Rally Report 15
11:30pm - September 19th, 1999
John Dier and Will Downing
Eamonn Boland claimed his third Talbot Hotel Wexford Rally in a row with a display of near-faultless driving through the weekend.
Boland, and navigator Damien Morrissey, showed efficient consistency throughout the whole seventeen stages while many of his rivals faltered, and in some cases, dropped out.
While having to take second seat to Donal O'Donovan in the first two stages, the Wexfordman took the lead for the first time after the Corkonian failed to start stage four, as a damaged central diff put paid to his early hopes.
Morrissey admitted that the two stages they had done on the starting three-stage loop were the worst rallying conditions both he and Boland had ever experienced.
They felt they were taking their lives in their hands as lying water was making the car near impossible to handle, as it would suddenly twitch and turn in directions other than the ones Boland would steer it.
O'Donovan actually wondered whether the rain was getting to the point of putting the rally itself in jeopardy.
All crews were probably relieved that Stage 3 was cancelled, and that they could have a nerve-calming break at service.
Luckily, on the next loop, conditions had improved considerably, although still demanding full concentration, with most drivers reckoning the roads to still be extremely dangerous.
Mud was now more a factor than water.
However, conditions had improved dramatically by the last loop, prompting Boland to put on slicker tyres than the rest, which was nearly to be his undoing.
Melvyn Evans was wiser with his choice, and carved twenty-six seconds out of the defending champion's lead.
Boland had only finished fifth fastest on stage seven, and the damage could have been worse only for the fact he posted the second fastest time on Stage 8.
He was never to relinquish this lead for the remaining fourteen stages, despite noting fastest times on all stages.
Many of the others who took faster times suffered bad luck in the shape of spins, breakdowns and other maladies, and the only time Boland's lead looked in danger was when Melvyn Evans got to within six seconds of Boland by Saturday's close.
Speaking to us in Parc Ferme on Saturday evening, Evans predicted Sunday would be a completely different rally.
He was right.
Sunday morning saw much kinder weather - only mild showers to contend with on the first loop - with Evans' prediction to come horribly true.
The water pressurisation problems he suffered late on Saturday had worsened, and as it transpired, the cylinder head gasket had let go in his Escort Cosworth.
Boland's six second overnight cushion had now widened to forty-one seconds from Pete Doughty, who found himself catapulted into second, and in with a shout of his first title here since 1996.
Even though an achieveable gap for Doughty, Boland's WRC really came to the fore as road conditions rapidly dried, and with the correct tyre choice, found he could better any of the Nottingham driver's improving times, increasing the gap to fifty-one seconds with three stages remaining.
Talking exclusively to us as he entered final service, Doughty admitted that his aim now was to secure second place, even though John Price in third was one minute forty-seven seconds behind, and would not pose a real threat.
Boland knew at this stage that his aim over the last three stages was to keep his concentration and not make any silly mistakes, to bring the car home clean and in one piece.
He did not want a repeat of what happened to him in Monaghan a few years ago, taking the wheel off the car while comfortably in the lead with two stages to go.
No repeat of that this time - not only did he keep his concentration, he was psyched up enough to increase his lead by another two seconds, making his winning margin fifty-three seconds.
A delighted Boland had relaxed enough, as his crew returned the car to its immaculate pre-race condition, to joke that he hoped a big fat cheque could be found in the winner's trophy.
The gleaming black WRC was greeted outside the Talbot Hotel by one of the biggest crowds seen at the victory celebrations.
After the usual champagne celebrations, it was time to settle down to the real task of preparing for a party night for both himself, Damien Morrissey and their support crew.
The fraternal partnership of Thomas and Robert Scallan gave the Model County a win in Class 2.
The most notable class to feature Wexford winners was Class 3, where Tomas O'Rourke, David Parle and Aidan Long made it an all-Wexford Motor Club 1-2-3.
Bunclody's Noel Redmond gave Class 4 winner Gavin Harris a valiant fight, and was well pleased with his second place.
Eamonn Boland couldn't be greedy and win Class 8 as well as the overall prize - Pete Doughty taking that honour.
