IRISH NOTES 5^th December 05

 

Phillip Morrow’s meteoric year in the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge series is being recognised by a special evening on the 29^th January 2006 .  Ballynahinch & District Motor Club are foregoing their annual Dinner Dance to lay on a special night for Phillip at the Temple Golf & Country Club near Carryduff.  The plan is to raise enough funds to pay Phillip’s entry fees on the Pirelli British Championships throughout 2006. 

 

A new Toyota car has been donated and will be raffled.  There will also be a high level auction.  Phillip, who scored more fastest stage times than any of the other drivers on the 2005 Challenge, is being supported by such personalities as Mark Higgins and Robbie Head through the MSA Elite scheme.  Raymond Hill will act as auctioneer and Plum Tyndall as compere on what promises to be a lively evening. If you think you can help or would like to reserve a table the contact is Brian Crawford of Ballynahinch MC at 02892 683980. 

 

There were 10 Junior entries in last weekend’s Killarney Historic Rally, but they had an alarmingly high retirement rate, mostly through mechanical problems and just Tommy Doyle and his co driver Ruth Guest made it to the finish in their Escort to take victory.

 

The selection process for the Billy Coleman Award is not yet completed but 3 drivers are being suggested as having made the short list.  They are Gareth MacHale, Brian O’Mahony and Ian Barrett.  However further information would indicate that Clonakilty’s Kevin Kelleher will fly the Cork flag and not Brian O’Mahony. A final announcement is expected next Tuesday the 13^th December.

 

Despite retiring his Escort just before the Tim Healy stage on last weekend’s Killarney Rally when the clutch collapsed John Farrell clinched the Historic section of the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship.  Farrell was 4^th before his retirement and it was unfortunate that the car stopped where it did because it denied co driver Brian Duggan the opportunity of competing on his home stage, his parents still live on the Tim Healy.  Todd Falvey scored maximum points on the day. James O’Sullivan, boss of 023 Tiles, did not start the rally as his Escort blew it’s head gasket on the morning of the event.

 

There were several notable drivers performing OO duties in Killarney, not least former multiple international rally winner Ger Buckley who was driving an Escort. West Cork winner Denis Cronin was driving a fabulous ex works BMW M3 in Rothmans colours.

 

Brian Patterson.