Rallying title for McEnery

Ennis lady navigator Gráinne McEnery with Kerry driver Mike Quinn (Ford Escort) secured the 2011 Top Part West Coast Rally Championship  by finishing second overall at last Sunday’s Banna Resort Kerry Mini Stages Rally.

The rally winners were Cork crew Barry Meade/Liam Moynihan (Ford Escort), who won the event by 12 seconds. Brian O’Mahony/Richard Talbot finished third in their Metro 6R4.
On the opening stage, Quinn/McEnery took a four-second lead over top seed Mitsubishi driver Alan Ring, with Meade a further two seconds in
arrears. Shane Maguire (Subaru), Quinn’s only rival, was fourth.

Meade opted for a slick tyre for the second stage at Ardfert and the repeat of SS1 at Kilflynn. He moved into a three-second lead after SS2 and increased the margin to six by the finish of SS3. Quinn slotted into second, with Ring 12 seconds further behind as he lost out on the fast sections of the stage. O’Mahony was three seconds further behind.
Meade stretched his advantage to 11 seconds prior to the final stage and went on to claim his first outright victory. Quinn took second with O’Mahony third.
A delighted McEnery and Mike Quinn commented at the finish that all their efforts during 2011 were worthwhile and that they
were very happy to take the championship.
Clare club members who took awards in their classes included: Anthony Breen/Fergal Keane (Subaru, second in class 4); Christy Carey/Brian Carey (Subaru, winners in Class 8); Martin Casey/Tina Quinn (Honda Civic, third in Class 16).
Martin Casey from Ruan and co-driver Tina Quinn from Kerry finished third in their class at the Kerry rally.