Friday, January 30, 2015
Sunday, July 15, 2012
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)
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)
Saturday, July 7, 2012
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.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
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".
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".
Monday, April 2, 2012
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.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
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
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
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