2003 Orchard Rally Report

3 October 2003

In the Northern Ireland Navigation Rally Championship, Phil and Alan Dorman's extraordinary season continued as they claimed their fourth win of the year in the Orchard Rally, which ran out of Armagh last Friday night. Their end score of 14 minutes was well clear of 2nd placed Eddie Murphy/Barry Taggart, but for once, the Dorman's did not lead from start to finish.

The early pace setters were Willie McKeown/Patrick McCollum, who cleaned the first half, but picked up a mass of penalties in the second half to leave them 4th by the finish. Murphy/Taggart then assumed the lead, but their run was ruined after loosening wheel nuts necessitated a time-consuming stop, which paved the way for the Dorman's to come through and extend their championship lead to 6 points.

Lloyd Cochrane made a rare appearance in the navigator's seat this year, and although he claimed he was rusty, he performed well and finished 3rd overall, with Davy Aiken driving in a Mini.

The Semi-Expert class was won, as usual, by Stephen Wishart/Jonathan Charlesson, who were giving their stage-prepared 106 a run out. They are now confirmed as the Semi-Experts champions for the year.

Eddie Robinson/Alan Shilliday won the Novice section of the rally, ahead of Paul Gray/Jim Smith and Clifford Auld/John Lindsay, who now have an 11 point lead in the class championship. Ivan and Gareth Hawe were the best of the Beginners.

With only 2 rounds remaining, and dropped scores now coming in to play, the Overall and Novice class championships are all still far from decided.

Patrick McCollum

Overall

  1. Phil Dorman/Alan Dorman Vauxhall Nova 14 mins
  2. Eddie Murphy/Barry Taggart Vauxhall Nova 37 mins
  3. Davy Aiken/Lloyd Cochrane Mini 41 mins
  4. Willie McKeown/Patrick McCollum Vauxhall Corsa 78 mins
  5. Leslie Young/Lewis Boyd Ford Sierra 120 mins
  6. Stephen Wishart/Jonathan Charlesson Peugeot 106 144 mins
  7. Robbie McClean/Richard Hicks Toyota Corolla 156 mins
  8. DNF Trevor Reid/Richard Reid Ford Escort - mins
  9. DNF Gerard Green/Michael McElwee Vauxhall Nova - mins
  10. DNF David Gibson/William Hamilton Ford Focus - mins

Experts

  1. Phil Dorman/Alan Dorman Vauxhall Nova 14 mins
  2. Eddie Murphy/Barry Taggart Vauxhall Nova 37 mins
  3. Davy Aiken/Lloyd Cochrane Mini 41 mins
  4. Willie McKeown/Patrick McCollum Vauxhall Corsa 78 mins
  5. Leslie Young/Lewis Boyd Ford Sierra 120 mins
  6. Robbie McClean/Richard Hicks Toyota Corolla 156 mins
  7. DNF Trevor Reid/Richard Reid Ford Escort - mins

Semi-Experts

  1. Stephen Wishart/Jonathan Charlesson Peugeot 106 144 mins
  2. DNF Gerard Green/Michael McElwee Vauxhall Nova - mins
  3. DNF David Gibson/William Hamilton Ford Focus - mins

Novices

  1. Eddie Robinson/Alan Shilliday Peugeot 106 55 mins
  2. Paul Gray/Jim Smith Ford Escort Mk I 76 mins
  3. Clifford Auld/John Lindsay Triumph 2.5Pi 98 mins
  4. Chris Ragg/James Woods Mini 109 mins
  5. Patsy Branney/Andy Gilmore Skoda Favorit 115 mins
  6. George Wallace/Stephen Wallace Volkswagen Golf 219 mins
  7. John Adams/Mervyn Elder Peugeot 205 246 mins
  8. DNF Laurence Christie/Andrew Whale Peugeot 205 - mins
  9. DNF William Todd/Maurice Cresswell Vauxhall Corsa - mins
  10. DNF John Stafford/Morris Kyle Mini Clubman - mins
  11. DNF John Henderson/Jonathan Henderson Talbot Sunbeam - mins
  12. DNF Ivor Barker/Arnold Telford Ford Escort Mk I - min
Posted by PMcCollum on 26/9/2008; Last updated by PMcCollum on 26/9/2008