News from the Weekend

Pat O’Connell and Mark Wiley were the clear winners of Sunday’s opening round of the Petro Systems National Forestry Rally Championship, the Sean Conlon Memorial event at Mitchelstown. After eight stages, their Lancer Evo 9 had almost two minutes to spare over the Corolla WRC of top seeds John Reid and Enda Shields.

AUTOTEST

After a close opening lap, former champion J J Farrell took charge when title holder Eddie Peterson had a five second line fault, winning MEC’s Hewison Championship Autotest at Mondello Park by 4s, with last season’s runner up Steven Ferguson another 0.6s down to keep his championship hopes alive. Eamonn Byrne’s Mini saloon finished fourth ahead of Chris Grimes.

SPORTING TRIAL

Multiple racing champion Jonathan Fildes scored his first Sporting Trial victory for three years when he stayed clean all through the twelve sections, to win Leinster MC’s Lincoln and Nolan Cup Sporting Trial near Ashford, beating Alan Kilkenny by a single mark. Tony Farrell was another mark behind, with Willie Fenton best of the VW brigade in fourth overall. 18 year old Kevin Farrell emulated his father by taking a Grade win.
 

NAVIGATION TRIAL

Promising beginners Peter Hagan and Sam Johnston surprised all the experts by taking overall victory in Midland MC’s Navigation Trial at Ballinalee, one mark ahead of Mickey and Ciaran Tynan. Former National and Border champions Andy Mackarel and Liam Higgins spoiled an otherwise faultless night by collecting 20 marks for a missing marshal’s signature at TP8, leaving them in eleventh place, while current title holders Arthur Kierans and Ashley McAdoo could only manage fifth this time.