subaru Impreza WRC. Evans who led the rally from start to finish recorded fastest time on six of the special stages and was never troubled by second place driver Simpson who's Impreza is run by Evan's Motorsport team. Stephen Simpson and Patrick Walsh in the third of the Evans Motorsport cars were locked out the top three bring their Impreza WRC home and unexpected third overall. Stephen who ran in fourth for most of the rally was gifted third overall when Damian Cole and James Morgan hit trouble on the final stage when the fly by wire on the throttle of their Ford Focus WRC05 started to give trouble with the Welsh crew losing over a minute of the final stage to finish the event fourth overall.

Fifth place went to twenty year old Christopher Armstrong and Tommy Clinton in their Ford Escort following an outstanding drive in only their third outing in the car. In sixth were David Armstrong and Damien Fleming in their Ford Escort, a late entry for the event David has had good fortune on the ALLMC stages in the past but on this occasion could not match the pace of Christopher's Escort in fifth. Stephen Cullen with Seamus O'Grady calling the notes was the highest placed ALMC Motor Club member to finish the rally brought his Subaru Impreza home an excellent seventh overall and recorded his first Group N win on tarmac, Stephen who has been concentrating on the forestry championship this year showed how his time in the car has really paid off with the production class win. Lloyd Hutchinson and Willie Fitzpatrick finished in eight overall a remarkable result for them in the Mini, Lloyd challenged Stephen Cullen in the group N machine particularly on stage five when a heavy rain shower soaked the stage. Liam Bowhan and Ged Kennedy in their Toyota Starlet finished in ninth overall moving into the top ten on the final loop of three stages, the top ten was rounded out by Paul Clarke and Gary Copperthwaite in their Ford Escort Mk2.

"It has been a fantastic day's rallying and the club are delighted to have had so many crews attend the event from the UK championship, it was by far the best UK entry we have had since we became a part of the championship. An event like this takes the hard work of a very large group of volunteers, which without their help and effort could not take place, thanks to all the marshals, officials, sponsors, residents and competitors who all played their part in the success of the rally" commented Clerk of the Course Noel Devlin at the finish of the event at the City North Hotel.

In the historics Dick Mauger and Steve McNulty won the class in their Ford Escort Mk2 having led the event from the opening stage, in second place Roy Smith and John Stanger-Leathes in the Porsche 911 with Philip McKibbin and Padraig Foran third in their Ford Cortina. The junior class was won by Kevin McLaughlin in a Honda Civic with Sean Brady and Barry McLoughlin in the Peugeot 205 GTi second and Jill White and Paul Sheehan third in their Honda Civic.

Early retirements from the event include John Stone and co driver Rob Fagg in the Skoda Fabia WRC who never made it to the start of SS1 when the turbo in their car expired on the road section, an early turbo problem put John out of the rally in 2010 on the first stage. Top seed Eugene Donnelly in the Sligo Pallets backed Toyota Corolla WRC stopped his car towards the end of the opening stage when his engine cried enough. Washington James and co driver Liam Brennan in the Darrian T90 GTR also retired from the rally, they left the road on the scrapmycar.ie sponsored stage one. The UK crew of Simon Chapman and Tony Graham retired their Austin Metro with a centre differential problem at the end of the opening loop of three stages. Adam Clews with Peter Williams alongside on the notes only managed about one metre of the first stage when their Ford Puma broke a shaft on the start line. Joe Connolly and John J Connolly in the Red Mills backed Ford Escort pulled out of the rally due to an electrical problem; they managed to rectify the problem at service and then ran as a 00. PA Bellew and ALMC's Andres Reid in their Ford Escort crashed out on stage two both the crew were OK but the car will need some work. Third place driver following the first loop of stages Kerry man Thomas Fitzmaurice withdrew from the rally at service as his co driver Fionn Foley took ill with a stomach bug.(Words: Rally.ie)

Sligo Stages Rally 2012

Motorsport Photographer Sligo For the second year in a row the Rally was on a Saturday. The start ramp was held along the banks of the Garavoge River, with all the local crews and the top 20. Shane Maguire and Martin McGarrity won the Rally, with Pat Kirk and Peter Ward 2nd and local crew Anderw Mullen and Elain Doherty 3rd.

