UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 – last stage

1^st  (1) Mickey Curran/Mark McNally (Escort) 27.30

2^nd (12) Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCaffrey (Corolla) 27.42

3^rd (2) Gordon Rogers/Philip McEntee (Escort) 27.44

4^th (16) Russell Woods/Stuart Clarke (Escort) 27.47

5^th (8) Ollie O'Reilly/Martin Cahill (Escort) 28.50

6^th (4) Arthur Kierans/Conor Foley (Escort) 28.55

7^th (6) Pat Bonner/Derek Montgomery (Escort) 28.57

8^th (10) James Cassidy/Peter Wilson (Escort) 29.06

9^th (25) James Browne/Terence McGee (Escort) 29.09

10^th (9) PJ Bonner/Paddy Boyle (Escort) 29.15

Oldcastle man Mickey Curran and his co driver Mark McNally scored a hard earned start to finish victory on this Castle Single Stage Rally, their Escort giving a few worries at the end of the first stage when a nut fell off the axle but otherwise set a scorching pace all day. There was a massive battle for 2^nd place with Mark Alcorn just pipping Gordon Rogers while Russell Woods was a fine 4^th.

Mickey Curran commented at the end. “It was a great day’s rallying, very tricky with the frost, we had another overshoot at the hairpin on the last stage but otherwise the car flew and it was a great day”.  Mark Alcorn had been 2^nd after the first stage, caught a car and lost a few seconds and drop[ed to 3^rd place and then really flew through the last stage to take the runner up spot. Gordon Rogers gave it a real good go, but his car spluttered for a mile or so on that stage 3 and only came good when he flicked on the spare fuel pump, but then it was too late.  Alcorn had set the fastest time of the day for the stage recording a 9.01, Russell Woods did a brilliant 9.04 on that last stage, Mickey Curran 9.06 and Gordon Rogers 9.07.  All very close, but indicative of the level of competition at the front.

Ollie O’Reilly did well to bring his Escort into 5^th place despite persistent gearbox trouble throughout the day and enthusiast that he is, is going to take the gearbox out of the car tonight. Gerry Smith had been in the top 10 but dropped out of it on the last stage when he stalled on the start line and lost quite a few seconds.

Arthur Kierans speeded up towards the end to come into 6^th place. Pat Bonner set an equal time with Kierans and he also improved from 8^th to 7^th. James Cassidy lost a few seconds on the last stage and indeed probably lost 2^nd in class to Bonner because of this. Kierans won the class. 

Drivers finishing just outside the leaderboard included Peter Greene on a total of 29.33. John Waters was on 30.20. Joseph Smith 29.53. Columba Henna in his Corolla 29.33. Paul McEnroe in the Honda was slower on the last stage and finished on 29.44. Gerard McGiveney was on 29.38. Andrew Mackarel in the Ascona summed the rally up for many when he said earlier “Although the frost has cleared in places there are still a few tricky patches and it is very hard to have confidence”.  Finally for now very well done to Michelle Devereaux and all the hard working officials on the event. It turned out to be a great day’s rallying. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net