Junior World rally championship navigator, Conor Mohan made it two wins in-a-row at the Drumlin Navigation trial writes Oisín Sherlock.
Having won last season’s event with Gary Cassidy driving; Carbin was back with regular Navigation Trial driver Michael Carbin this time.
Derek Mackarel and Conor Boylan laid out a demanding 120-mile event based out of the Acorn Centre in Newbliss.
This event took in byroads and farm lanes between Newbliss, Redhills, Scotshouse, Stone Bridge, Smithborough, Corcaghan, Latnamard and Rockcorry.
The event began at 21:01 and headed in the direction of Anlore. Timepoint 1 (Tp1) was located on the Clones Road at Drumacoon. From here it was up to Killevan cross and turn left for the route to Tp2.
Tp2 was located in a farm at Killygone. Which had to be approached from a steep descending farm lane which included a manned stop sign.
Once down the lane it was a right turn for to get to the location of the Tp. From here it was back to Killeevan cross, back up the same road as before, only this time keeping left and arriving at Tp3.
At Tp3 the first plot and bash was received for the location of Tp’s 4, 5 6A. This supplementary route instruction was in the form of a full route card, only with the check point locations out of order.
Navigators had to plot the location of both Tp’s immediately as the shortest distance to Tp4 included Tp5.
Navigator's challenge
Hence, any navigator failing to plot both Tp’s would unintentionally arrive at Tp5 first and either have to skip Tp4 or run the risk of receiving a double visit penalty if they arrived back after Tp4.
The correct way was to turn right at the next junction and turn back into the farm lane in Killygone. This time at the stop sign it was turn left out to the road as turning right would lead to a double visit at Tp2.
Once at the road, it was turn left and continue over the road before turning left into another farm lane in Ellinure.
At the end of this lane was Tp4. It was turn left here and back to the crossroads before turning left for to get Tp5.
After Tp5 it was a relatively long trip to Tp6 at Ture Chapel. Unbeknown to many competitors, Tp6A was located on the quickest route to Tp6.
Anyone not plotting Tp6A, which was received at Tp3 would accidently arrive at Tp6A en-route to Tp6.
Amazingly only four crews out of the 44 starters didn’t get a wrong approach or completely miss one or both check points.
Car one on the road and winners of round one in Cork; Ryan Treanor/Shane Dalton were the first of many crews to acquire heavy penalties here.
At Tp6, they didn’t notice that the Approach and Departure were the same direction, so they did not turn around on the road and as such received 15 marks for a wrong departure.
Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy were the only crew to have not picked up any penalties. Mohan/Carbin were on 17 marks for being two minutes late to Tp6A and like Treanor/Dalton, receiving a wrong departure at TP6.
Route challenges throughout
From here the event crossed the Clones/Scotshouse road for Tp7 at the end of a farm lane opposite the Hilton Demesne. A short trip over the road brought crews to Tp8 via yet another muddy farm lane in Annahare.
Next up was the first relaxed section of the night where competitors could make back some of their acquired lateness.
However, the relief at taking back time was short lived. The route to Tp10 was via one of the twistist roads in the country.
In Drumavan, a farm lane in Skerrick West before another twisty road in Aghnaskew before reaching the Tp on the Cavan Road at Callowhill.
If competitors didn’t take the farm lane in Skerrick West, they would meet Tp12 which was at the very end of the road.
The event then briefly crossed the Monaghan/Cavan Border as the route to Tp11 was via another long twisty road in Co. Cavan before arriving at the Tp at Agnew Timber back in Co. Monaghan.
From here it was back through the twisty road at Drumavan for Tp12. Then back through the twisty road at Aghaskew, then through an even worse road in Tullyalt for to reach TP13 in Drumgaze.
The first quarter of the event was then complete at Control B located in Corrinary. At this point in the event, Hughes/Duffy, were the leaders, having just picked up two minutes lateness. For being a minute late to each of Tp7 and 8.
The third plot and bash section began at Tp15. Here crews picked up the location of Tp16 which was at a farm in Lurganboy.
The departure was up the farm lane before heading down another farm lane just over the road for Tp17.
Hughes/Duffy’s lead came to an end here, as they would receive a wrong approach penalty and arrive a minute late.
Change of lead
From here it was time to head for the turbines. Tp18 was approached via turbine lanes In Lislongfield before crossing the public road into another turbine lane in Killyleg.
At the end of this lane, it was a right turn to arrive at Tp19. The departure of the Tp was turning right, back into the turbine lane and this time turning left and arriving at Tp20 at the end of another farm lane in Corkish.
Tp21 was at a farm in Corlougharoe where farm lanes had to be used for the approach and departure of the Tp. The next three Tp’s all used farm lanes.
The standout Tp here was at Tp23 in Noel Hall’s farm in Doohat.
Some competitors felt the wooden posts and wire for keeping the cattle in was causing offence so they took it upon themselves to take some fence posts down.
