Kenmare crew are fastest in rally sprint
Credit: PICTURE: FRANK O'CONNOR
KENMARE'S Vincent O'Shea and co-driver Adrian Randles were crowned the 2010 Tyrestop Kerry Motor Club Rally Sprint winners at last Saturday's event in Tralee Racecourse. The first timed run over the 2.4 kilometre course saw O'Shea's Escort Cosworth lead by 0.9 of a second from the Metro 6R4 of Brian O'Mahony/John Murphy who were tied for decond place with Kevin Kelleher/Gerard Seaman (Mitsubishi Evo 9) and Barry Meade/Finbarr O'Mahony (Ford Escort MK11).
O'Mahony upped his pace on the second timed run stopping the clock 1.8 seconds faster than O'Shea and move into the overall lead as Kevin Kelleher moved into third overall ahead of Barry Meade in 4th and Jakes Kelly/Carmel Lynch (Subaru N10) in 5th place.
Vincent O'Shea/Adrian Randles fought back on the third timed run and now held a 2.2 second lead over O'Mahony/Murphy with one run remaining. The final run saw Kevin Kelleher/Gerard Seaman set fastest time but it wasn't enough to overhaul O'Shea/Randles who brought their Escort Cosworth to the finish ramp with a winning margin of 2.8 seconds.
Kevin Kelleher/Gerard Seaman finished second overall with the final podium place going to last year's winners Brian O'Mahony/John Murphy. Jakes Kelly/Carmel Lynch finished fourth place and highest placed Kerry Motor Club crew with Mallow's Barry Meade/Finbarr O'Mahony finishing 5th overall and top 2-wheel drive.
Local Kerry crews who won class awards included Jakes Kelly/ Carmel Lynch, Thomas Fitzmaurice/Ger Egan, John Hickey/Shan Murphy, Charles O'Neill/ Denis Nagle, Brian Hickey/Henry Reidy and Niall Walsh/John McCarty.
Winners of the Club awards were Mike Dennehy/Mikey Greany (Kerry Motor Club), Anthony Kiely/Mark O'Shaughnessy (Killarney & District Motor Club), Mike Walsh/Frank Sweeney (Limerick Motor Club), Noel Brady/Richard Davis (Cork Motor Club), George Whelan/Grainne McEnery (Clare Motor Club), Thomas O'Keeffe/Diarmo Kane (Munster Motor Club) and John McQuaid/Gareth Quinlan (Monaghan Motor Club).
A special presentation was also made at the prize giving ceremony from Kerry Motor Club to motorsport commentator Dougie Hughes who has been commentating at motorsport events all over Ireland for the past 50 years. Rally driver Mike Horgan pictured with Ian and Garry Horgan, and co-driver Clara Healy at the Kerry Motor Club Rally Sprint at Ballybeggan, Tralee on Saturday.
- Seamus O'Connor
