Motorsport: Harris takes early lead in Tipp

Setting fastest time on both of the opening two stages of the Clonmel Arms Hotel Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, Paul Harris, in his Auto Fast Fit Subaru Impreza has a 17 second lead over local favourite Frank Meagher (Ford Focus WRC).

Eamonn Boland, in a Subaru WRC, is third - a further 29 seconds in arrears.

Meagher, who has won the rally a record eight times, dropped time on the first stage when the rear suspension of his Ford Focus developed problems.

The first casualty of the rally was former national champion, Peadar Hurson, his Toyota Celica went off the road on the second of today’s six stages.

David Armstrong (Escort Cosworth) is in fourth place ahead of the high flying Roy White, who has his Group N Mitsubishi in a strong fifth overall.

Another local, Jimmy Lambert, in his Mk. 2 Escort is sixth and the top ten is completed by Patrick Elliott (Subaru), Michael Barrable (Toyota), Kieran Molloy

(Mitsubishi) and George Cullen (Toyota).

Although he completed the second stage, Daniel Doherty appears to be in difficulty, apparently, his Subaru WRC is stopped with a flat battery en-route to service at the Powerstown Park Racecourse in Clonmel.

Following the service halt, the crews will tackle a repeat of this morning’s two stages on the outskirts of Clonmel prior to another service halt.