Search Results for 'Aidan Gannon'

Monaghan’s Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry stormed to an emphatic victory on Sunday’s Hotel Ballina and Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally, finishing just over a minute ahead of their nearest rivals Frank Wray and Kieran McGrath. Wray, finishing in a career best second place, was closely followed by Mayo and District Motorsport Club crew Aaron McHale and Paul McGee.

It was a busy weekend for Mayo and District members, competing the length and breadth of the county and beyond. Westport’s David Carney had his Citroën DS3 at Kerry Motor Club's Circuit of Kerry Rally in Tralee on Sunday, but unfortunately he was unable to finish the event due to fuel pump gremlins, but he did gain valuable stage mileage in his rapid French chariot. Putting in a flawless display in Kerry was Aidan Gannon, who was navigating London-based Sligo man Anthony O’Brien in his Mitsubishi Lancer. Not only did the pair win class nine, they also received the Dunlop Drive of the day award finishing in 19th place overall.

The Irish rally season, and more specifically the Irish Tarmac Championships, roared into action over the weekend with the Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally. The event reverted to a two-day format with the stages based in the south Galway area.

Donegal driver Declan Boyle and his cousin Brian increased their stranglehold on this year's Dunlop National Rally Championship by taking their Subaru Impreza to their fourth win from five rounds on the Sligo Park Hotel Stages Rally. They were the clear winners, finishing more than a minute ahead of Niall Maguire and co-driver Enda Sherry despite the rally being shortened from nine stages to six when the extreme heat caused problems with the road surface in places.

Ambrose Gaughan, Derek Molloy, David Carney, and Ray Fitzpatrick upheld local honour on Sunday’s Sligo Stages Rally, with both crews recording top finishes in their respective classes.

With the motorsport season drawing to a close for another year, Mayo and District Motorsport Club members have once again upheld local honours, winning overall and class awards on some of the major international and national rally championships. On the international scene, Kiltimagh’s John Higgins has been competing on the Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship. With one round of the series still to run, John, who co-drives for Cork’s Brian O’Mahony in a Renault Clio Super 1600, holds a comfortable class lead in the rally three category, while the pair are also featuring strongly in the overall championship table.

Patrick Elliott has made rather a habit of winning in recent times. Last year he clinched the Dunlop National Rally Championship with six wins. He started 2009 in a similar vein, winning the opening round in Birr two weeks ago. And on Sunday he added the latest success to his portfolio of wins with victory on the 2009 TF Royal Hotel and Theatre Mayo Stages Rally.

Ambrose Gaughan from Foxford and his Lahardane co-driver Derek Molloy claimed one of the best results of their rally careers to date, with second in class nine on Sunday’s Cavan Stages Rally. Competing in a Toyota Corolla the pair had a trouble-free run to finish 53rd overall from a starting position of 146th, recording a great result against some very strong opposition.

With the rally season drawing to a close for 2009, attention is now moving to the end of year awards ceremonies where competitors are honoured for their year's efforts and achievements. The HASS Border Rally Championship has always been a popular series with Mayo competitors, with the class based structure allowing all crews an opportunity to compete for the overall title. In 2009 local honour was upheld by competitors in class two, with Ciaran Walsh from Ballinrobe and his Tubbercurry co-driver Aidan Gannon emerging victorious in the category ahead of Castlebar's Brendan Corcoran.