RALLY
NEWS NO.7
Dromhall Hotel Finish/Sunday 5pm
UNOFFICIAL HISTORIC LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 Kilmakilloge
1st (2) Dessie Nutt/Geraldine McBride (Porsche 911) 1.38.19
2nd (6) Steve Smith/Phil Spurge (Porsche 911) 1.39.16
3rd (9) Mervyn Johnston/Richard Hyland (Mini Cooper) 1.41.20
4th (38) Mark I'Anson/Graham Walker (Porsche) 1.44.32
5th (44) Les Allfrey/Kevin Devine (Mini) 1.45.18
6th (41) John Golden/Gary McElhinney (Mini) 1.48.31
UNOFFICIAL POST HISTORIC LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9
1st (87) Jim McRae/Paul Gullick (Porsche 911) 1.35.12
2nd (12) Todd Falvey/Dan Barry (Porsche 911) 1.39.33
3rd (24) Kevin Flanagan/Adrian Parry (Mini) 1.40.11
4th (5) Joe Connolly/Gareth Connolly (Escort) 1.41.02
5th (32) Craig MacWilliam/John O'Reilly (Escort) 1.41.05
6th (22) Chris Browne/Ali Cornwell (Escort) 1.41.53
UNOFFICIAL CLASSIC
LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9
1st (91) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Escort) 1.32.45
2nd (95) Dave Slattery/Ger Somers (Escort) 1.32.56
3rd (90) Pat Donegan/Damian Garvey (Escort) 1.33.32
4th (103) Pat Bonar/Don Montgomery (Escort) 1.34.13
5th (88) James Coleman/Owen O'Neill (Escort) 1.34.38
6th (162) Liam Wall/Denis O'Mahony (Escort) 1.34.44
Dessie Nutt & Geraldine McBride rounded off a superb rally year
by taking a start to finish victory in the Historic section of this
Killarney Rally. Their Porsche 911 never missing a beat throughout.
Frank Cunningham had held 2nd earlier on in his Mini Cooper, but
then went into a ditch on the 2nd visit to the Cods Head stage,
dropped to 3rd behind Steve Smith, and then retired completely when
he put the Mini off the road again in stage 8. This left Steve
Smith and co driver Phil Spurge a relatively easy cruise to runner
up spot in their Porsche 911. Mervyn Johnson, as ever, turned
in a great performance to take 3rd in his newly built Mini Cooper
S.
In the Post Historic category, Jim McRae, co driven by Pauline Gullick,
in the Tuthill prepared and Remax Killarney & Kenmare backed
Porsche, turned in a truly professional brilliant performance to
win. The Scotsman, 7 times a Circuit of Ireland winner, said.
"As ever, a great rally, some of the nicest tarmac stages in
the world, the weather was a bit dodgy today, but I really enjoyed
it". Todd Falvey drove a quietly accomplished rally to
come into 2nd in a similar Porsche to McRae's. While Kevin Flanagan
was quite astonished to finish 3rd after early problems. English
visitor Chris Browne, with the irrepressible Ali Cornwell on the
pace notes, looked a certainty for 2nd in the Post Historics, but
their Escort sustained a puncture at the start of stage 8 Tim Healy.
They had to stop and change it, and the resulting time loss dropped
them to 6th.
In the Classics, Dessie Keenan and co driver Enda Sherry were really
the class act of the day. It all nearly went wrong in stage 8 when
their black Escort threw a water pump belt off. Amazingly Dessie
had a spare in the car and enough of a lead that he was able to
stop, change the belt, continue unabated and win the category.
Pat Donegan survived earlier handling problems with his Escort to
take 2nd. Dave Slattery did well to bring his Escort into 3rd on
his local ground. Another late retirement was West Wales Rally
Spares boss Gareth Lloyd & co driver Ryland James, their Escort
damaged a track control arm on the Tim Healy and they were forced
to call it a day. Finally for now, well done to CoC Tim Clifford
and his wife Rachel, plus all the hard working officials of the
club for putting another great event. Thanks to the Randles family
for their hospitality at the hotel, and thanks also to all the sponsors
of the RallyNews.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTESON www.rallynews.net
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