Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally 2009

Cronin takes the win

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With snow capped mountains as a back drop 77 competing crews left the start ramp in The Square Mitchlestown for the opening round of the Petro Systems National Forestry Championship last Sunday, and with a host of Irelands top forestry competitors in attendance, competition was going to be at its highest. As the crews headed out of service and made the short journey to stage 1 Kilcoran a decision was made by the organisers to cancel the stage on safety grounds for the competitors due to a heavy snowfall overnight. It was on to Stage 2 Goatenbridge for the crews where Number 7 seed Pat O'Connell and co driver Mark Wiley driving a Mitsubishi Evo 7 set the pace with a time of 5.04 with Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Evo 9), 2 seconds adrift on 5.06, Trevor J Harding/Andrew Purcell (Subaru Impreza WRC) stopping the clocks with a time of 5.10, James Murphy/Anthony Nestor (Escort WRC) 5.17, with Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza WRC) rounding off the top five with a time of 5.20.

Stephen McGrath/Kevin Joyce were setting the pace in Group N from Christy Carey/Mark Bowens with Mark Sheehan/John McGrath back in third. Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh were leading the two wheel drive battle with a time of 5.23 from Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan 5.28, Aurther Kierans/Ashley McAdoo 5.32, Mark Dolphin shared a time of 5.41 with Wicklow's Paul Stauton/Connor Murphy who were making a welcome return to the forestry championship. Limericks John Byrne/Kenneth Shiel led the junior rally by 18 seconds from Vincent McAree/JP McAree with Craig Breen/Sorcha Kelly a further 2 seconds behind.

After a 30 minute service halt it was on to the first run over stage 3 Kilworth. Cronin pulled out all the stops and set a blistering time through the stage to take the overall lead from Trevor J Harding with Paul O'Connell dropping to 3rd. Denis Cronin moved up to 4th just ahead of the hard charging Frank Kelly who took over the lead of the two wheel drive after the retirement of Brian Lawlor moving Seamus O'Connell up to 2nd and Paul Stauton into 3rd. Unfortunately for 2008 reining forestry champion Ray Breen and co driver Martin Brady a broken throttle motor caused them to loose 7 minutes dropping g them down the leader board. It was back to service once more before the crews headed out for a repeat of stage 1 Kilcoran which had got the ok from the organisers to run. Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors were once again with the top 5 overall remaining unchanged. Frank Kelly held on to his two wheel drive lead, Stephen McGrath lead Group N and Craig Breen took over the lead of the Juniors after the retirement of John Byrne. But things were not so good for Craig's father Ray Breen and co driver Martin Brady after replacing the broken throttle motor on their Kel Tech Ford Focus WRC in service the same problem came back to haunt them causing them to retire from the rally.

With 2 stages remaining it was still tight at the top of the leader board. Stage 5 was a repeat of stage 2 Goatenbridge. Cronin's 17 second advantage was soon down to 13 seconds as Harding set fastest time. Pat O'Connell held on to 3rd spot from Denis Cronin in 4th with James Murphy moving into 5th overall from Frank Kelly. With 1 stage remaining it was all to play for. Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors showed their exceptional talent through the final stage to set fastest time once again 22 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals Trevor Harding/Andrew Purcell, securing the 22year old West Cork man his first Irish Forestry win. Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan pulled out all the stops over the final test to just get ahead of Pat O'Connell/Mark Wiley and take the final podium place with James Murphy/Anthony Nestor rounding off the top 5. Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan finished 6th overall and secured the top 2 wheel drive award with 7th place going to the 2008 forestry championship runner up John Reid co driven by the 2008 championship winning co driver Enda Shields. 2008 Wexford Dick Bailey Stages rally winners Pj McGrath/Billy Collins brought their Subaru Impreza WRC home in 8th with Stephen McGrath/Kevin Joyce who had one of the best drives of the rally to come home in 9th followed by Seamus O'Connell/Sean Duggan in 10th place.

Craig Breen/Sorcha Kelly were the winners of the junior rally from Monaghan's Vincent McAree/JP McAree with 3rd place going to Kevin Gallagher/Gavin Gallagher, making the long trip down to Mitchlestown worthwhile for the Donegal crew.

Class winners on the day were - Class 1 Shane McGinn/Anthony Concannon, Class 2 - Micheal Nevin/Alan Higgins, Class 3 - Micheal Cuddihy/Richie Coady, Class 4 - Aurther Kierans/Ashley McAdoo, Class 5 - Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan, Class 6 - Gerard Lucey/James Lucey, Class 7 - James Murphy/Anthony Nestor, Class 8 - Pat O'Connell/Mark Wiley, Class 9 - Craig Breen/Sorcha Kelly.

Well done to Tom Dunne and his team who ran an excellent event and pulled out all the stops to make sure the event ran smoothly all day. Next round of the Petro Systems National Forestry Championship the Carrick o Suir Wm Loughman Forestry Rally will take place on March 1st. Entry form and regulations are now available.

Click here for the Full Entry list.'

Click here for the Time and Distance.

Click here for the Final Instructions.