Challenging change of route
The trick at this Tp was on the approach, as the farm lane had two exits. Competitors were given a tulip diagram back at the Acorn with the changes of directions on the approach lane.
Anyone not following the tulip diagram was met with a wrong approach for not taking the less obvious track. The departure of the Tp was turning immediately hairpin left into a farm shed of Hall’s.
The first Speed Regularity Section (SRS) took pace soon after this. Where competitors have to follow a strict 30mph average speed for to arrive at a secrete check point.
One mark is acquired for every 9s too fast of slow. This section brought crews to Aghadrumkeen and Tp25. The next two Tp’s took place in Aghnacue and Rossnaglogh East, before a brace of check points in Drumsaul.
Rockcorry filling station was the half-way point in the event and a chance for competitors to get refreshments and fuel their cars.
At the halfway point Mohan/Carbin now had a commanding lead as Hughes/Duffy received 16 marks for a wrong approach and being one minute to Tp16. A second SRS began the second half of the event, taking crews from Rockcorry to Stranoodan.
Tp28 ended the first-half and Tp101 began the second. This will avoid confusion as you read on.
Tp’s 103, 104 and 105 all involved using farm lanes, in Greagh, McElvaney’s in Corcaghan and McGuinness’s, back in the townland of Greagh.
After Tp105 it was over to Aghabog football field for the first relaxed section of the second-half. A relaxed section so soon after the midpoint stop shows you how demanding these opening three farm lanes were.
Farm lanes continue through route
More farm lanes were up next for Tp107 in Liscumasky and to avoid a double visit penalty mark at Tp102 at the Stranoodan five points.
Norris’s farm in Latnamard was the location Tp108 where numerous farm machinery disguised the route to the Tp.
After this it was to the Threemilehouse/Newbliss road to arrive at Tp109 via the use of a farm lane in Lecklevera.
Control D at Greenans Cross signalled the end of the third-quarter. Indeed, Mohan/Carbin were still well out in front.
More plot and Bash was on the cards here as competitors were given a multiple page box tulip diagrams that were mixed around.
Navigators had to keep turning over the pages to find the closest change of direction. Something that’s incredibly difficult to do when the car is constantly moving, thus increasing the distance on the trip meter.
The box tulip brought crews towards Three Mile House and to turn left into a very long private road in Killina.
A farm yard at three-quarter way in the lane, competitors had to keep straight on. On a less inviting path and onto a muddy farm lane that brought them to another public road for to turn left and travel to Tp110 in anther farm lane in Cornawall.
The box tulip continued on towards Tp11, it was back up to Greenans Cross, left toward Three Mile House, and back in the private road at Killina.
This time competitors had to turn left into the farm and low and behold, Tp111 was waiting on the front street. Indeed, any competitor taking the wrong turn on the first pass would have arrived at Tp111 before Tp110.
From here it was back onto the muddy lane to the public road, this time turning right and reaching Tp112 in Cornafaghy.
Final section of course
The final relaxed section (Tp113 and Tp113A) was located in Listellan. This had to be approached using a farm lane between Cloghernagh to Killykespin.
Next up was Scott’s farm in Boughill. Like at previous locations, a tulip diagram had been received back in the Acorn of the way to the Tp.
A lot of Navigators obviously left this crucial bit of information at their table in the Acorn. As no less than 20 crews took a wrong approach. Those 20 crews, do not include crews that never arrived to the Tp at all.
From Scott’s it was over to Mackarel’s farm in Gransha More for Via4 and the final plot and bash section of the night.
At V4 competitors received a Box Tulip diagram for the route to and location of Tp116 and Tp117.
However, it was a turn an acute hairpin left and go back into the farm. Using a farm lane before joining a private road and reaching TP116 at the railway bridge.
From here part of the disused railway was used before joining a lane never before used for navigations.
There were just two farm lanes remaining on in the night. One for the approach to Tp118 in Radeery and one for the penultimate Control in Dale’s farm in Corramegan.
Once at the control in Corramegan, it was just a trip back on the main road to the final control in the Acorn Centre, Newbliss village.
A fast conclusion
The overall victory on the night went to Conor Mohan/Michael Carbin taking an eight mark victory over second placed Greg Shinnors/Andrew Mackarel. Third overall went to Evin Hughes/Pakie Duffy after they received another wrong approach to Tp114.
The Semi-Expert class was won by Ruaidhri Nash/Eoghan Corr. Second was Anthony McDonald/Sean McConnell and third place went to Michael Sheridan/Cathal McGlone.
Gretchen and Martin Swinburne finished first in the novice class, second was Donegal navigation trial winners. Adam Langan/Patrick O’Donnell. Whereas, third went to Ben Mohan/Damien Hagan.
The Beginner class was won by Darren Lavery/Aaron McGorman, 2nd was Jack McKenna/Damien Treanor and 3rd was John McCay/James Boland.
The National Navigation Trial Championship continues with the Skibbereen and District Car Club, Carbery Navigation Trial on November 23rd.
