RALLY NEWS NO.1          Monaghan..Sunday morning..

Bertie Fisher at 2 in a Subaru and Billy Coleman in a course car Mk2 Escort add a touch of class to this Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally. Current National Champion Niall Maguire leads the 130 cars away. Behind Maguire and Fisher there is a class entry with the likes of Daniel Doherty and David Armstrong lilely to be there or thereabouts, along with a clutch of other drivers. The event is the 2nd round of the Border Championship, which adds a lot of spice to the class battles.

For Niall Maguire, on his home patch, today should be another step on the road to settling down to left hand drive motoring. Last year Niall was in his element here, at one with his Subaru and looking unstoppable. Since the changeover to the active transmission left hand drive Impreza last autumn, he has struggled just a little to get into the groove. For Bertie Fisher today is a return to happy hunting grounds, a fun day out for the Ballinamallard man. Being Bertie of course, as soon as he powers his McKinstry Motorsport hired Impreza over the start line of the first of the nine special stages, stand well back! Bertie won't have left his competitive streak back in Fermanagh. In any case he will not be wanting son Mark to steal a march on him. Mark drives Kieran McAnallen's Group N Mitsubishi.

David Armstrong at 3, current Border Champion, is fighting back after hurting his shoulder in a skiing accident. David was pretty well on the pace throughout last season, finishing second here last year, but it could take a stage or two to pick that up again. Daniel and Michael Doherty at four haven't been doing so much rallying of late, but their strong showing in Ballina clearly demonstrated that they haven't lost their flair, nor their Subaru its pace. Behind Mark Fisher at 5 we have Maurice Gass in his ex-Schwarz Toyota Celica 205, a mighty machine, but which could also prove a handful in some of today's tighter, slippy spots. Then its Joe McGurk and Sean McArdle, also in Toyotas. Mickey McArdle's BMW M3 provides a bit of variety at 9. Mickey was forced to take an early bath in Kerry last weekend when a fluke brakepipe problem arose, so he'll be hoping for a better run this time. Next up is two Mk2 Escorts in the hands of Camillus Bradley and Glen Allen. Camillus has been going really well in this car recently, although there is a brand new Vauxhall type motor just been fitted for today, so hopefully it will be alright. Glen Allen, a sensational third here last year, has also had last minute workshop dramas, his car in a thousand bits as late as Wednesday. Mac McKenna at 10, Enda Keenan 11, Mick McQuaid, after a brilliant run in Kerry last weekend, at 12, Norman Armstrong at 14, Maurice Moffett at 15, Dessie Keenan at 16, Trevor Lancashire at 17, there are loads of good drivers in the line up.Dan McCartan in the GpN Lancer is slotted in at the back of the top 20, running 135 on the car. Kevin Barrett has withdrawan, his wife Pauline having given birth to a lovely 9lb8oz baby girl last night. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON