UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 7 (overnight)

1^st (7) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 32.29

2^nd (8) Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter (Celica) 33.09

3^rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC) 33.13

4^th (4) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRc) 33.25

5^th (5) Eamonn Boland/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 33.34

6^th (2) Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Corolla WRc) 33.38

7^th (9) Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Impreza WRC) 33.58

8^th (6) David Greer/Michael Reid (Corolla WRC) 34.15

9^th (19) Trevor Cathers/Gordon Noble (Lancer N) 34.28

10^th (14) Maruice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 34.47

11^th (10) Brendan Kelly/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 34.52

12^th (44) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn (Escort) 35.15

13^th (26) Dickie Curran/Gary Lyons (Lancer N) 35.16

14^th (32) Garry Jennings/Paul Garry (Peugeot 106) 35.20

15^th (57) Jaye Jordan/Graeme Stewart (Esc.Cos) 35.23

Following much late night discussion all the road penalties and allegations of improper servicing were sorted out to leave the leaderboard as above, with Andrew Nesbitt 20s clear of Peadar Hurson starting today’s 12 special stages. There is heavy mist and generally damp conditions here in the Leitrim hills, so there could be many changes in the leaderboard.

Overnight class positions include: Trevor Cathers leading gpN from Brendan Kelly with Dickie Curran 3^rd. Garry Jennings leads class 6 in his Peugeot 106. The young Ballinamallard man nearly burst the car on a stage 6 jump, so hopefully it will be alright today. Shaun Gallagher is 2^nd in cl.6. Dessie Keenan also in a Peugeot 3^rd. Greg McCormack is the best of the rear wheel drive Escorts and leads cl.11 from Philip Shaw with Norman Armstrong 3^rd. Terence McLoughlin leads cl.7 in hisEscort Cosworth, Harold Brown 2^nd, John McIvor 3^rd. Charlie McCanny leads cl.10 in his Corolla from James Cassidy, with Neil McCance 3^rd. Danny McBride leads cl.2 from Ian Hynes. John McElhinney leads cl.1 from Aisling Dorris with Dessie Boyd 3^rd. Brian Black leads cl.9 in his Starlet. Paul McShea leads cl.6 in his Orion. Alyn Spiers leads cl.5, Lucy Ford-Hutchinson is 2^nd, Joanne Bowness 3^rd. Alan McMahon is unofficially leading cl.3 in his Integra from the similar car of Alan Cathcart, Alan delayed early in the rally when his Honda broke a driveshaft.

In the Historic Rally Philip McDowell leads in his Ford Cortina from Mervyn Johnston (Mini Cooper) with Philip Wylie 3^rd in his MGB, Gavin Taylor 4^th (Mexico), Alan Lemon (Hornet) 5^th, Ivor Clark in his BRM engined Avenger 6^th. Canadian visitors Tom Jones/Ralph Beckman in the big Barracuda 7^th.

Some interesting names just outside the leaderboard in the main rally include: Greg McCormack 16^th. Roy White 17^th: Dan McCartan 18^th: Philip Shaw 19^th: Terence McLoughlin 20^th: Donie O’Sullivan 21^st: More news later..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON