Reddy holds on to win Garda MC rally

The Germaines Hotel Single Stage Rally in Baltinglass was won by the Carlow crew of Michael Reddy/John Brophy.

They fended off the challenge of Cookstown’s Philip Shaw/Derek Brannigan by a mere second.

Both crews were in Ford Escorts.

Third place went to Mullingar's Padraig and Richard Price, who were 35 seconds behind the winners.

John Nolan, in one of the many Ford Escorts on the entry list, set the fastest time on the first run. He

clocked a time of nine minutes and 28 seconds, a time that gave him a 15 second lead over Shaw with the Honda Civic of Andrew Purcell in third.

Reddy was fourth as two of the fancied opposition hit trouble.

Terence Taggart, seeded at number one, spun and eventually finished the stage in 10th place.

Liam Wall, also in an Escort, lost over five minutes when his fan belt snapped. Nolan’s tenure at the top ended on the second test when he crashed out and Reddy came through from fourth spot to inherit the lead role.

Shaw was only three seconds of the pace with Eamonn Murphy displacing Purcell for third.

Shaw posted a time of nine minutes and 40 seconds on the third and final run and waited anxiously for Reddy to complete the stage. He duly did and although he was two seconds slower than Shaw, he won the event by a mere second.

Padraig Price was one of the star performers of the final run and that earned him third overall ahead of Eamonn Murphy and Andrew Purcell.

Taggart eventually finished seventh. The rally was organised by the Garda Siochana Motor Club.

1.M. Reddy/J. Brophy (Ford Escort) 29m. 05s;

2.P. Shaw/D. Brannigan (Ford Escort) 29m. 06s.

3.P. & R. Price (Ford Escort) 29m. 40s.

4.E. Murphy/N. Coady (Ford Escort) 29m. 42s.

5.T. & J. O'Rourke (Opel Astra) 29m.44s.

6.A. Purcell/J. Byrnes (Honda Civic) 29m. 49s.

7.T. Taggart/B. Kelly (Ford Escort) 30m. 05s.

8.T. Murphy/J. Crowley (Ford Escort) 30m. 22s.

9.M. Wedlock/P. Smith (Ford Escort) 30m. 33s.

10.G. McGivney/B. Ruth (Ford Escort) 30m. 52s.