Round 4, RIAC National Navigation Championship
Co. Kildare Motor Club, 9th January 1999.


Report by Fergus N. Casey, Championship Registrar.

O'CONNOR/PHELAN BRAVE THE ELEMENTS.

Michael O'Conor / Paul Phelan (Toyota Corrolla) managed a clean sheet on Saturdays "Heartbreak" Rally despite the arctic conditions. Air temperatures dipped to -5C and provided competitors with hazardous conditions including black ice and frost. However the former National Champions set a steady pace throughout to emerge worthy winners.
Frank Fennell / Frank Hussey would also have posted a clean sheet were it not for a timing error which saw Frank clock in two minutes early at the final control. The pair were giving their newly built Volvo a shakedown prior to the Monte Retro. Frank hopes that he has now shaken off his timing errors too.

A disappointing entry of 17 starters faced a route of 90 miles in Counties Kildare and Wicklow which concentrated on lanes not seen in the National Championship for many years. However the difficult conditions facing marshals saw two crucial second half Time Points go unmanned.
The night saw the return of some crews after long layoff and the regular competitors must have wished they stayed at home. Doug Corrie teamed up with Matt Hume (Avenger GT) for his first competitive outing on the maps in 18 months and was surprised to find himself second overall at the finish. Following a two year layoff Expert crew Martin Nugent / Colin Dwyer debuted their newly acquired Peugeot 205 GTi to a fine third overall.
Father and son team Vincent / David Fagan were another to see off the regular Championship crews in taking the Novice Class honours. While Vincent has been a stalwart on Navigation rallying for many years he changed seats to give 16 year old David his first ever Championship outing.
The Championship has now reached the half way point and the Drivers standings are headed by Pakie Duffy who has increased his lead over second placed Fintan McGorman and third placed Damien Courtney. However, Michael O'Connor who missed the opening two rounds has his challenge right back on track with two straight wins. (Best six out of eight scores to count). On the Navigators side things are much tighter with Harry Bleakley leading from Aiden Courtney and Paul Phelan.

The next round is Cork MC's "1000 Shakes" Rally on 23/24th January.

Results
1st "Bones O'Connor Paul Phelan Expert Toyota Corolla TC 0 mins
2nd Matt Hume Doug Corrie Semi Expert Avenger GT 3mins
3rd Martin Nugent Colin Dwyer Expert Peugeot 205 GTi 3mins 1st Class
4th Frank Fennell Frank Hussey Expert Volvo 4 2nd Class
5th Damien Courtney Aiden Courtney Expert Vauxhall Astra GTE 4mins 3rd Class
6th Pakie Duffy Harry Bleakley Expert VW Golf GTi 8 mins
7th Gerry Kelly Richard Howard Semi Expert Opel Kadett GTE 11mins 2nd Class
8th Fintan McGorman Sandy Mills Expert Vauxhall Nova GSi 19mins
9th Kevin Lunt Eoin Longworth Semi Expert VW Golf 1.4 34mins 3rd Class
10th Vincent Fagan David Fagan Novice Nissan Terrano II 104mins 1st Class
11th A Reid W Fitzpatrick Novice Mini 229mins 2nd Class
12th Patrick Moran Andrew Hill Novice Opel Kadett GTE 325mins 3rd Class

Excluded

Andrew Mackarel Liam Higgins Expert Opel Ascona

Retirements
Raymont O'Neill Stephen O'Neill Expert Sunbeam Ti
John Carroll Vincent Coughlan Expert Escort 2.0
Karl O'Donoghue Frank O'Donoghue Semi Expert Sunbeam Ti
Simon Evans Damien Connolly Semi Expert Mini

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