The weekend events north and south of the border provide an interesting contrast.

Valvoline National Forest Rally Champions, Cork pair, Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi) won the Mallow-based Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, the fourth round of the series after finishing 6.3 seconds ahead of Colin Britton/Arthur Kierans with former champions, Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley just nine tenths of a second behind to complete a Mitsubishi top three.

A CASE of back to the forests for the title protagonists of this season’s Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship that resumes tomorrow after an extended break due to the cancellation of the fourth round in Donegal last month.

ALEX SINCLAIR, chief executive of Motorsport Ireland, has urged the bosses of GAA, soccer and rugby to be directly involved at the grassroots of their sport.

London-based Corkonian Mike O'Brien made a winning return to his native county with victory on the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, a qualifying round of the Petro Systems Irish Forest Championship.

Derry driver Kevin Lynch and co-driver Francis Regan were convincing winners of the Cork Forest Rally which concluded in Mallow this evening.

Extending his overnight advantage, Glen Allen and co-driver Damien Connolly, in their Toyota Corolla WRC, won the Cork Forest Rally today.

Northern Ireland’s Glen Allen, driving a Toyota Corolla, leads the Cork Forest Rally, the sixth round of the McCauley Trailers National Forest Championship.

Armagh’s Andrew Nesbitt (Subaru WRC) took his second victory in the Punchestown Rally Experience when he finished almost seven seconds ahead of another former winner, Austin MacHale (Ford Focus WRC).

With his nearest rival Robbie McGurk putting his Subaru off on this morning’s opening stage, (S.S. 7), overnight leader Kevin Lynch is cruising to victory in the Windscreen Centre Cork Forest Rally, the penultimate round of the McCauley Trailers National Forest Championship.

Derry’s Kevin Lynch and his co-driver Francis Regan in their KPL backed Subaru WRC will begin today's second and final leg of the Windscreen Company Cork Forest Rally with a comfortable lead of well over a minute.

Northern Ireland’s Trevor Moore (Escort WRC) has a 6.2 second lead at the overnight halt of the

In the Windscreen Centre sponsored Cork Forest Rally, a counting round of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Nagle arrived at the service halt with a 19 second advantage over the Escort WRC of Dermot Kelly/John Brennan.

After the summer break the forestry season will recommence on Sunday September 8 with the Cork Forest Rally.