The Barrowside man Martin McGrath, partnered by Dorothy Morrissey, followed up Liam Wall's excellent showing in Class 9, but Fethard man Wall got the better of his fellow countyman, as they took second and third in the class.
In what's reckoned to be the most competitive of the classes - Class 10 - Pat Dunne, the high speed milkman from Forth Mountain, had to be content to be the leading Wexford driver at this level, finishing sixth, despite a ding-dong battle with Billy Collins, which could have gone either way.
Pat also took the Wexford Motor Club prize which goes to the highest placed crew from the club not to achieve class honours.
Kilkenny's John Treacy took the prize in Class 11, which is all the more creditable as his co-pilot John Smithwick had been rather unwell for the first loop on Sunday morning, but this did not stop them finishing a splendid ninth overall. Not bad for a two-wheel drive car, being up among the four-wheel drive big boys...
In a rally which despite Saturday's weather saw eighty-five cars finish, with the retirements being split equally over the two days, do spare a thought for the unfortunate pairing of local crew David Lynch and Anne-Marie Moran, who had to retire in what must be the most bizarre circumstances ever in a rally.
The unlucky Anne-Marie lost her voice and, despite the fact she reverted to hand signals to allay the pace notes, it proved too big a mountian to climb. Left speechless, they called it (quietly) a day.
Let's hope next year's event is drier than this year's.
If not, get your order for a boat in now...
Stage 17 - Final Stage - Official
1 1 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey Escort WRC 6:31
2 5 Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes Escort 6:34
3 4 Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla Escort WRC 6:35
4 10 Gary Midwinter/Martin Saunders Escort WRC 6:40
5 12 Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan BMW M3 6:45
6 3 John Price/Caroline Broad Metro 6R4 6:47
7 11 Ray Breen/Padge Newe Escort WRC 6:48
7 20 John Treacy/John Smithwick Escort 6:48
9 8 Chris Wood/Aled Davies Metro 6R4 6:53
10 17 Gavin Harris/Shaun Lafferty Impreza 6:56
FINAL STANDINGS - OFFICIAL
==========================
1 1 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey Escort WRC 1:39:54
2 4 Pete Doughty/Tim Sturla Escort WRC 1:40:47
3 3 John Price/Caroline Broad Metro 6R4 1:43:03
4 5 Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes Escort 1:44:12
5 10 Gary Midwinter/Martin Saunders Escort WRC 1:44:21
6 8 Chris Wood/Aled Davies Metro 6R4 1:45:07
7 11 Ray Breen/Padge Newe Escort WRC 1:45:54
8 18 Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty Escort 1:46:18
9 20 John Treacy/John Smithwick Escort 1:47:16
10 12 Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan BMW M3 1:48:12
11 17 Gavin Harris/Shaun Lafferty Impreza 1:48:19
12 93 Noel Redmond/David Doyle Evo 5 1:49:53
13 23 Dave Turnbull/Des Moran Escort 1:50:19
14 25 Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman Escort 1:50:46
15 29 Guy Woodcock/Huw Kent Astra 1:51:11
16 109 Tony Rees/Lousie Evans Sunbeam 1:51:22
17 28 Tomas O'Rourke/John O'Rourke Astra 1:51:45
18 15 Donie O'Sullivan/Timmy O'Sullivan Escort 1:51:54
