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RALLY
NEWS NO.4
Finish - Sunday 6pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 - last stage
1st (6) Pat Donegan/Damien Garvey (Escort) 24.28
2nd (4) Sean & Claire Gallagher (Esc. Cos) 24.32
3rd (5) Sean McArdle/Paul McCann (Celica) 24.34
4th (3) Tom Holton/Sean Walsh (Celica) 24.38
5th (15) Jack Slater/Michael Courtney (Lancer N) 25.03
6th (9) Dominic Loughran/Elva Roe (Lancer N) 25.08
7th (11) Enda Keenan/Laura Keenan (Escort) 25.35
8th (10) Michael Curran/Brian Sheridan (Escort) 25.39
9th (142) Gordon Rogers/Philip McEntee (Escort) 25.41
10th (12) Paul McEnroe/Brendan Rooney (Impreza N) 25.44
Despite the wet conditions Kells man Pat Donegan turned in a stunning
performance over the final stage of this Castle Hellfire Rally to take victory
in his 2 wheel drive Escort, ahead of several 4 wheel drive machines. In theory
it should have been a 4 wheel drive car rally so slippy were the conditions, but
Donegan turned the form book on its head. Co driven by Damien Garvey, Pat was
equal fastest with Sean Gallagher on the 2nd stage, and then 4s faster than Sean
McArdle on the final stage, 7 up on Sean Gallagher and 14 up on Tom Holton.
Donegan commented here at the finish "An ultimately good day. We had a good
clean run except for missing 3rd gear a couple of times on the final stage,
which may be cost me 3 or 4 seconds. I thought the 4 wheel drive cars would walk
away in this weather". Sean Gallagher in 2nd, Sean McArdle in 3rd and
Tom Holton in 4th all admitted to being far too cautious on the final stage.
Holton in particular said "I backed off, no confidence in the wet, but
really the grip was there if I had fought for it".
Jack Slater scored group N victory from Dominic Loughran while Enda Keenan won
class 14. His son Dessie had been in front but dropped time on
the final stage when the gear stick snapped off.
Just outside the top 10 James Cribben finished on 26.27. Mervyn Wedlock 26.20.
John Fitzsimons 27.23. John McKenna 27.04. Mark McCann damaged his Escort, lost
a few seconds but made it into the finish. Our RallyNews sponsor John Carter
also brought his Escort in safely and should figure well up the class results.
Finally for now well done to all at Castle Automobile Club for a well run event
and thanks to everyone who helped us throughout.
BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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