UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5

1ST (3) Trevor Moore/Richard Curry (Escort Cos) 23.29

2ND (2) Kevin O'Kane/Stephen Griffith (Impreza) 23.52

3RD (4) Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Lancer Evo6) 23.53

4TH (7) Gary White/Barry Taggart (Escort Cos) 23.54

5TH(1) Denis Biggerstaff/Damien McCann (Metro 6R4)24.01

6TH (5) Brendan O'Hagan/Paul Hone (Escort Cos) 24.14

7TH (11) Keith White/David Lynas (Escort) 24.17

8TH (16) Fintan McGrady/Jim Crozier (Escort Cos) 24.23

9TH(20) Mark Woodside/Malcolm Thompson (Lancer )24.28

10TH(18) Owen Lamont/Philip McCrea (Impreza) 24.33

Trevor Moore continues to extend his lead after five stages and the particularly difficult Binevenagh stage five with it's trecherous down hill finish, Trevor setting another fastest time there, admitting that he is not pushing too hard and has a little bit left in reserve. Kevin O'Kane and Stephen Griffith are setting consistently fast times to move in to second overall, a great battle now developing with Richard Hogg in third one second down who in turn is one second up on Gary White in fourth. All of the leading drivers are reporting no real problems with their machinery.

Denis Biggerstaff though is "having a really bad day", the current Northern Ireland Champion having a major oil leak in his Metro coming into service, Denis saying "we have had all sorts of problems" so it remains to be seen as to whether they can fix the car and he can continue on in fifth place overall.

Scottish visitor Alaistair McSkimmin has reportedly put his Metro 6R4 off the road in stage four, the car undamaged but unable to regain the track, after lying fourth overall after two stages. Another one reported off the road is Fermanagh duo Raymond Johnston and Ivan Fisher, their Lancer apparently not coming out of stage three.

In GpN Mark Woodside is really coming on strong and moving into the top ten while Raymond Mason reports no problems and is on a total of 24.43 after stage five. Martin Cairns is going well in his Impreza we have him on a total of 24.56. Keith White and David Lyons are having a ball in their two wheel drive Escort, Keith doing his usual giant killing act, "Even though we are only 2wd everyone is fair competition". Owen Lamont continues to impress on only his second ever gravel rally, the Belfast businessman has only ever done the Lakeland Stages and that was in 1997. Finton McGrady and Jim Crozier reckon that 2 tarmac drivers is the same as two negatives making a positive and are thoroughly enjoying their run in 8th overall. More News Later Michael Patterson and Zoe Todd