Motorsport: McGovern wins midland mini stage rally

In an ever-changing Midland Mini Stage Rally in

Carrick-on-Shannon, victory, by the smallest of

margins went to the Cavan pairing of Thomas and Kevin

McGovern who pipped the similar Escort of pat and Liam

Higgins.

Tommy Graham was the early leader, his Subaru WRC was

eleven seconds ahead ofter the first stage where

fellow Kildare driver, Hugh Dunne crashed his Subaru

WRC. Graham was initially challenged by Sean

Gallagher (Escort Cosworth) although the margin

between them remained at eleven seconds after two

stages.

One stage later, both were out of the rally.

Gallagher retired with gearbox woes and Graham crashed

heavily when he rolled his Subaru.

Mervyn Wedlock, who shared third with Dominic

McLoughlin (Peugeot) after S.S. 3, crashed on the

fourth and final stage.

McGovern proved to be the quickest and took victory by

a one second margin. Patrick Higgins (Escort) was

second with Rory O’Connor (Escort WRC) completing the

top three, earlier, he lost time with transmission

problems. McLoughlin lost third on a tie-break.