The motorcycle trials riders, the hardy annuals of motorsport, take to the appropriately named Sloggers area of the Dublin Mountains on Sunday's for round 11 of the MCUI (Southern Centre) Championship. Stuart Martin of Delgany, Co Wicklow, is in an unassailable position at the top of Grade A on 170 points.
Back in the saddle after a couple of years' absence is former champion Mark Harris (Rathcoole). Victories in two recent events run by the MEC and Youghal Club leave him second behind Martin on 114 points and ahead of Aaron Tracey on 107.
Michael Burton has won Grade B on 180 points, a long way in front of Philip Harris (109) and Scott Barkley (105).
The points standings in the other classes are: C: 1, Philip Purcell 150; 2, Eric O'Sullivan 129; 3, William Hill 97. D: 1, Shane Menton 121; 2, Gerard Redden 96; 3, Andrew Kennedy 82. Junior A: 1, Warren Hendy 200; 2, Derek O'Neill 166; 3, Alan Stokes 43. Junior B: 1, Ian Acheson 173; 2, Robbie Hendy 114; 3, Barry Tracey 112. Round 12 is the Dalcassian Trial in Co Limerick on November 22nd.
The motorcycle racing championships at Mondello Park this year were well spread around the country in terms of support and winners. Roddy Hayes (Rathmoylan, Co Meath), Gerald Kingsbury (Limavady, Co Derry) and Barry Gill (Co Limerick) were the three championship winners.
Pre-90: 1, Roddy Hayes 221 points (5 wins); 2, Pat Duffy (Dublin) 151 (3 wins); 3, Benny Doherty (Kilkenny) 146; 4, Damien Mulleady (Longford) 136; 5, Benny Taglienti (Co Wicklow) 116; 6, Herbie McHenry (Dublin) 114.
600cc Series: 1, Gerald Kingsbury 167 (2 wins); 2, Gary Coburn (Belfast) 157 (1 win); 3, David Coughlan (Youghal) 143 (1 win); 4, Enda Carrigan (Kilkenny) 133 (1 win); 5, David Renshaw (Co Derry) 120 (1 win); 6, Paraic Dooley (Kildare) 103.
Production Series: 1, Barry Gill 291 (7 wins); 2, Derek Wilson (Carrigaline, Co Cork) 285 (7 wins); 3, Pat Bradley (Swords, Co Dublin) 175; 4, John Niland (Dublin) 169; 5, Brian Coogan (Dublin) 106; 6, Paraic Dooley (Kildare) 97.
Awards in the Toshiba Tarmac Rally Championship will be presented tomorrow night in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co Down. Austin McHale (Rathcoole) has won the premier rally series for a record fifth time. He first won the championship back in 1983 driving a Vauxhall Chevette HSR, in 1985/86 driving an Opel Manta 400, and in the last two years driving a Toyota Celica GT4. He expects to campaign a Toyota Corolla WRC next year, starting with the Galway International on February 6th-7th.
Conor Faughnan of the Automobile Association has confirmed sponsorship of the AA Circuit of Ireland to be held at Easter. The event will follow a similar format to that of recent years, with overnight halts at Tallaght, Co Dublin. McHale won the two opening championship rounds this year.
The National Rally Championship awards will be presented in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Co Limerick, on Saturday, November 28th. The RIAC championship was won by Belfast dentist John Gilleece, driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, for the second successive year.
The Ford of Ireland awards for Formula Ford Zetec will be presented tomorrow night in the Great Southern Hotel at Dublin Airport. Dublin driver Neil Shanahan (19) has won the championship, having won both the Formula Ford 1600 series and the Dunlop Sextor Trophy last year.
Shanahan had six race wins, four at Mondello and one each at Kirkistown, Co Down, and Pembrey in Wales and scored 101 points. Runners-up were Chris Paul (Lisburn) and Philip Kehoe (New Ross) on 95 and 91 points, respectively, with two race wins each.
Weekend Fixtures
Tomorrow: Connacht MC, Navigation Rally, starts Sligo Airport, Stradhill, 7 pm.
Sunday: LMC, Octember Trial, Sloggers, Co Dublin, 11 am; Co Kildare MC, Rallycross, Mondello Park, 11.0; Limerick MC, Autocross, Kilfinny, Adare, Co Limerick.
The AGM of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Southern Centre) is scheduled for Saturday, November 14th, in the Sheldon Park Hotel, Kylemore Road, Dublin (off the Naas Road), at 10.30 p.m.
