2015 NI Navigation Championship kicks off in style...

The 2015 Northern Ireland Navigation Rally Championship kicked off in fine style with the Tour of the Mournes Rally on Friday 6th February. The previous 2 Tour of the Mournes were the victim of severe weather conditions; the 2013 event was cancelled due to snowy conditions and last year’s event had to be cut short due to flash floods, but the dry clear conditions on Friday night were almost perfect.

At the end of the 70 mile route it was Leslie and Gareth Hawe who emerged the winners after a tense battle with Ciaran and Rachel Carey. The Carey’s had held the advantage up until the fifth test but dropped time near the end of the section to hand the advantage to the Hawe’s.

Benny Grainger and David Howard were also in the mix for the victory early on but an early arrival at one of the checkpoints midway through the event ensured that they finished on equal penalties to the Carey’s  and had to settle for third once the ‘furthest clean’ rule was applied.

In the Semi expert class, John Henderson and Clifford Auld had an untroubled run to class honours while John Boyle and James Woods took the top spot in the Novice class.

Paul Blair won the Beginners section of the event alongside last year’s RMC Targa winning co-driver Olwen Blair in their Vauxhall Nova. Billy Strain and Robert Hall finished runners up in class .  

1.       Leslie Hawe / Gareth Hawe- Seat Leon – 22 Penalties

2.       Ciaran Carey /Rachel Carey – Vauxhall Nova – 24 penalties

3.       Benny Grainger / David Howard – Seat Ibiza – 24 penalties

4.       Clive Latimer / David McIlroy – Seat Ibiza – 50 penalties

Class 2 winners:

John Henderson / Clifford Auld – Toyota Starlet

Class 3 winners:

John Boyle / James Woods – Ford Focus

Class 4 winners:

Paul Blair / Olwen Blair – Vauxhall Nova


2014 Tour of the Mournes

Crews encountered trying conditions during the 2014 Tour of the Mournes with heavy rain making the event an even bigger challenge than usual.  Among those effected were No.1 seeds John and Jonathan Henderson who's Nissan Micra 'drowned out' in one of the many flash floods along the route . As the conditions worsened, the organisers decided to stop the event at the halfway point and declare the results.

1st    2 - Leslie Young / Lewis Boyd - Class 1 - Vauxhall Vectra - 10 (+0)

2nd  4 - Benny Grainger / David Howard - Class 1 - Peugeot 206 - 20 (+10) 

3rd  6 - Gavin Campbell / Stuart Campbell - Class 1 - Mazda MX5 - 51 (+41)

4th  11 - Ronnie Mitchell / Aaron Mitchell - Class 2 - Mazda MX5 - 7 (+-3)

5th  9 - Clive Latimer / David McElroy - Class 2 - Ford Focus - 14 (+4)

6th  10 - Neil Anderson / Kat Vaux - Class 2 - Luigi Ferrari - 18 (+8)

7th  12 - Brian Hanna / Paul Forsythe - Class 3 - Citroën Saxo - 8 (+-2)

8th  17 - Johnny McAleer / Declan McAleer - Class 3 - Saab 93 - 11 (+1)

9th  16 - Gary McDonald / Andy Gilmore - Class 4 - Vauxhall Corsa - 17 (+7)

10th  19 - Sara Erwin / Robert Erwin - Class 4 - Toyota Yaris - 55 (+45)

2013 Tour of the Mournes...

Unfortunately the 2013 Tour of the Mournes was cancelled due to the snowy conditions.

2012 Tour of the Mournes...

Successful night for the Beginners/Rallyschool crews...

The Novice crew of Gary McDonald and Peter Barker emerged narrow winners of the 2012 Tour of the Mournes Navigation Rally after an event long battle with Emmett Kelly and Cieron Gribben.

McDonald and Barker had got off to a good start, only collecting one penalty point at the end of the fourth test. Kelly and Gribben also made a steady start, but collected 1 penalty partway through the second test and another 2 on the third test to leave them in 2nd overall at the beginning of section five.
Local crew Malcolm Johnston and Mick Gilmore lay in third place after picking up 3 penalties and Kilkeel crew Brian Hanna and Paul Forsythe held fourth on 9 penalties.

On the last three sections of the Rally, McDonald & Barker collected 6 penalties for early arrival at a checkpoint whereas Kelly & Gribben collected only 4 penalties for late arrival to see both crews tie on 7 penalties overall at the finish. On a tie break, the win went to Gary McDonald & Peter Barker as they travelled the furtherest distance before picking up a penalty.

Malcolm Johnton & Mick Gilmore finished third overall with 8 penalties ahead of Brian Hanna & Paul Forsythe who had a perfect second half to add no more penalties to their previous score of 9.

In the Rallyschool Class, Andrew Hughes & Kerry Moreland-Moore took victory ahead of Chris Ragg & Richard Bradfield. Roger Fynn & Clifford Auld where the winners of class 2 ahead of Ronnie & Aaron Mitchell.

Top 6 Results
Tour of the Mournes Navigation Rally
Friday 12th October 2012
Driver/Navigator
1. Gary McDonald/Peter Barker
2. Emmett Kelly/Cieron Gribben
3. Malcolm Johnston/Mick Gilmore
4. Brian Hanna/Paul Forsythe
5. Jonathan Henderson/John Henderson  
6. Roger Fynn/Clifford Auld
Car
Vauxhall Corsa
Renault Megane
Skoda Felicia
Landrover Freelander
Nissan Micra
MG Midget
Class
3
3
3
3
3
2
Penalties
7  (wins on tie-break)
7
8
9
17
18