Smyth/McQuillan Move Closer to Border Crown
Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan moved closer to the 2023 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship after a class win on the ALMC Hellfire Stages Rally. The Oldcastle based event was Round 4 of the Championship and the pair made it four straight wins in the series leaving them well clear in the Championship. The only crew who can catch them is Craig Rahill/Conor Smith who were the class 11R winners. Rahill missed Round 1 but Smith won the class with another driver so also has 40 points on the board. The final round will take place in Benone with the event organised by Cookstown Motor Club.
The Cavan/Monaghan pairing of Paul Crosby/Eoin Lennon took the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day Award on Round 4 of the 2023 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.The award is given to the fastest class time for a selected class and stage chosen on the morning of the event. Their time on stage 6 was the fastest of the registered class 11R crews, earning them a pair of Sligo Pallet Jackets, a photo at the finish ramp and bragging rights among their class rivals!
The ALMC Hellfire Stages Rally was being held for the first time since 2017 and attracted a strong entry of over 140 cars. It is even longer since there was a rally in the Oldcastle area and crews were treated to three fast challenging stages. Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan would hold on to take a narrow victory from Desi Henry/Shane Byrne who pushed them all the way.
Classes 1-7:
Simon Love/Deirdre Brosnan were the top registered crew in class 1, taking 6 points home with them. Ryan McHugh/Declan Boyle were the top registered finishers in class 2 narrowly holding off Cian Caldwell/Liam Egan. Matthew Boyle/Gary Byrne were up next. Ruari & Martin McGarritty were the top registered finisher in class 3. Thomas O’Rourke/Tomas Scallan won class 4.
Class 9-11R:
Lloyd Hutchison/Willie Fitzpatrick took top points in class 9 from Sean Og Cahill/Ryan Graham. Cathal Sheridan/Peter Deery took a dominant class 10 win well ahead of Eamon & Brian Rudden. Gary Cassidy/Killian McArdle took the class 11F win to move into the class lead in the championship. David Healy/Martin Byrne and Sam Johnston/Colin Duffy completed the podium. Craig Rahill/Conor Smith took victory in class 11R to keep their title hopes alive. Paul Crosby/Eoin Lennon pushed them all the way to take 2nd. Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell were the 3rd registered crew home.
Class 12-14:
Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan continued their winning ways in class 12. Ryan McArdle/Conor McLoughney were 2nd with James Cassidy/Domhnall Lennon 3rd. Top points in class 13 went to Aaron McIntyre/Paul McPhillips from Tim Flood/Anthony Smith. Kevin Gallagher/Ryan Moore won class 14 from Gary Kiernan/John McCabe in 2nd and Richard Moffett/Ger Conway.
Class 15-20:
Brian Comiskey/Declan Campbell once again took class 15. Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan won class 20. Gerry McIntyre/Paul Clarke were the next registered crew home. Paul McDevitt/Ray Fitzpatrick won the Historic class. Malcolm Pedlow/John Henderson were next home.
A very successful event for John Carroll and his team in ALMC Motor Club. The Championship now heads to Tyrone for the championship around the Benone track on the shores of Lough Neagh. This single venue format will be a new challenge for the crews and its short format will punish even the smallest of mistakes which should keep things very interesting!
Border Championship Mourns Gene and Daire
The Committee of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship wishes to extend their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Gene McDonald and Daire Maguire who tragically past away during the Sligo Stages Rally. Our thoughts also go to the emergency services and those who were present and responded at the scene.
Both Gene and Daire have been regular supporters of the Championship over the years claiming multiple class wins. Gene has steadily moved up the classes starting out in a Sunbeam before moving to his red Escort where he competed in class 9, 11R and most recently class 13. Daire was an experienced navigator who had competed with a number of different drivers and cars over the years. Both will be greatly missed.