19 38 Malcolm Geddis/Gordon Bradford Evo 5 1:52:12
20 30 Pete Johnson/Jo Johnson Astra 1:52:22
21 57 John Hand/Gareth Lloyd Escort 1:52:53
22 39 Fintan Canty/Denis O'Mahony Escort 1:52:55
23 55 Shaun Price/Ryan Leary Chevette 1:53:00
24 33 Jonathan Jennings/Niall O'Sullivan Escort 1:54:12
25 53 Wynne Pickersgill/Shaun O'Gorman Escort 1:54:18
26 92 John Rooney/Paul Kelly Escort 1:54:33
27 134 Eamonn Murphy/Noel Coady Escort 1:54:44
28 52 Graham Hollis/Simon Gronow Escort RS 1:54:55
29 56 Paul Roberts/Pete Willoughby Corolla 1:56:01
30 40 Dave Watkins/Nigel Houlson Triumph 1:57:02
31 50 David Parle/Paddy Ryan Peugeot 1:57:29
32 44 Billy Collins/Denis Foley Escort 1:58:16
33 45 Pat Dunne/Paddy Moloney Escort 1:58:33
34 74 Michael Hickey/Neil Hickey Peugeot 1:58:52
35 49 Dave Cooling/Martin Haggett RS2000 Kit 1:59:53
36 108 Pete Hughes/Chris Evans Escort 2:00:05
37 70 Wyn Hughes/Paul Jenkins Starlet 2:00:08
38 91 Rob Stone/Martin Prestage MGF 2:00:15
39 47 John Redmond/James Sidney Escort 2:00:34
40 100 Simon Selby/Hayley Selby Mini 2:01:02
41 126 Pat Croke/Sean Ryan Escort 2:01:24
42 31 Russell Hale/Donald Hale Clio 2:01:32
43 140 Tommy Egan/Roger Reddy Peugeot 2:01:34
44 114 William Kehoe/Owen Kehoe Escort 2:01:59
45 148 Eugene Fitzpatrick/Mary Fitzpatrick Escort 2:02:18
46 58 Aidan Long/John Harrington Astra 2:02:24
47 37 Damien Cole/Neil Cook Darrian 2:03:41
48 102 Darren McCarthy/Gary McCarthy Corsa 2:03:43
49 96 Liam Wall/Tommy Kelly Suzuki 2:04:00
50 117 Tomas Scallan/Robert Scallan Nova 2:04:08
51 78 Johnny Murphy/Martin Nolan Escort 2:05:09
52 72 Adrian Evans/Alan Davies Escort 2:05:15
53 90 Martin McGrath/Dorothy Morrissey Starlet 2:05:27
54 75 Seamus Anderson/PJ Nolan Escort 2:05:31
55 27 Michael Davis/Graham Foiry Suzuki Swift 2:06:20
56 84 Wyndam Rees/Aled Rees Escort 2:06:28
57 110 Paul Harewood/Bob Jones Metro GTI 2:06:41
58 136 PJ O'Farrell/Jim O'Brien Suzuki 2:07:19
59 48 Gordon Webster/Louis Stephens Escort F2 2:07:29
60 97 Eddie Lyons/Bernard Lyons Samba 2:07:29
61 111 Thomas Ryan/David Byrne Escort 2:07:32
62 86 Anthony Roche/Noel Byrne Escort 2:07:39
63 127 Joe Redmond/Trevor Hutton Peugeot 2:07:53
64 81 John Ellison/Lorraine Buckley Escort 2:08:01
65 115 Eric Jackson/Shane Ringwood Sunbeam 2:08:38
66 105 Tim Waters/Peter Williams Escort 2:08:47
67 137 James Kelly/Paul O'Brien Peugeot 2:08:59
68 143 Damien Crowe/Liam Delahunty Starlet 2:09:02
69 124 Margo Doyle/Ian O'Leary Civic 2:09:30
70 99 Kath Rumney/Gary Matthews Sierra 2:09:43
71 130 Nigel Molloy/Brendan Molloy Escort 2:10:30
72 73 John Lacey/Paddy Loughman Escort 2:11:11
73 88 Iwan Rees/Cefin Mathias Astra 2:12:03
74 94 David Boden/Danny Kent Mazda 2:12:19
75 61 Kiernan Marshall/Philomena Marshall Civic 2:12:35
76 139 Paddy Whitty/Willie Whitty Peugeot 2:14:01
77 63 Sean Rowlands/Craig Parry Peugeot 2:15:03
78 133 Martin O'Dowd/Donie O'Dowd Sunbeam 2:15:09
79 120 Patrick McCafferty/Mark Cooper Golf 2:18:10
80 119 Sean Gaul/Lorcan Caulfield Sierra 2:21:46
81 129 Adrian Codd/Michael Donovan Nova 2:24:03
82 141 David Whitty/Robert Dunne Corolla 2:24:46
83 138 Joseph Shiel/Aidan O'Brien Peugeot 2:24:59
84 125 Seamus Behan/Delores Behan Corsa 2:31:24
85 121 Joey Lacey/Mary Tynan Starlet 2:54:21
85 finishers