Women to the fore! Record-breaking Kerry Summer Rally female success!
Women competitors took centre stage at the Rose Hotel Kerry Summer Mini Stages Rally, securing podium finishes across nine different categories!
The weekend’s headline news belonged to the all-Limerick crew of Hazel O'Callaghan and Mairead Duane, who steered their Ford Escort to a start-to-finish victory in the special award category to claim the Katie Quinn Tarmac Queen Perpetual Cup. Although a late entry, the pair led the category from start to finish over the six Castleisland stages.
The presentation at the finish ramp was made by Katie’s parents, Kerry Motor Club director Mike and Mary Quinn. The perpetual cup was established to honour the memory of Katie, from Lyreacrompane, who passed away in June 2024 after a short illness.
Adding to the occasion for the O'Callaghan family, Hazel’s son Christopher O'Callaghan secured second place overall in his Ford Escort Mk2. His co-driver was his girlfriend, Coleen O'Brien, who was making her competitive rallying debut in a seat gifted to her as a birthday present.
Female competitors secured victories across multiple classes. In Class 2A, the sibling pairing of Kaelin and Molly Foley claimed first place in their Peugeot 208 R2 on what was their third rally. John Hickey and Natasha Murphy backed up their June Circuit of Munster success by taking maximum honours in Class 15 in their Mitsubishi Evo. In the historic ranks, the father-and-daughter duo of Peadar and Grace Walsh guided their Ford Escort Mk1 to a win in Class 18, while Ronan Kinneavy and Michelle Horan took home the Class 23 laurels in their Dacia Sandero.
Second-place finishes were also recorded by female co-drivers across the field. In Class 1, Niall Keane and Sophie Naylor secured a runner-up finish in their Honda Civic EK4.
Class 2 saw Michael Fitzgibbon and Carrie Ryan take second place in their Peugeot 208 Rally 4. In Class 11R, father-and-daughter crew Eddie and Mollie Kennelly secured second in class in their newly built Ford Escort Mk2. This was matched in Class 12 by another father-and-daughter team, Liam and Jenna Mulcaire, who brought their Escort Mk2 home in the runner-up spot.
Rounding out the podium achievements, the father-and-daughter team of Frank and Lauren Kelly secured third place in Class 14. Driving their Ford Escort Mk2 with local backing from Fred Cronin Engineering Supplies, the Tyrone crew completed the successful run of results for women competitors at the Kerry Motor Club event.
Photo Credits to Kerry Motorsport News