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RALLY NEWS
NO.7 Finish...Ennis..Sunday 7.15
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 - LAST STAGE
1st (4) Paul Harris/Eugene O'Donnell (Impreza) 1.15.29
2nd (3) Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Impreza) 1.16.16
3rd (10) Anthony O'Halloran/Sean Moriarty (Impreza)1.16.29
4th (11) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Celica) 1.18.07
5th (16) Richard Casey/Christina Madden (Escort) 1.18.20
6th (24) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (RS2000) 1.18.26
7th (19) Philip Shaw/Bridget Averall (Escort) 1.19.31
8th (6) Tim McNulty/Greg Shinnors (Celica) 1.20.08
9th (133) Sean Gallagher/Victor Carruthers(Esc.Cos) 1.20.34
10th (18) Patrick Elliott/Martin Cahill (Lancer N) 1.20.58
This has been one of the best Clare Stages ever...excitement
all the way and drama right to the end, to leave Niall Maguire
and Paul Harris finely poised in the Dunlop National Championship,
with just the Skibbereen round remaining. In theory, defending
champion Maguie is 1 point ahead of Harris, but Maguire has to
drop 1 score, which is 1 point! Paul Harris, co-driven
today by Eugene O'Donnell, commented here at the Ennis town centre
finish.."We'd a good enough day, we had problems early,
down in 5th place after stage 2, but came back well. The car
is good, there's a bit more we can do of course, but the engine
was working better than it has for several rallies. As regards
the championship, anything can still happen". Niall
Maguire told us "It was a great day's rallying, I'm happy
with my times, we went as hard as we could".
For Ruan's Anthony O'Halloran there was disappointment early
in the rally when he struggled to find the pace on his first
run in the Subaru. However, Anthony, with Sean Moriarty
on the pace notes, made up for lost time, certainly through his
home village of Ruan, where he set fastest times, and 3rd overall
was a brilliant result. Maurice Gass reckon he should have
got up a whole lot earlier this morning, he started slowly but
speeded up well through the day to take 4th. Richard Casey performed
a giant killing act in his Escort to tak 5th, and that was despite
the engine losing power as the day went on. Sixth placed Ollie
O'Donovan wins F2 on one of his best ever drives. Philip Shaw
continued to display his raw speed on his way to 7th place over
territory which was unfamiliar to him.
Tim McNulty, up as high as 2nd at one point, and battling for
Dunlop points, hung on grimly as his Celica got sicker during
the day, to take 8th place. Sean Gallagher did well to
take 9th and Patrick Elliott wins gpN as well as being 10th overall.
Joe McGurk finished just off the leaderboard on a total of 1.21.01
after struggling with a down on power engine.
Finally for now, very well done to new Clerk of the Course Dermot
Kelleher..and all at the Clare Motor Club..for one of the best
and most exciting national rallies of the year. BRIAN AND LIZ
PATTERSON..with thanks to all who helped and supported the Rally
News service. |
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