RALLY NEWS NO.5 Kirkistown – Saturday – 4.30

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 – LAST STAGE
1st (6) Charlie Donnelly/Pat O'Kane (Corolla WRC) 12.21.3
2nd (5) Kenny McKinstry/Camillus O'Neill (Impreza WRC) 12.23.8
3rd (9) Denis Biggerstaff/Barry Fox (Impreza WRC) 12.25.2
4th (12) Derek McGeehan/Charlie Donaghy (Corolla WRC) 12.35.0
5th (10) Kevin Barrett/Johnny McGonigle (Impreza WRC) 12.36.0
6th (3) Gwyndaf Evans/Paul Kiely (Lancer N) 12.39.8
7th (8) Glenn Allen/Leon McCrystal (Corolla WRC) 12.38.2
8th (18) Stephen & Pamela Moore (Focus WRC) 12.39.8
9th (30) Michael Curran/Michael Haddock (Lancer N) 12.46.6
10th (17) Emma McKinstry/Ryan Rogers (Impreza WRC) 12.47.0
11th (61) John McKeown/Mandy McKeown (Esc.Cos) 12.51.1
12th (11) Raymond Johnson/Fabian McAleer (Impreza WRC) 12.52.7

There was a grand stand finish to this Rally of the 1000 Entries with Charlie Donnelly in his Corolla WRC and Gwyndaf Evans in his Group N Lancer setting equal fastest time on the final stage. Donnelly won the rally, Welshman Gwyndaf Evans whom one spectator described as poetry in motion over the gravel section, won group N. Kevin Lynch led the rally after the first stage but then had a spin on stage 2 and was fighting back from 5th place, got up to 4th on stage 4, but then made an error on stage 5 when he did an extra lap. The Dungiven based utilities contractor joked “We paid for 6 stages and we did 6!” Yes, you’ve guessed it, as darkness closed in the organising Magherafelt Motor Club decided to just run 5 stages! There was a hold up on the last stage when Andrew Nesbitt/George Tracey in the Peugeot WRC clattered into the finish timing light and the stage had to be stopped while this was repaired. This did Charlie Donnelly no favours as he had to sit quietly while his car and tyres cooled down in the rapidly dropping December temperatures. Anyway, with Pat O’Kane co driving Charlie did the business and won the rally. The first person over to congratulate National Champion Charlie was Kenny McKinstry, and Charlie said. “Us oul boys can still show the young ones! It was a great day’s rallying, a tremendous effort by all concerned for the Fund.”

The winner of the rally will take home one of the late Bertie Fisher’s very special trophies. The other two Bertie Fisher trophies will be awarded on a ballot in which every competitor has a ticket. Gladys Fisher has made the trophies available for the rally and she is here today to support the event.

Group N winner Gwyndaf Evans, co driven today by Paul Kiely, said at the finish. “I was really surprised today, I thought the stages might be Mickey Mouse, but they were good. The rally was great, I am so glad that I came, both for the enjoyment and to support the event”.

Trevor Moore/Matt Larmour look as if they are going to win the 2 wheel drive category but it is going to be a very close run thing between them and Camillus Bradley/Jude McGlaughlin in the 2 Escorts with Rodney White not far behind in his Sunbeam.

Lots more stories but no more time……

Very well done to all at Magherafelt Motor Club for all the very hard work and effort. Well done as well to Cathal Rogers and all who supported the concept of the Fund, both for Christopher Rogers and the new Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund. A couple of months ago £100,000 seemed a bit of a dream. We made it!!!

BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net