Ford KA Championship - Circuit of Kerry - 6 Apr 03

Posted: April 9, 2003 1:55 AM

With a starting line up of 14 Pirelli shod Ford rockets coupled with glorious sunshine the competition was destined to be as fierce as ever. Series leader Vivian Noone in the Gain Horse Feeds Ford KA attacked on stage one but paid a heavy price as an accident cost him over six minutes and all hopes of extending his championship lead. Martin Laverty in the MGL Electrical Ford KA took an early lead of 8 seconds after stage one. Championship challenger Kenneth Mulvaney the 2002 Junior Champion also fell foul on stage one blocking the stage, Gordon Coleman, Keith Lyons, John Doolan and Gary Reidy stopped to help him get back on the road but they also lost time as a result.

At the first service of the day in Tralee town centre Martin Laverty lead by 13 seconds from Mark Kane with Ian Chadwick in third a further 7 seconds in arrears. The status quo remained until the third loop of stages where on stage six Walter Walsh in the Suds and Duds Ford KA came across another car blocking the stage, Walter had no choice but to hit the stranded Peugeot 106. Mark Kane arrived on the scene and struck Walters KA. Another competing car then arrived in very quick succession to hit Marks KA. The incident knocked second placed Kane and fourth placed Walsh out of the event and promoted Emily O?Mahony to third.

Ian Chadwick turned up the heat on stage six taking 13 seconds out of Laverty to reduce his lead to 8 seconds. Whilst pushing really hard Martin rolled on the penultimate stage of the day to hand victory to Ian Chadwick after 85 gruelling stage miles. Emily O?Mahony best Lady crew finished in second with Cathal Greaney in third.

"What an exciting day, we had a great battle with Martin, Mark and Walter. It was terrible that they crashed out but that rallying. We kept it together and played it cool and I think it paid off. "

Results
 1	Ian Chadwick	1.12.42
 2	Emily O'Mahony	1.14.02
 3	Cathal Greaney	1.16.09
 4	Keith Lyons	1.16.18
 5	Kenneth Mulvaney1.17.10
 6	Gary Reidy	1.18.09
 7	John Doolan	1.18.50
 8	Vivian Noone	1.19.14
 9	Gordon Coleman	1.19.31
10	Martin Laverty	DNF
11	Walter Walsh	DNF
12	Mark Kane	DNF
13	Eoin Fogarty	DNF
14	Ian Liston	DNF

Championship Positions
	
POS.	NAME	      POINTS	
 1	Ian Chadwick	53
 2	Vivian Noone	43
 3	Emily O?Mahony	41
 4	Keith Lyons	33
 5	Kenneth Mulvaney32
 6	Eoghan Fogarty	26
 7	Gordon Coleman	23
 -	Cathal Greaney	23
 9	Martin Laverty	21
10	Ian Liston	19
11	Walter Walsh	17
-	Gary Reidy	17
13	John Doolan	15
14	Mark Kane