It is with a heavy heart that the Championship continues with the ALMC Stages Rally taking place on Sunday August 13th. Returning as a round of the Border Championship for the first time in over 25 years, the club have revived the Hellfire Rally name and returned rallying to Oldcastle. It will be new territory for most competitors.
Class 12 crew Justin Smyth & Gregory McQuillan currently lead the championship with Conor Smith tying with Gregory in the co-drivers category. Ryan McHugh/Declan Boyle (27 points) and Ruari McGarritty/Martin McGarritty (27 points) lie joint 2nd overall with Tim Flood/Anthony Smith (24 point) in 3rd.
Eves/Farrell Take Drive of the Day in Cavan
The Donegal/Monaghan pairing of Dylan Eves/Ryan Farrell took the Sligo Pallets Drive of the Day Award on Round 2 of the 2023 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.The award is given to the fastest class time for a selected class and stage chosen on the morning of the event. Their time on stage 6 was the fastest of the registered class 2 crews, earning them a pair of Sligo Pallet Jackets, a photo at the finish ramp and bragging rights among their class rivals!
The Cavan Stages Rally was being held for the first time since 2019 and attracted a fantastic entry with many crews left disappointed as they didn’t make the 150 starters list. COC Stephen Kellett organised three tough demanding stages in some classic rally territory between Cavan and Cootehill. The event was blessed with warm, dry weather bringing out plenty of spectators. They were treated to a gripping battle for the overall win between Josh Moffett and Callum Devine with Moffett snatching victory on the final stage by a scant 1.8 seconds!
Classes 1-7:
Simon Love/Deirdre Brosnan were the top registered crew in class 1, taking 6 points home with them. Ryan McHugh/Declan Boyle were the top registered finishers in class 2 narrowly holding off Drive of the Day winners Dylan Eves/Ryan Farrell. Shane Quinn/Patrick Brides and Cian Caldwell/Liam Egan were up next in this very competitive class. Ruari & Martin McGarritty took class 3 with Jason McConnan/Daniel McConnan in 4th. Brendan Cumisky/Martin Connolly debuted an RC3 Fiesta to win class 4 from Wexford’s Thomas O’Rourke and Tom Scallan. Stephen Wright/Ger Conway picked up top points in class 5 with Niall Maguire/Conor Foley doing the same in class 7.
Class 9-11R:
Lloyd Hutchison/Willie Fitzpatrick took top points in class 9 with Eamon & Brian Rudden taking class 10. Sam Johnston/David Gibbons were the top registered finisher in class 11F ahead of rivals Des Lyons/Aisling McArdle. Jack Maguire/Keith McConnan were next home. Craig Rahill/Conor Smith took victory in the hotly contested class 11R on their local event. Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell took 2nd with Jordan Greene McGee in 3rd.
Class 12-14:
Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan made it two wins from two in class 12 to take the overall lead of the Border Championship. James Cassidy/Domhnall Lennon were 2nd. Top points in class 13 went to Tim Flood/Anthony Smith ahead of round 1 winners Raymond Conlon/Gavin Doherty. Dessie Keenan/Jason McKenna were the top registered finisher in class 14 with John Bonner/Johnny Baird the next Border crew home.
Class 15-20:
Brian Comiskey/Declan Campbell were the top registered crew in class 15. Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan took class 20 from Gerry McIntyre/Paul Clarke in 2nd. Jack McKenna/Damien Doherty made it two wins from two in class 16. Trees or Trophies and Anti-lag Association jointly lead the teams category.
A very successful event for Stephen Kellett and his team in Cavan. The Championship now heads to Sligo for the Sligo Stages Rally for Round 3. The event had a very successful launch a few weeks ago and it is now full steam ahead for the event on Sunday July 16th.
Conlon/Doherty are Drive of the Day in Longford
Monaghan pairing Raymond Conlon & Gavin Doherty clinched the first Drive of the Day Award on the opening round of the 2023 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. The award is given to the fastest class time for a selected class and stage chosen on the morning of the event. Their time on stage 6 was the fastest of the registered class 13 crews, earning them a pair of Sligo Pallet Jackets, a photo at the finish ramp and bragging rights among their class rivals!