Ravens Rock Rally 2012

Motorsport Photographer Sligo Today I made the long trip to Kilkenny for the Ravens Rock Rally

1 James Stafford/James F Stafford (Darrian T90) 56m 41s,
2 John Joe Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC) 57m 15s,
3 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC) 57m 33s, 

Juniors:
1 James Bradley/Maria Kehoe (Civic) 40m 31s,
2 Rob Duggan/Mikie Galvin (Civic) 40m 37s,
3 Padraig McCarthy/Paul Twomey (Civic) 40m 44s.

27th May 2012

Motorsport Photographer Sligo A week ago today a terrible tragedy unfolded in front of me at the Cavan Stages Rally. In a matter of seconds the Life of my friend and fellow photographer Joe Lane, RIP was taken. I first met Joe in 2004 at the Mayo Stages Rally. Joe has been dedicated to motorsport traveling the length and breadth of the country trying to get the best photograph of the day.  A familiar sight at most rally's was that of "The Team" Father and Son, Joe and Graham a partnership that we all admired, and enjoyed especially when they were deciding where they were going to eat at the end of a long day's rallying, a popular choice was Mamma Mia's. Words which I have heard this week to describe Joe have been, Kind, Loved his family, Loved the sport, and always had a smile on his face. Joe you will be missed at the corners, in the hotels and most of all by your fellow media friends at each and every event, thank you for your friendship and humour, may you rest in peace, R.I.P.
Also remembering Caroline Cleary R.I.P who lost her life in this same terrible accident. Caroline was an avid supporter of the sport and on occasion had sat as navigator. Testament to the popularity of both Joe and Caroline was the huge turnout of people who paid their respect's by attending both funeral's.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad".

Circuit of Kerry Rally 2012

Motorsport Phographer Sligo The Circuit of Kerry Rally 2012 had a very exciting finish with Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley taking victory after a tiebreak with Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins. Fitzmaurice led the rally for most of the day but Brian O’Mahony had a great run through SS7 to take the lead by 1s going into the final stage. Fitzmaurice put in one final charge and was 1s quicker than O’Mahony through the tortuous 9.7km of that Scotias Grave. This left the pair equal on total time. The tiebreak decider is fastest on the last stage, so the champagne goes to Tralee man Thomas Fitzmaurice and his co-driver Fionn Foley. It is especially sweet for local men Thomas and Fionn as a Kerry crew has never won this event.

CELESTIAL TRIANGLE

Wedding Photographer Sligo  
CELESTIAL TRIANGLE -  Venus, Jupiter and the crescent Moon are in conjunction, forming a bright triangle in the sunset sky. I took the first Image on Sunday evening as I was leaving the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon.The other two were taken on Monday evening at the Gaelic Chieftan Sculpture near Boyle

Midland Moto Stages Rally 2012

Motorsport Photographer Sligo After the long trip last weekend it was great to be closer to home, the Midland Moto Stages Rally was based in the Abbey Hotel. Saturday evening saw the strong field of 120 competitors take to the test stage of 4.4km to get ready for the days rallying that was to come on Sunday. All crews were very happy with this new addition to the rally and many crews found problems and resolved them for the timed stages, which was the whole point of running this test stage. Sunday morning , 26th of March the first day of summer time was a crisp sunny morning with a light touch of frost that greeted competitors marshals and officials for the start of the Midland Motor Club Moto Stages Rally 2012. The scene was now set after months of preparation for what turned out to be a fantastic day for rallying with crews coming from all over Ireland to take part in the event.
The top 3 cars, featured 2 Mark II Ford Escorts built to an almost identical spec, and a Mitsubishi Evo 9. Car No.1 Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans were back to retain their title and bring it back to Monaghan. Car no. 2 Declan Boyle and cousin Brian Boyle travelled from Donegal. With Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan also making the trip from Donegal at car no.3 who came to compete for the top spot to be first under the finish ramp at rally HQ the Abbey Hotel Roscommon on Sunday evening .

