Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan took a start-to-finish win in the Ardmore Air Conditioning Longford Arms Hotel Midland Moto Rally on Sunday, the opening round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.
It was the Volkswagen Polo GTI crew's second victory. After taking their maiden victory on the Rally of the Lakes last May.
After an unseasonably dry morning, the rain landed for the final loop of three stages near Longford town.
Devine and O’Sullivan exerted their authority on the event over the damp roads. A 10-second victory over Oghill gave them a 15.1-second lead with two stages to run.
The Derry/Kerry pairing was fastest again over the even wetter Kilmoyle stage, extending their lead to 18.2 seconds. The pair cruised through the final Bawn stage to take a 10.7-second victory over former British Rally Champion Matt Edwards.
The Welshman and Cork co-driver David Moynihan, driving Keith Lyons Ford Fiesta Rally 2 enjoyed a rally-long battle with Josh Moffett. Edwards lost time over the morning loop when the Fiesta developed a boost valve issue. The pair arrived at the first service halt in third place.
Despite admitting he was more than a little rusty after an eight-month lay-off. The Welsh driver kept the pressure on over the remaining six stages.
Such was the intensity of the battle they tied for second place with defending champion Moffett and co-driver Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 Rally 2 after six-stage.
Moffett admitted to a few hairy moments, especially in the middle loop, having tried unsuccessfully to stave off the Edwards challenge. Moffett takes bonus points into round two after winning the PowerStage.
Darren Gass and Barry McNulty in their Citroen C3 Rally 2 spun on the first hairpin on stage one and stalled on the start line of stage six. However they were able to hold off Sam Moffatt and Keith Moriarty in their newer version of the Hyundai 20 Rally 2 to take fourth place.
With Edwards not registered Gass and McNulty scored third-placed points in the Triton Showers Championship.
Modified Section
Gary Kiernan and his new co-driver John McCabe won the Modified Section of the rally in their Ford Escort.
They enjoyed a rally-long battle with Galway international rally modified winners Mark Alcorn and Domhnall McAleney. The Cavan crew were able to get the upper hand over the wetter roads towards the end of the rally.
Declan Boyle and co-driver Patrick Walsh finished seventh in their Volkswagen Polo RC2. It was a busy weekend for co-driver Walsh, on Saturday he contested the opening round of the Scottish Rally Championship, the Snowman Rally in Inverness.
After finishing 10th alongside Fredie Milne. Walsh made a late evening dash to Glasgow airport, arriving in Dublin around midnight and a late-night drive to Longford town.
This promoted the Darrian T90 of Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Moore to 12th place overall. Importantly the Donegal crew finished third in the Modified category.
Local competitor Tommy Doyle and Cork co-driver Liam Moynihan lost several minutes after getting stuck in a stage one ditch.
Although finishing well down the order it was bitter disappointment for Doyle. Who was contesting his first rally in five years and sampling Hyundai I20 R5 power for the first time.
New York-based Paul Rowley (and Kerry co-driver Brian Doherty) was the highest-placed Midland Motor Club member in his Ford Fiesta RC2.
London Irish Motor Club crew Paul McDevitt and Ray Fitzpatrick won the historic rally in their Belga-liveried Ford Escort Mk2.
Monaghan’s Jack McKenna and Damien Doherty got the better of defending Triton Showers National Junior champions Joe Browen and Tommy Cuddihy to win the junior rally, both driving Honda Civics.
Midland motor club round-up
For other Midland Motor club crews it was mixed fortunes. Longford’s Sam Johnstown and David Gibbons on the notes finishing 42nd overall and more importantly winning their class.
Moydow’s Ronan Quinn with Kevin Heffernan in their Mk 2 Escort had a mixed day ending up seventh in class. Enda Gerety from Ballymahon with Eoin Kenny calling the notes had a good result with second in class in their Mk 2 Escort.
Stephen Healy from Lanesborough with Brendan Keenan navigating finished eighth in a very competitive class 11f in their twin-cam Corolla after mechanical trouble cost them time.
Darragh Kelly from Ballyleague with co-driver Eoin Kelly had a good run finishing third in the Junior class in a Honda Civic. While cousin Jack Kelly from Strokestown and Conor Dolan from Roscommon in their Civic finished one place behind in fourth.
James Reilly and James Finnegan in their Twin Cam Corolla finished sixth in class. Meanwhile Shane Quinn and Patrick Brides had a tussle with the local scenery resulting in an early exit from the rally.
Other Longford crews included Colin Duffy/Brian Halligan, Eamon Brady/Sean Brady, Kevin Lennon/Francis Dempsey along with Sean Og Cahill/Declan Hagan had mechanical trouble resulting in an early exit from the rally.
The club would like to thank all those who assisted in running the rally including Longford Co Council, the Gardai, the ambulance crews, rescue teams, recovery trucks all neighbouring motor clubs who provided officials and marshals.
We are grateful to the businesses of Templemichael Business Park for allowing us the use of their park for Service and St Mels College for Parc Ferme, Fenlons Engineering for Trailor Park together with Midland Engineering who provided their premises for mechanical scrutiny.
Finally to our main sponsors The Longford Arms, Admore Air Conditioning together with associate sponsors Faughnan Construction, Shane Quinn Rallying and McCormack Contracting together with all the stage sponsors for their support.
*Barry Molloy for Shannonside Sport.
