McKenna wins Sligo Mini Stages Rally

Adding to the Clones man’s numerous achievements this season , Daniel Mc Kenna with Ciaran Tynan on the notes led the Sligo event from start to finish to eventually cross the finish ramp with thirty six seconds on his nearest rival and comfortably take the title . A margin of eighteen seconds which he set on the opening Leonardline sponsored Maugherow stage first thing out in the morning , he increased once returning to contest the loop for the second time and this gap was unable to be closed by the chasing competitors .Letterkenny’s , John O Donnell did his utmost to catch the leader but being unable to close that gap and confident of maintaining second place he dropped some eight seconds on the final stage compared to his personal on the first occasion over the Currid Motors sponsored Horseshoe stage . The consistency was also reflected in the third spot , as local crew Domnic Mc Loughlin with his brother Stephen on the notes has to remain satisfied in coming home at third overall, a position they would have maintained right from the first stage , and in his usual inimitable form he never mad a wrong move all day , but he did encounter a puncture over the first stage on the final loop. Another Letterkenny crew , Drew Hunter finished at number four , while he did set a slower time on the second stage in the morning , which reflected in his positioning as they entered the Jordans sponsored service park which was located at Gilroy Tiling at Grange . Finishing at fifth overall , John Mc Gettrick and James Mc Dermott was a clear indication that the south Sligo crew never put a wheel wrong all day and the duo were back on form. Another Clones crew , Raymond Conlon with Daren Mc Cague calling the notes came home sixth overall , and this was on the back of a fourth place finish on the Gullion Stages on Saturday, which meant he had to sacrifice making notes .
On a day which a chill south westerly wind fanned the North Sligo area , it was quite a relief that the mini stages hadn’t experienced the horrendous rainfall which had occurred in the weeks previous , and indeed the stages , though slippy on the first outing in the morning had somewhat dried with the prevailing stiff breeze. As some fifteen of the local crews competing on the event had their roots in North Sligo , the atmosphere around the stages was electric with crowds supporting their local hero’s on home turf. Many of the locals came back to the finish ramp at the Sligo Park Hotel very satisfied with their result and lifting an award was to be a bonus .There were also many disappointments also , none with major consequences other than hurt pride and a period of mechanical repair over the festive season.
Patrick Herity with David Currid on the notes would have been thrilled with their run on the day , having actually led his class eleven on the opening stage which passed by his own doorstep to eventually lift third in the class at prizegiving.Coming home one place behind him on the leaderboard and lifting the first place award for class six , David Leonard with Leon Jordan calling the notes would have been tipped as a possible contender for the overall , but an unfortunate overshoot on stage one which cost him over thirty seconds probably scuffled his chances of a top ten finish. Phillip Harte and Niall Mc Calloig claimed the Class nine award coming in fourteen seconds ahead of fellow Ballinful driver Colin Currid accompanied by Michael Melly who had actually piped the lads by one second on the first stage . Wesley Roberts and navigator Garreth Johnston were to capitalise on their class successes on the recent Banna Beach event to also claim the class three award on their home event. North Sligo stages would have also been very familiar territory for Rory Carroll and John A Conway, but on occasions this may have its disadvantages giving you a false sense of security , although for the Ballinful crew it was pure consistency which awarded them second in class twelve. Ian Gunning from Ballyfarnon , accompanied by the accomplished driver Terence O Shaughnessy on notes had one of the best runs to date since acquiring this thirteen escort earlier this year coming home twenty seventh overall. Enda Haran and Gillian Gilmartin opted to compete in the Peugeot 106 and were rewarded amicability for their endeavours coming home third in class six and thirty second overall . For Kieran Carroll and Louise Healy it was a fruitful day not alone coming home thirty seventh overall , they were to be the Connacht Motor Club crew to pick up the club award being the highest placed member not already in receipt of an award. Barry Foley with Sarah on the notes took their Escort across the finish ramp having came home forty first on the leadership table and outside the awards among what is a ruthless class thirteen.Kerill Watters accompanied by Ronan Murrin came home just outside the awards in class six , and had he not stopped on stage two thinking he had picked up a puncture which cost him nearly three minutes ,he most defiantly would have been among the awards The Ewings, Martin and James took their Peugeot 205 across the finish line at sixty sixth overall .Tubbercurry crew Pat Mc Guinness with Paul Kennedy in the navigator seat came in at sixty seventh spot , while lads who a making a return to the sport , David and Matthew Lang came home sixty ninth. Making his debut on tarmac stages , John Rooney and Michael Carron would have to be extremely satisfied to come home seventy fourth .Tony O Brien and Louise Kilbane , late deciders to do the event finished seventy sixth overall .Ferlin Taylor / Vinnie Boyd 77th , Sean Harte /Michael Kenny 80th ,Derek Chambers / Enda Meehan 81st , John Quinn / Shane Barry 85th , David Quinn / Enda Mc Gonigle 86th , Gary Egan / Daragh Mullen 87th , Mark Murphy / Keith Branley 92nd , Paul Stuart / Seamus Dolan 94th , Alan Quinn / Brian O Donnell 98th .

Top ten finishers
1 Daniel Mc Kenna / Ciaran Tynan Escort 40.33
2 John O Donnell / Johnathan Baird Escort 41.09
3 Domnic Mc Loughlin /Stephen Mc Loughlin 205RWD 41.44
4 Victor Hunter / Michael Doherty Escort 41.48
5 John Mc Gettrick / James Mc Dermott Escort 42.22
6 Raymond Conlon / Darren Mc Cague Corolla 42.30
7 Stuart Darcy / Thomas Maguire Escort 42.56
8 Mervyn Deane / Derek Deane Escort 42.57
9 Gorden Rodgers / Phillip Mc Entee Escort 43.02
10 Conor Watters / John Watters Escort 43.09