 Daniel McKenna and Arthur Kierans took to the Co. Roscommon roads straight away with a blistering pace, even the hair pin at Carniska Church did not hinder them much and after the 1st loop of 3 stages they were only 3 seconds ahead of the Boyles going into Service. Declan and Brian kept the pressure on Mc Kenna over the 2nd loop and came close to Daniel's pace but it was not enough going in for final service where the gap was up to 4 seconds. Maurice Moffett was 1minute and 41 seconds down on top two cars.

The 3rd loop stages 7,8 & 9 saw Declan and Brian Boyle out on a charge for the last run to pull back time. They were quickest on stage 9 and were only 1 second down on stage 7 and stage 8 to draw back to 6 seconds on Daniel's lead going in on the last stage where he took 4 seconds back but Daniel held on by just 2 seconds to retain his title. Car no. 3 Donagh Kelly retired after stage 5 when he was lying 3rd overall at that stage of the event,
Maurice Moffett then moved into 3rd overall with club member Patrick Brides guiding him through the 9 tough stages.

 Sixteen crews started in the Junior class with Co. Monaghan crew David Moffett and Andrew Spears taking the first overall spot in their Toyota Starlet . With club man Barry Brady and Sean Brady finishing 2nd overall and John Collum and Catriona Spollen finishing 3rd.

Three Moffetts started this year's rally all in Starlets and took 3rd and 4th overall in the main field while David won the junior category a very successful day for the Monaghan family.
Marc Mc Dermott was the highest placed midland member finishing 10th overall and 3rd in the very difficult class 13. The Rowley brothers finished 28th overall and 3rd in class 2 in their Mick Quinn prepared Civic. Pakie Duffy and Michael Reilly had it all their own way in Class 3 in their Honda Civic taking first in class 3. Brothers Alan and David Gibbons had a great run across stage 1 lying 9th overall and were leading the popular Class 11 in their Honda Civic until mechanical trouble forced them to retire at the end of stage 2. Anthony Dolan and Ivor Trimble finished 3rd in class 11 and 30th overall. Class 12 sees a 1st and 3rd for Midland Motor Club Members. 1st Vincent Collins and Aishling Halligan who won her navigators seat in the club draw in Mark II Escort and 3rd Tom Rafferty and Finnian O Connor also in a Mark II Escort. Liam Fleming finished 2nd in class 10 in their mark II escort, Shane and Niall Healy finished 3rd in class 10 in their Peugeot 205. Chris Kelly was leading class 10 until mechanical failure forced them to retire also from the event. Other prizes were 1st Midland Motor Club Crew who wasn?t in the top three of their respective classes were Ollie and Sean Kelly, 2nd Stephen Healy and Enda Fallon. Special awards: Tony Gibbons memorial went to Michael Mc Cormack and John Fallon in their class 2 honda civic; Ciaran Kelly memorial award for the spirit of the rally went to brothers Alan and David Gibbons. The Aaron Hagan memorial award went to Barry Brady and Sean Brady fastest midland crew in the juniors.
The Finnegan's garage trophy for the highest placed Subaru went to Galway man Johnathan Folan who also took class 8 honours. We would like to thank all of our sponsors who have supported us this year on the Stages and Services as follows: Kitchen Couture by Sean Wallace, Dermot Hughes Cars, Blueprint Autos, Burke West Oil, Xlint Signs, O?Connor Recycling LTD, Service Matters, Ollie Kelly Welding and Fabrication and PJ Fallon and sons auto equipment.
We also would like to acknowledge and thank all the residents both on the stage and on the link roads to the stages for their fantastic support and courtesy to all our officials and marshals, also Roscommon Co. Council, the fire service, the ambulance service, the local Gardai and the area division of the traffic Corp for their presence and support throughout the event. Without all this support we could not run this event. A word of thanks also to the many marshals who stood at their posts all day and tidied up after the event. This was a welcome and successful return of the Midland Motor Club Moto Stages Rally to Roscommon town however Midland Motor Club see no county boundaries. Our members are from counties Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath & Offaly. We run Navigation Trials, Autotest Trials, Autocross and Stage Rally events throughout the year. New members are always welcome. Come along to our monthly club meetings and meet some of our 150+ club members and find out how to join our club. For more information go to www.midlandmotorclub.com (Words: Midland Moto Club and Rally.ie)