Declan and Brian Boyle with the Dunlop National Championship trophy
Shane McGirr and Jackie Elliott moved one step closer to securing the two wheel drive category within the Valvoline Irish Forestry championship after last weekends Carrick-on-Suir rally.
Another crew in a similar position was Marty McKenna and Martin McGarrity who lead class seven in the championship.
Initial leaders on the day was the pairing of Owen Murphy and James O’Brien in their Mitsubishi from the similar car of Josh Moffett and Jason McKenna who in turn held off Andrew Purcell and John Rafter.
As the day wore on the tussle changed a few times over the six hard stages but in the end the win went to Moffett and McKenna with Shane and Jackie emerging two wheel drive winners in their trusty Starlet and McKenna and McGarrity winners of class seven in their Subaru WRC, Damien and Thomas McGauran took a fine third in class 5a in their Toyota Corolla.
The tussle for the outright championship is going right down to the wire for the Glens of Antrim rally, after Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna picked up their first win of the season to pip championship leaders Owen Murphy/James O’Brien who eventually finished third.
And also still not out of the championship fray are Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan who finished a fine second on the day.
In the battle for two wheel drive honours three drivers can possibly take the title with Micky Conlon/Kieran McPhillips and Damien and Thomas McGauran also in the fray.
Donegal Harvest Stages
In the Donegal Harvest on Saturday Declan and Brian Boyle in their Subaru WRC emerged victorious on the rally and also victorious in the Dunlop National rally championship which has left them double champions having just secured the tarmac championship a number of weeks ago.
The Boyles led from start to finish and held off the advancing Roy White/James O’Brien (MG )who where also fighting for the championship title.
Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan secured second on the rally in his Ford Focus WRC from Seamus Leonard/Paul McLaughlin in the Subaru S14 wrc.
As for the local crews Wendy Blackledge navigated Roger Kennedy to class seven victory in their rapid Peugeot 306 and Ruairi McCaffrey and Domnhaill Lennon took a fine tenth position in the junior rally in their Honda Civic.
Unfortunate not to make the finish where Stuart Darcy and Martin McGarrity who collected a double puncture to end their fine run in 6th overall in their Subaru WRC, Brendan Campbell/Ciaran McAnespy had been progressing well until broken steering forced their Ford Escort into retirement, the similar Escort of Damian Campbell/Declan McGarrity also retired with mechanical difficulties whilst going well. next weeked sees the Down Rally based in Castlewellan and the leading Entries include Derek McGarrity and Kenny McKinstry.
