Cathal Hogan Stakes Championship Claim at Claremorris

Ballinasloe's Cathal Hogan has staked a claim on the 2000 Gordon Percy Engine Centre National Autocross Championship with a comprehensive victory in Round 3 at Claremorris on Sunday, June 11th. The Opel Special driver clocked his best time of 1:48:96 on the second run of three laps around the tricky grass circuit at Hanley's School of Equitation. Nearest challenger to Hogan was fellow Galwayman Francis Craven (Loughrea) on 1:51:15 also in a Special. Third fastest of the day in the Mayo & District Motorsport Club organised event was Cormac Haverty (Special) from Ballinasloe with 2:00:04. Both the Novice and Ladies Awards headed to Sligo with Brendan Tuffy (Enniscrone) in a Peugeot 205 and Joanna Kenna (Sligo) driving a Talbot Sunbeam winning these trophies respectively.

Mayo & District Motorsport club members were among the prizewinners also with Walter Burke again emerging as the best local finisher. The 'Williamstown Wizard' dominated Class 6 in his 2 litre Escort MKII recording a time of 2:09:12. Another Williamstown man, Derek Deane (Escort MK II) finished second in Class 5 followed by Crossmolina teenager Killian Duffy in his newly liveried Talbot Samba. New Club member Brian Farrell from Strokestown completed the prizegiving round up with 3rd in Class 1 in a Ford Fiesta.

Round 3 of the 2000 Gordon Percy Engine Centre National Autocross Championship at Claremorris organised by Mayo & District Motorsport Club.

<pre> Results

Class 4a 1.. Cathal Hogan (Ballinasloe) - Special 2.. Francis Craven (Loughrea) - Special 3.. Cormac Haverty (Ballinasloe) - Special

Class 3a 1.. Jer Brennan (Killarney) Fiesta

Class 2a 1.. Barry Driver (Wicklow) - Fiat Uno 2.. Paul Driver (Wicklow) - Fiat Uno 3.. Diarmuid O'Toole (Carlow) - Fiesta

Class 4b 1.. Ian Byrne (Kildare) - Special 2.. Gareth Turner (Ofally) - Special 3.. Alan Byrne (Kildare) - Special

Class 5 1.. Colm O'Toole (Carlow) - Fiesta 2.. Derek Deane (Williamstown) - Escort 3.. Killian Duffy (Crossmolina) - Talbot Samba

Class 1 1.. Frank O'Connell (Dublin) - Mini 2.. Ronan Judge (Dublin) - Fiat Ritmo 3.. Brian Farrell (Strokestown) - Ford Fiesta

Class 3b 1.. Whitby Moynan (Nenagh) - V. Chevette

Class 6 1.. Walter Bourke (Williamstown) - Escort 2.. John McGeehan (Williamstown) - Escort 3.. Mark Gillespie (Easkey) - Vauxhall Nova 4.. Noel Reilly (Williamstown) - Escort

Class 2b 1.. John McGettrick (Sligo) - Escort 2.. John Kenny (Tullamore) - Escort 3.. Joseph O'Beirne (Birr) Escort 4.. Cormac Hession (Garrafrauns) - Escort

Novice Award Brendan Tuffy (Enniscrone) - Vauxhall Nova

Ladies Award Joanna Kenna (Sligo) - Sunbeam

Mayo & District Motorsport Club Award Fiachra Moran (Belcarra) Toyota Corolla

The next Mayo & District Motorsport Club organised event is a loose surface Autocross on Sunday 6th August.