| RALLY NEWS NO.10 End of last stage/Sunday 5pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 16 Streamhill West (Final Stage)
1st (1) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 1.32.44.7
2nd (5) Keith Cronin/Anthony O'Conaill (Lancer N) 1.33.08.6
3rd (4) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 1.36.43.1
4th (14) Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans (Lancer N) 1.36.56.1
5th (10) Cathal Rogers/Paul McLaughlin (Lancer N) 1.37.21.2
6th (21) Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC) 1.38.07.1
7th (18) Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 1.39.06.0
8th (20) John McGaffin/Alan Russell (Impreza WRC) 1.39.31.0
9th (24) Colm McBride/Rodney Hicks (Lancer N) 1.40.17.0
10th (23) John Reid/Ray Fitzpatrick (Corolla WRC) 1.40.20.6
It was nearly a dream come true on this 2 day Cork Forestry for young Keith Cronin and his co driver Anthony O’Conaill but after a courageous and skilful drive they had to settle for 2nd behind Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh in their Focus WRC. That is not to take away from Moore’s victory. He also put up a brilliant show and a very big bonus is winning the Hankook Irish Forestry Championship even with one round remaining. For Keith Cronin it would have been a great way to celebrate his recent 21st birthday. Former multiple Champion Kevin O’Kane also piled on the pressure towards the end to take 3rd place relegating Colin Britton to 4th. For Britton it was also a great run and earned him 2nd in Group N. Jonny Greer/Jonny Hart has won the Fiesta Sporting Trophy from Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty by 16s.
The first day’s stages were around the Ballyvourney area and the drivers found the going tough at times. Brian McGillin and Stephen Moore each held the lead briefly early in the rally but then Keith Cronin got his Lancer’s nose in front the young man revelling in his home territory. London based Cork man Michael O’Brien had his Focus in 4th place but retired with broken suspension at the start of stage 5 while Andrew Purcell crashed out on the first stage. Cronin finished the day with a 20s advantage over Brian McGillin while Stephen Moore held 3rd, a further 6s back, Moore’s Focus suffering a small hand brake switch problem which affected the differentials. McGillin had a few moments of drama when his Hyundai needed the manifold welded up.
Day 2 of the rally saw Cronin’s lead cut to just 6s. His closest pursuer then was Stephen Moore in his Focus, Brian McGillin’s Hyundai having succumbed to gear cogs on the first Sunday stage. Keith Cronin had worried about that Fidanne stage from the start as he felt the long straights and square corners would favour a world rally car much more than his group N machine. As it turned out he was correct, but he did his cause no good by spinning on the very first corner.
Early retirements on the Sunday leg included James Murphy who had been 6th overnight but his Escort WRC’s clutch cried enough on the way to stage 9. Enda McNulty had been 8th o/a when crashed out on stage 9. Damien Tourish was 5th overall but crashed on stage 10 and Frank Kelly slid his Escort into the undergrowth, also in the muddy stage 10. Frank had overcome some sickness early in the rally to come right into contention with Seamus O’Connell and Adrian Hetherington for top two wheel drive/Mk2 Escort honours. Sadly Seamus’ new engine blew on the penultimate stage to leave Adrian Hetherington the top Mk2 Escort.
At the Sunday half way point Keith Cronin had a 5s lead over Stephen Moore with 3rd placed Colin Britton now well over 2 minutes in arrears of the leaders. Through stages 13 and 14 Stephen Moore edged ahead of Cronin to take the lead, Keith’s 6 year old Lancer no match for the world rally car as the roads dried, a stall at the start of stage 13 not helping Cronin’s cause either. Kevin O’Kane got the hammer down through stages 13 and 14 as well to get ahead of Colin Britton for 3rd place and there were no changes over the final 2 stages.
Finally for now very well done to Darren McCarthy and all his hard working Cork MC team for putting on such a superb rally. Brendan Fahy, brother of the late Ger Fahy, was Chief Marshal on this Jim Walsh Memorial Rally and he would like to thank all the marshals for all their efforts. We would like to thank Greg Shinnors & Elaine Higgins for all their assistance and everyone who helped and supported the Rally News service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
