West Cork pair win 100 Isles Navigation Trial

The West Cork novice pairing of Diarmuid French/Jason O’Mahony (Toyota Corolla) won the Skibbereen 100 Isles Navigation Trial following a tiebreak with national championship contenders, Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins (Ascona).

Both crews managed an unblemished record over the 150-mile route.

National Championship leaders, Ray and Stephen O’Neill, who had their lead cut to just two points,

finished third with just two penalties that were incurred early in the rally, which was also a round of

the Munster Navigation Trial Championship.

The Semi-Expert category was won by Donal Healy/Peter Keohane and the Beginners Award went to Nicholas and Philip Doherty.

1. D. French/J. O'Mahony (Toyota Corolla) 0 penalties.

2. A. Mackarel/L. Higgins (Ascona) 0 penalties.

3. R. O'Neill/S. O'Neill (Golf) 2 penalties.

4. M. McGuigan/C. Foley (Toyota Corolla) 11 penalties.

5. D. Healy/P. Keohane (Peugeot 205) 20 penalties.

6. T. O'Donovan/D. O'Donovan (Toyota Corolla) 21

penalties.

7. J. McCarthy/D. Swanton (Mazda) 22 penalties.

8. N. Doherty/P. Doherty (Peugeot 205) 33 penalties

9. J. Collins/N. Collins (Toyota Carina) 41 penalties.

10. K. O'Sullivan/J. Deasy (Nissan Primera) 57

penalties.

Eddie Peterson, leader of the Hewison Autotest, saw his advantage cut to three points when rival J.J.

Farrell won today’s eleventh round in Monaghan. The only other driver with a realistic chance of

championship victory, Eamonn Byrne, was third.

1. J.J. Farrell (Mini Special) 571.9 seconds.

2. E. Peterson (Mini Special) 573.1 seconds.

3. E. Byrne (Mini Special) 576.5 seconds.

4. C. Grimes (Mini Saloon) 606.9 seconds.

5. S. Johnston (Mini Special) 622.1 seconds.

6. K. Irwin (Westfield) 630.9 seconds.

Billy Coleman Award winner, Shaun Gallagher, driving a Peugeot and co-driven by David Moynihan, was denied a class win on the Snofreser’n Rally in Norway by a fraction of a second.

The Donegal ace lost time on the first three stages as he was held up behind slower cars.

Nevertheless, out on stages four and five he reduced Erik Nordahl’s 20-second advantage to some seven seconds. Although he was faster than his class rival on the final stage, he lost out by 0.9 of a second.