Enniskillen MC has laid on a 15 mile stage at Ballintempo, long by Irish standards, for this Saturday’s NI Championship Lakeland Stages. Trevor Moore is the No1 seed in his Escort Cosworth, followed by Championship leader Derek McGarrity (Subaru), current Champion Denis Biggerstaff (6R4), Cork forest winner Eugene Donnelly (Celica), Speyside winner Stephen Harron (Subaru), with former all Ireland Forestry Champion Kevin O’Kane (Subaru) rounding off the top six.

Navan’s Pat White has changed his Escort Cosworth for a Subaru WRC, Reg. No. P5WRC, from the Derek McGarrity stable. Unfortunately the car retired from both the Ulster and the following day’s Castle/Hellfire because of transmission trouble.

Monaghan’s Dessie Keenan was one of several drivers who went straight from the Ulster to the Castle/Hellfire at Oldcastle. Dessie had an outstanding drive on the Ulster in his Peugeot 106, just seconds behind Garry Jennings and Shaun Gallagher, 18^th o/a and 3^rd in their class. On Sunday he then won his class in his Mk2 Escort, which also earned him the emotive and very special, sculptured bog oak Joe McGurk memorial award.

Ron Neely flagged the cars away from the ramp at the Lakeland Manor Hotel outside Virginia last Sunday for the Castle/Hellfire Rally. Ron was the last winner of the old HellfireStages, when drivers such as Billy Coleman, Bertie Fisher and Cahal Curley were regular participants. Present day Clerk of the Course Breen McNamee, a successful competitor in his own right, is the driving force behind reviving the Hellfire title, and has cherished ambitions to bring the Castle MC event back to its former status.

Rory Galligan’s works Peugeot 206 looked almost as good as new following it’s Ulster accident when it was presented for course car duties on Rory’s home event, the Castle Hellfire on the Sunday.

Cookstown MC has found a new stage at Loughry College to spice up their forthcoming 22^nd September Davagh rally. The Blue Circle Cement backed event has a controlled reconnaissance this weekend.

Donegal’s Donagh Kelly will make his return to rallying this week when he tackles the Lakelands Stages in his ex works Volkswagen Golf TDI. Mark Rowan will co-drive.

Brian Patterson.