McGonagle and Friel take Midland Trial

THE Donegal pairing of Charlie McMonagle/Aidan Friel (Mazda 323) won a closely fought Midland Navigation Trial, a counting round of the Executive Logistics National Navigation Trial Championship and the regional championships.

In the 85-mile route around Athlone, the winners finished with just ten penalties. At Clonowen, Cork born brothers, Ray and Stephen O’Neill (Golf) were only a penalty point in arrears but a succession of dropped points on TPs 15, 16 and 18 cost them victory.

Alan and George Shinnors (Astra) were credited with third after a tie-break with Cork pair, Ger O’Connell/Denis O’Donovan (Toyota Celica). In fact the latter were poised for victory until they incurred penalties at the final time point and they had to be content with second in the Expert Class.

The top six was completed by Andy Mackarel/Liam Higgins and Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo, both in Vauxhall Cavaliers.

Second place in the final round of the Irish Rallycross Championship at Mondello Park was enough for Dermot Carnegie (Ford Focus) to claim the title in a race won by Helmut Holfeld (Escort). John McCluskey, the only other challenger for the Irish title, came third in his Peugeot.