Hurson's burstin' to win
Rally Report 36
Saturday, November 17 2001 - 5:50pm
John Dier and Will Downing - Rosslare

Down's Peadar Hurson has won the November 2001 Wexford Single Stage Rally in his Toyota Celica, having 32 seconds to spare over second-placed Meathman Tim McNulty.

Hurson traversed the nine-mile Coolboy stage covering the Newbawn and Gusserane areas the quickest on each of the three circuits.

Down's Maurice Gass finished third a further 34 seconds back, with David James securing one of the best results in his career by clinching fourth spot in the 2WD Escort BDX. The Goreyman, accompanied by sidekick Ron Guha, celebrating a rare top five placing in an unrestricted rally - albiet a single stage.

James had seven seconds to spare over another Wexfordman, William Carroll of New Ross, whose Escort Cosworth 2000 also celebrated dizzy heights. He was accompanied by Jason Mernagh.

In sixth, just past the half-hour mark - 30 minutes, 1 second to be precise - came Tipperary's Willie O'Dwyer in a Metro 6R4, 14 seconds ahead of seventh-placed Carlowman John Nolan on 30:15 - himself just two mere seconds clear of Tipperary's ever-popular Jimmy Lambert and his equally celebrated Escort MkII.

And journalists can do it too - Brian Duggan of irish-rallying.com assisted Dublin's Willie Fannin to a creditable 16th place.

TOP 16 PROVISIONAL - Final Standings
 1  7 Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter - Down          Celica      27:42
 2  5 Tim McNulty/Julian Nangle - Meath        Impreza     28:14
 3  6 Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr - Down         Impreza     28:48
 4 18 David James/Ron Guha - Gorey, Co Wexford Escort BDX  29:47
 5 29 Willie Carroll/Jason Mernagh - New Ross  Escort Cos  29:54
 6 39 Willie O'Dwyer/Andrew Purcell - Kilkenny Metro 6R4   30:01
 7 23 John Nolan/John Smithwick - Carlow       Escort      30:15
 8 19 Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman - Tipperary  Escort Mk2  30:17
 9 12 Tom Holton/Andrew Cullen - Meath         Celica      30:18
10 16 Kieran Molloy/Brian Boland - Tipperary   Lancer      30:22
11 22 Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty - Wicklow   Escort      30:46
12  8 Sean McArdle/Gerard McMonagle - Armagh   Celica      30:55
13 35 Donal Bowens/Enda Shiels - Meath         Escort Cos  31:19
14 27 Trevor Culbert/James Glynn - Wicklow     Escort Mk2  31:27
15 25 James Foley/Ann Foley - Meath            Honda Civic 31:39
16 53 Willie Fannin/Brian Duggan - Dublin      Lancer Evo6 31:46

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