2013 Erne Safari Report
1 March 2013
McAleer's Spar Erne Safari Navigation Rally
Grainger/Howard Crew win Safari
Some sixteen crews left McAleer's Spar, Irvinestown, at 8.45pm to battle it out on Enniskillen Motor Club's round of the McGrady Insurance N Ireland Navigation Rally Championship. The route would take them through the hills north and later south of Trillick, eventually winding their way east of Brougher Mountain and ending up in 'the wee small hours' navigating a tortuous route south via Glengesh and Imeroo to finally finish at Woodhill west of Kilskeery for Classes 3 and 4 as Classes 1 and 2 went on to reach home by way of Edenagee Hill, Shanmullagh East and Crossan finally to Drumharvey, Irvinestown, once again.
As expected, winners last time out, Lewis Boyd and Leslie Young [Vauxhall Vectra] started at No 1 with James Wood and Chris Ragg [Ford Focus] at No 2 followed by John Henderson and Lloyd Cochrane [Nissan Micra] whilst Benny Grainger and David Howard [Vauxhall Astra] at 4 were the final crew in Class 1 [Expert]. Enniskillen driver, Benny Grainger, first competed on this event some 40 years ago, on his first rally and was hoping for a good result to mark the event. As it turned out, Grainger and Howard went on to score an emphatic win, a result which was well received by the enthusiastic crowd at the finish in Mahon's Hotel in Irvinestown.
In Class2 [Semi-Expert], Ciaran Carey partnered by Rachel Muldoon led the way at the off, with the Erne Safari being their first outing of the year, as Rathfriland was postponed due to heavy snow and then they were part of QUB's organising team for last month's Jumping Jack Rally. Following them, as the only other crew in this Class, were Alistair Barker and Gareth Deazley [Peugeot 206].
First away in Class 3 [Novice] were Barry Gilpin and Denis Morton [Ford Fiesta] with Gavin Campbell [Mazda MX-5] next followed by Omagh father and son crew James and John McCay [Peugeot 106]. Last place in Class 3 was taken by Charlie Dunleavy and Roy Lindsay [Honda CRV].
Then came Class 4 [Beginner], the biggest class on the night with six crews, all of whom bar one had attended Drew Wilson's Rally School nights held over the previous two weeks. First away were Scott Thompson and Darran Flanagan [Peugeot 205] then another father and son duo, Eddie and Ronan McCaffrey [Saab 95 Estate] folllowed by eventual Class winners, Mark McCaffrey and Marcus Carson [Peugeot 406] at No 3. Fourth off were Mervyn Wilson and Michael McGowan who, due to a last minute drama with distributer problems with Mervyn's newly-rebuilt, beautiful MkII Escort 1600 Sport, had to resort to a Nissan Navara. In fifth came Kieran Murphy and Mary Winchester [Audi A6] and finally last out was the very brave crew of Johnny and Conor Kennedy- they drove the whole event in their Mazda MX-5 with the top down!
From the beginning it was the experienced, Class 1, crew of Henderson/Cochrane who remained penalty-free as far as Time Control D [TC D] with Woods and Ragg hot on their heels just one mark down, whilst Young/Boyd were breathing down their necks a mere mark behind that and Grainger/Howard a mere six further back.
In Class 2 at this juncture, Barker/Deazley were a substantial 9 marks ahead of Carey and Muldoon.
In Class 3 Novices Gilpin/Morton steered their Fiesta to a commanding lead, dropping only a solitary mark with nearest rivals, a gaping 16 marks in arrears.
Class 3 Campbell/Campbell had had an uncharacteristic '30' at Secret Check 3 [SC 3] to leave them in third place as Dunleavy/Lindsay struggled to get into any sort of rhythm accruing a total of some 130 penalties at this Control from which they never recovered.