The Midland Stages Rally was being held for the first time since 2019 and attracted a fantastic entry. Their was a big atmosphere in Longford throughout the weekend with three fast demanding stages in the Drumlish, Ballinamuck and Moydow areas. The fight for overall honours was between front running RC2 runners Calum Devine, Josh Moffett and triple British Champion Matt Edwards with Devine coming out on top. The fight for class honours was equally intense and it is through the classes that the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship is decided. Now in it’s 30th year, the championship was created as a clubman’s championship which anyone, regardless of car or class could win outright. Points are awarded based on your finishing position in your class only with crews counting their best four scores from five rounds. Sligo Pallets have sponsored the Championship since 2011 and have duly returned to lend their superb support to the series once again.
Classes 1-7:
Simon Love/Deirdre Brosnan were the top registered crew in class 1, taking 7 points home with them. Donegal’s Kyle McBride/Declan Boyle were the top registered crew in the hotly contested class 2. Matthew Boyle/Gary Byrne and Cian Caldwell/Liam Egan were the next registered finishers. Fermanagh’s Ruari & Martin McGarritty picked up top points in class 3 ahead of Francis Kelly/Kasey McKeon. Thomas O’Rourke/Thomas Scallon took class 4. Matt Edwards was the top scoring drive in class 5 with Stephen Wright/Ger Conway next. There were only two finishes in class 7 for old World Rally Cars, former champion Niall Maguire with Conor Mohan taking it from Steve Wood/Kenny Hull.
Class 9-11R:
Llyod Hutchison/Willie Fitzpatrick took 2 points in class 9 after finishing under Rally 2 rules. Cathal Sheridan/Peter Deery took a dominant win in class 10 with Eamon Rudden/Brian Rowan next up. Defending Border Champion, Sam Johnston made the perfect start to the year taking class 11F on his home event with David Gibbons navigating. David Healy/Stephen McGing pushed him all the way and finished just 8 seconds behind. Gavin Russell/Daniel Callaghan, Des Lyons/Aisling McArdle and Jack Maguire/Keith McConnan all bagged some useful points. Michael Cahill/Conor Smith took class 11R from Ben McIntyre/Andrew Wedlock. Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell took 3rd in class.
Class 12-14:
Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan took class honours in class 12 holding off Michael Conlon/Damien Fleming by just 12.9 seconds after a day long battle. Ryan McArdle/Connor Moloughney completed the podium. Raymond Conlon/Gavin Doherty took class 13 holding off the similar car of John Warren/Ruthann O’Connor in 2nd with Aiden Bourke/Piece Jnr Doherty in 3rd. Tim Flood/Anthony Smith and Andrew Gillespie/Stephen Doogan completed the top five. 2013 Champion, Gary Kieran and John McGrath led home an astonishing 20 other class 14 cars and were 6th overall. Kevin Gallagher/Ryan Moore, Richard Moffett/Darragh Kelly and Chris Armstrong/Darren Curran all picked up useful points.
Class 15-20:
Kieran Roarty/Michael O’Donnell took home top points in class 20 from Gerry McIntyre/Paul Clarke. Class 18 (Historics) saw Paul McDevitt/Ray Fitzpatrick lead home from David Armstrong/Ashley Trimble and Malcolm Pedlow/Ivor Ferguson. Class 16 (Juniors) went to Jack McKenna/Damien Doherty. Darragh Kelly/Eoin Kelly were next up with Jack Kelly/Conor Dolan in 3rd.
A very successful event for Seamus McTigue and all in Midlands Motor Club. The Championship now returns to Cavan for the first time since 2019 with the Cavan Stages Rally. Following on from this, the championship heads to Sligo before concluding with the return of the ALMC Stages Rally for the first time since the 1990’s and the debut of the Cookstown Rally in October.
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