MOTOR SPORT: Austin McHale and his sons, Aaron and Gareth, chase rally championship points in Easter events north and south of the Border.

Austin and Aaron compete in the Meteor Electrical-sponsored Circuit of Ireland, round two of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship,whilst Gareth has withdrawn from the Circuit to compete as championship leader in Easter Sunday's round two of the McCauley Trailers-sponsored National Forestry Rally Championship, run out of Mitchelstown.

The entry of only 56 crews for the Circuit of Ireland is a reflection of the now reduced status of the circuit to that of an essentially regional Ulster event. By comparison the Tipperary MC & LCC has attracted 111 entries for the Seán Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally, which underscores the increased popularity of off-road rallying.

Three previous circuit winners are listed in the top four. Number one seed Derek McGarrity is chasing a hat-trick of wins, number three seed Austin McHale is also after a third win and fourth seed Andrew Nesbitt goes for a second win.

Run out of Enniskillen, the main rally takes place over all three days of Easter, starting with a super special stage at St Angelo on Easter Saturday morning, followed by road stages in the Derrygonnelly, Rossinver, Ballyshannon area with central service at Belcoo. On Easter Sunday the road stages are around Rosslea, Cootehill and Monaghan, service in Clones.

And on Easter Monday the stages are between Ballygawley and Cookstown, service in Cookstown. The final stage each day will be at St Angelo, with the finish on Easter Monday afternoon in Enniskillen.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday: UAC Circuit of Ireland, starts Enniskillen, 8am. Sunday: Circuit of Ireland restarts Enniskillen, 9am; Tipperary MC & LCC, Seán Conlon Memorial Rally, starts Mitchelstown, Co Cork, 10.30am. Monday: Circuit of Ireland, restarts Enniskillen, 8am.