Motorsport: Ferry stays on course to win in Westport

Having built up a strong lead on the first and second timed runs, Eugene Ferry/John Gallagher, in a Ford Escort, were convincing winners of the Westport based Castlecourt Single Stage Rally.

Entering the third and final stage with an 18-second win, they drove within their limits to win by some twelve seconds.

The battle for second was won by Tom McGovern, who had just two seconds to spare over the flying Conor Curley.

Curley put in a storming finish and was fastest on the third run, although he just failed to secure second, his third place was achieved on a tie-break.

He started the stage four seconds adrift of both McGovern and Gordon Rogers, the latter was fourth.

Aiden Caddye (Astra) won the Group N category.

1. E Ferry/J Gallagher (Escort) 27m 27s;

2. T. McGovern/K McGovern (Escort) 27m 39s;

3. C Curley/P Hone (Escort) 27m 41s;

4. G Rogers/P McEntee (Escort) 27m 41s;

5. R Wilton/P Leahy (Escort) 28m 02s;

The Irish Rally Competitors Association are holding a series of annual regional meetings this week.

Offering competitors the opportunity to discuss the progressions and changes in rallying, the venues are as follows:

Tuesday: Claremorris (Dalton's Inn) and Carlow (Seven Oaks)

Thursday: Monaghan (Hillgrove Hotel) and Mallow (The Hibernian Hotel).