Celebrating the Women of the 2025 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship

Ahead of the first round of the 2026 Sligo Pallets Border Rally championship we reflect on the female competitors who competed in 2025. We look forward to seeing them compete in the 2026 championship and look out for some of them as they return to Mayo on 1st March.

In 2025, the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship once again featured a strong lineup of talented female competitors — continuing a tradition that has been part of the championship since its inception. As we review the year before the first round of the 2026 Championship at the Mayo Stages Rally, we look back at some of the standout performances and top-class results achieved over the past season.

Gillian Gilmartin brings over 16 years of experience to the co-driver’s seat, with all of her competitive outings coming in PSA machinery, navigating in Peugeot and Citroën front-wheel-drive cars. Her long-standing commitment to the marque has delivered excellent results, including multiple class victories and championship successes at both Border and National level. Last season, alongside David Hunt in their Peugeot 208 R2, the crew secured the Class 2 title with a series of strong performances throughout the year. Highlights included an outstanding result at the Clare Stages Rally, where they finished 38th overall, along with a class win on the Cavan Stages Rally.

Michelle Horan may be a relative newcomer to the sport, but her commitment and enthusiasm are clear, and her pace continues to improve with experience. In just under four years of competition, she has already secured a number of impressive results across a variety of machinery, including Honda Civics, Renault Clio R3s and Ford Escort Mk2s — a strong indication that there is much more to come. Last season, Michelle also contested one round alongside Francis Kelly in his Renault Clio R3. 

Elaine Ní Shé brings a wealth of experience to the sport, whether in the co-driver’s seat or behind the microphone as a commentator. With over 15 years of involvement, her passion for rallying is evident. During that time, she has competed in a wide range of machinery, from Ford Escorts and Honda Civics to S12B Subaru WRCs and the current generation of Ford Fiesta R5s, reflecting both her experience and versatility. Last season, Elaine competed alongside Bobby Cooper at the Midland Stages Rally, with her appearance coming as a single-round outing.

Ruthann O’Connor has partnered John Warren since the very beginning of his rallying career in 2011, and together they have built a successful and well-established partnership. The duo have achieved a string of strong results over the years, particularly in their well-known McHale Toyota Corolla, and more recently have also demonstrated their pace and adaptability in R5 and Rally2 machinery. With their experience and proven ability, there is little doubt the pairing will continue to be a competitive force. Last season, Ruthann and John made a one-off appearance at the Midland Stages Rally, with their outing bringing their involvement in this year’s Border Championship to a close

Molly Maguire, daughter of rally stalwart Niall Maguire, comes from a strong motorsport background, with brothers Shane and Paul also active in the sport. With rallying very much part of the family, her move into competition was a natural step. Molly first built experience through night navigation trials before making an impressive transition to stage rallying. Her debut as a co-driver was particularly notable, stepping straight into a top-spec Citroën C3 R5 and delivering a strong performance with an excellent 19th overall finish on her first outing. Molly competed on the Midland Stages Rally and Sligo Stages Rally rounds last season, and while her limited appearances meant she was not in contention for the championship, her progress in just two years of competition highlights her growing experience and clear determination to continue developing in the sport.

Ashling McArdle has partnered Des Lyons in their highly competitive Class 11F Honda Civic for the past nine years, establishing themselves as one of the leading crews in the category. With multiple class wins and championship successes to their name, they are widely respected among their rivals. Ashling enjoyed another strong season last year, securing third in Class 11F, with a second, third and fifth-place finish highlighting their pace and consistency throughout the year.  

Margo Christie is a highly experienced navigator whose rallying career in Northern Ireland dates back to the early 1990s, competing in everything from Vauxhall Novas to Mitsubishi Evos. After taking a break from the sport between 2008 and 2022, she returned with renewed enthusiasm and continues to build on her extensive experience. This season, Margo partnered Colm McFall in his Honda Civic, narrowly missing out on third place in Class 11F.  

Niamh Pickens has had a strong interest in motorsport from a young age, growing up in a family with a passion for cars and rallying. Alongside her husband Gabriel Farry, she joined Cavan Motor Club three years ago and the pair have since built an impressive partnership. Rallying has proved a successful journey for the duo, with championship success in each of the past two seasons. Another third-place class finish this year reflects the consistency and progress they have developed together.  

Emer Kearns brings extensive rear-wheel-drive experience, having competed in Ford Escort Mk2s with Robbie Allen and Peugeot 205s with Dominic McLoughlin in the highly competitive Class 13. The crews have achieved several top-three class results and regularly finished well inside the top 30 overall — a notable achievement in today’s highly competitive events. With two finishes this season at the Midland Stages and ALMC Stages rallies, it was a case of strong performances despite limited opportunities.  

Elva Roe previously enjoyed a successful period in the co-driver’s seat during the late 1990s and early 2000s, competing across a wide range of machinery including Honda Civics, Peugeot 106s, Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evos. After stepping away from the sport in 2003, she returned in 2025 alongside her nephew Oscar Mangan as he began his rallying career. The pairing enjoyed a strong season in the newly introduced Dacia Sandero Challenge, spending much of the year among the front-runners and finishing on the podium overall — an encouraging start, with even more potential ahead.  

Brenda Reilly has played a vital role in the continued growth and success of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. For the past 15 years, she has served as Championship Registrar, helping the series go from strength to strength. Brenda’s dedication to competitors is evident at every event, whether ensuring points are accurately recorded, supporting crews at finish ramps, or recognising standout performances with the Drive of the Day Awards. The championship owes a great deal to the commitment of volunteers like Brenda, whose passion and hard work make it possible. While her focus has largely been behind the scenes, she has also competed in the past, including an outing at Loughgall alongside John F. Golden, as well as numerous night navigation events — and perhaps there may yet be another competitive appearance in the future.  

We would like to congratulate all of the women who contribute to making the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship the strong and competitive series it is today, and we wish everyone the very best for the seasons ahead.