|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RALLY NEWS
NO.4 Finish (Birr) Sunday
5.30
www.rallynews.net
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 (LAST STAGE)
1st (8) Patrick Higgins/Liam Higgins (Escort) 28.41
2nd (4) David Percy/Owen Percy (Escort) 28.41
3rd (2) Mervyn Wedlock/Philip Smith (Escort) 28.44
4th (5) Gordon Rodgers/Martin Sherlock (Escort) 28.47
5th (15) Fergus Kelly/Doc Doherty (Escort) 29.32
6th (19) Michael Fogarty/Eoghan Fogarty (Escort) 29.37
7th (6) John O'Sullivan/Darren Hayes (Peugeot) 29.47
8th (11) John Hennessey/Chris Finnegan (Escort) 29.51
9th (14) Shaun Gallagher/Ciaran Coyle (Corolla) 30.07
10th (9) Freddie Walker/Finbar Mangan (Escort) 30.09
There were last minute dramas on this Birr Rally with Mervyn
Wedlock, having led for the first two stages, suffering a small
spin, losing a few seconds, Pat Higgins and David Percy charging
through to finish equal on time, Higgins getting the nod on a
tie break. Wedlock was rueful but cheerful, "That's the
way it goes, a spin at the square right after the village, just
thankful I didn't damage the car. It was a great day's sport,
a good pace". Percy said "We really went for
it on the last stage, missed one gear, but otherwise nearly perfect".
Pat Higgins, a 31 year old bachelor from Granard, was also flat
out on the last stage. His time was 9.24 as against David
Percy's 9.25, and that 1s was enough to gain Pat and his brother
Liam their first outright rally win.
Gordon Rodgers came into 4th place, Gordon recording 3rd fastest
on the final stage. Fergus Kelly tried everything he knew over
the last couple of stages, and it all came good, just pipping
Mick Fogarty for the class win. Mick had been ahead of
Fergus but spun at the hairpin on the finalo stage, the Escort
getting caught up in the fence. Still it was quite a performance
from Mick on his first rally outing in 5 years. John O'Sullivan
survived a few dramas to take 7th. John Hennessy gave it everything
on the last stage, but couldn't improve on his 2nd stage time,
and had to be content with 8th. Provisionally Shaun Gallagher
looks to have done enough to win the 1600 class. Brendan
Kelly is looking very much like the gpN winner in his Astra,
finishing just outside the leaderboard on 30.29. Trevor
Harding in the Puma had a last stage puncture which knocked him
well back. Freddie Walker set a very respectable time on stage
3, to just come into the leaderboard, while just outside the
top 10 are drivers of the calibre of Martin Doherty, who has
just bought Camillus Bradley's Escort, and drove it for the first
time this morning. Martin's total was 30.24. James O'Rourke
was on 30.37. Sebastian Stackpole 30.34. Tom Murphy staged
quite a recovery to record 30.23. John Hickey was hampered
by wheelspin all day and had to be content with 30.36. Many thanks
to Eoin Longworth and all at the club for a great day's sport.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
|
|
|
|