Class 4 leaders at the same TC D, by a margin of five, were the crew of Wilson/McGowan closely followed by McCaffrey and Carson. In third, some sixteen points adrift, were Eddie McCaffrey and son Mark [the youngest competitor at 14 years]; a terrific pace considering this was their very first event! Fourth placed Thompson/Flanagan had been caught out by SC 1, collecting a '30' on this occasion. In fifth and staying warm despite the lack of a roof were the Kennedys and also on their very first Navigation event, was sixth-placed crew, Murphy/Winchester, who also had been caught out by SC 1.
But some thing had changed by the time crews reached TC K, the finish for Classes 3 and 4. These two classes had, as per Association of N Ireland Car Clubs' [ANICC] guidelines, been given easier route instructions and a shorter distance. Classes 1 and 2 still had to soldier on to TC O at this point. In fact to assist the Beginners in Class 4 Enniskillen Motor Club had given a 'panic envelope' only to this Class. The aim here is help the growth of competition in Navigation Rallying and with the assistance of the Night Navigation Rally School classes held a short while ago, Drew Wilson, Clerk of the Course [CofC] said he was very pleased with the numbers who turned out in Class 4.
So, at the finish Class 3 was won by Gavin Campbell and Stuart Campbell on 47 marks whilst Barry Giilpin and Denis Morton were second on 142 marks and third were James and John McCay on 391 marks. John did admit to several 'silly errors' over the final section which, in fact, no-one in any Class 'cleaned'. In Class 4 the crew of McCaffrey/Carson won out well with a great run over the final section, TC J to TC K, dropping only 5 penaly marks to win with a total of 56 marks and Wilson/McGowan found this last section difficult spoiling a great start to end up with 142 marks. What a night for younster Ronan McCaffrey, partnering his dad Eddie to a magnificant Third in Class on this, their very first Navigation Rally! CofC, Wilson was full fo praise for the pairing at the finish saying that, 'they had set themselves a very high standard indeed to maintain for the next time!' The Kennedys did eventuall make it to the finish where, after two hours in the open-topped MX-5, were very glad to get indoors and help themselves to the welcome hot buffet provided by Mahon's Hotel. The Audi crew of Murphy and Winchester called it a day at TC H but vowed that they had some unfinished business and would be back on the maps soon.
In Class 2 the crew of Carey and Muldoon secured a very emphatic win with 63 marks as Barker and Deazley were slowed by a leaking sump and several uncharacteristic errors dropping a '30' into TC I and two more into the final control to end up on 127 marks.
Finally onto Class 1 and Grainger and Howard,with Benny driving David's Astra, claimed first in Class 1 and first Overall on 79 marks with Woods/Ragg second on 85 marks and Henderson/Cochrane third with 98. Winners last time out, the Omagh crew of Young and Boyd had to settle for fourth with 102 points.
Lewis admitted to being caught out by SC 16 as did Henderson/Cochrane whilst TC J to TC K proved troublesome for the Vectra crew Henderson and Cochrane lost the rally on the last section, from TC N to TC O, dropping two '30s', which saw them fall from a total, at that point of only 38 marks, leading the rally, to their eventual tally of 98 and third.
But that's not to take the victory away from Grainger and Howard. They had not teamed up before this night and yet worked extremely well as a together to clinch the victory by six marks. Their only blip, collecting a '30' after being caught out by SC 20.
At the finish, CofC, Drew Wilson, asked for a round of applause for the sponsors Fabian McAleer, Mahon's Hotel, his organising team plus the large team of EMC officals and those from OMC and further afield who all helped make the event a vey successful one.
In response, winner David Howard thanked Drew and EMC for a challenging event for the 'Experts' and yet one which had attracted a large Class 4 entry and all competitors had enjoyed the event tremendously. He finished by stating he would be out to battle again in Cookstown for the next round of the Championship. Drew also added that neighbours, Omagh Motor Club would be running their Night Navigation Rally School later in March as run-up to their 'Boneshaker Rally', their round of the McGrady N Ireland Navigation Rally Championship on Fiday 12th April, and he hoped that EMC members would be out to repeat their successes.
Gerry Cavanagh
Posted by PMcCollum on 4/3/2013; Last updated by PMcCollum on 4/3/2013