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RALLY
NEWS NO.3
Oldcastle - Sunday 4pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 2
1st (3) Tom Holton/Sean Walsh (Celica) 16.12
2nd (4) Sean & Claire Gallagher (Esc. Cos) 16.13
3rd (6) Pat Donegan/Damien Garvey (Escort) 16.16
4th (5) Sean McArdle/Paul McCann (Celica) 16.18
5th (15) Jack Slater/Michael Courtney (Lancer N) 16.35
6th (9) Dominic Loughran/Elva Roe (Lancer N) 16.41
7th (7) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Escort) 16.47
8th (11) Enda Keenan/Laura Keenan (Escort) 16.54
9th (10) Michael Curran/Brian Sheridan (Escort) 16.55
10th (142) Gordon Rogers/Philip McEntee (Escort) 17.00
Following several hours of reasonably dry bright weather the leading cars were
just lining up to start stage 2 and suddenly on came the rain. The first 2 or 3
cars had a dry run, and then the roads at the end of the stage became saturated,
and indeed the rain quickly spread to all of the 9.1 miles. One man who
certainly made hay while the sun shone was Pat Donegan. The Kells man stopped
the clocks on 8 minutes dead, a stunning time for a Mk2 Escort. Sean Gallagher
also recorded an 8 dead, Sean's 21 year old daughter Claire by now getting into
the way of the notes. Tom Holton managed to hold on to his lead with a
time of 8.04, but the Enfield man admitted to making a horlicks of a corner, a 6
right into acute left, Tom having to snatch his Celica reverse gear twice. Sean
McArdle also had a good time, but he recounted very slippy roads for the last
mile, lots of standing water. As more drivers came into service they told tales
of wet roads for nearly the whole stage, and it was reflected in the times.
Dessie Keenan was faster than his first run, but only managed an 8.21 while his
father Enda was on 8.26. Both Keenans are having a real battle for class
14 domination, which will bring the coveted Joe McGurk Trophy. Jack Slater
continues to dominate group N, 4s faster than his closest gpN rival Dominic
Loughran through that 2nd stage. John Kelly was just one of many drivers
to report overshoots on the wet roads. Gerry Reilly, very fast on the first
stage, stopped in stage 2 with the bonnet up.
John Carter reported a time of 9.12 with no real problems. Joe Curran managed to
get his gpN Subaru straightened after his first stage accident, and he recorded
a time of 9.02. Thomas McCann in the Fiesta set a time of 9.23.
Some further totals include - Maurice Moffett on 17.38. John McKenna on 17.58.
Alan Sheridan on 17.23. Michael Maher 18.20 and Brian McKenna 18.01. Paul
McEnroe recorded 17.02 in his gpN Impreza. James Cribben 17.19. Mervyn Wedlock
17.31. More news after SS3 at the Crover House Hotel. BRIAN AND LIZ
PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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