RALLY NEWS NO.2                    End of stage 1 - Sunday - 12.45
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1 BEAGH
1st (3) Steve Hendy/Aled Davies (Esc.Cos) 9.40
2nd (4) Glenn Allen/John Gallagher (Escort WRC) 9.43
      (160) Sean Gallagher/Victor Carruthers (Esc.Cos) 9.43
4th (12) Steve Fleck/Andy Card (Impreza WRC) 9.46
5th (5) Alan Nesbitt/Enda Sherry (Celica) 9.48
6th (21) Ivan Stewart/Gary Cooney (Esc.Cos) 9.52
7th (15) Mac McKenna/John Loughran (Peugeot rwd) 9.59
8th (10) Willie Fannin/Brian Duggan (Lancer N) 10.00
9th (9) David McNulty/Martin McGarrity (Esc.Cos) 10.02
10th (23) Raymond & David Johnston (Lancer N) 10.08

Despite being upset at the death of his friend Mark Lovell, Steve Hendy gritted his teeth and set fastest time through the opening stage of this Sligo Rally. Although the weather conditions are dry, but overcast, Steve, along with the other top drivers, found the stage slippy in patches, with bits of loose in places.  As can be seen above, Glenn Allen and Sean Gallagher were equal 2nd fastest, Cookstown man Glenn saying "Steady".  Gallagher remarked that the stage went well for him.

Willie Fannin was the fastest of the group N cars, although he felt that his Lancer was a bit bouncy on the suspension. Mark Worley is the top GpN Tarmacadam series seed, and when he saw Fannin's time said "I think these Irish drivers must take their brains out!" Raymond Johnston is one of the fancied runners in gpN but his silver Lancer was delayed slightly when he had to catch and pass Robbie Peoples in the stage.   Robbie saying that he had no real problems, just didn't settle down.

Retirements so far include - Cahal Arthurs, whose Celica was parked up. Trevor Lancashire'' Escort also parked in the stage.

Tony Davies in the red Impreza Turbo lost some time when the ECU brain box fell out of the dash and stuck round Tony's feet.  Mac McKenna was the fastest of the class 13 runners with a brilliant time. Dominic McLoughlin recorded 10.44.  Norman Armstrong, also in class 13 and leading the Quinn Group Border series had 10.32. Patrick Boyle 10.28.  In Class 14 Enda Keenan will probably be the pace setter, with a time of 10.17.  Damien Gallagher had a great run to record 10.11 in his cl.13 Escort. Peter Rogers had 10.25, fastest so far in class 11.  Some other times include - Mark Courtney in the gpN Lancer 10.24.  Gerard McKiernan, slowed by intercom problems, 10.33.  George Mackey in the gpN Lancer 10.47. John Cairns, out for the first time in a left hand drive Subaru, had 10.50. 

In the Ford Ireland Focus series Colm Murphy set the fastest early time, championship leader Oliver Stanley emerged from the stage with a damaged front driver's side and we did not get his time. Front runner John Foley caught the ex works Astra of Richard Walsh, in the kerfuffle of getting past the co driver lost his place on the notes, and John went off the road, got back on and got going but lost a little time.
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON                   www.rallynews.net