Garry is the ace at the Mace

Garry Jennings partnered by Nigel Kennedy overcame a recent spell of bad luck to clinc victory on the Bennetts’ Mace rally from Frank Wray by the smallest margin in the history of the event – eight tenths of a second! The competition at St Angelo matched the blistering weather, and a large crowd enjoyed both in equal measure. Clerk of the Course, Hilary Ogle had
arranged six special stages and over one hundred and twenty crews faced the challenge

It had been eventual runner-up Wray who set the early pace; fastest on the opening stage by one second from James Kennedy in his Ford Escort., with Jennings, Stephen Harron and John Waring all in close pursuit. Garry fought back to set the fastest time on stage two with Kennedy, Wray and Harron chasing furiously behind, all within six tenths of a second of one another. On the third stage, it was Harron making a welcome return to the rally world who was fastest; his Subaru Legacy just ahead of the Mitsubishi trio of Howard Clarke, Jennings and John Bustard. However, it was Jennings who stepped up to the plate to claim the honours on the fourth stage from Harron and Group N front runner Rodney McKnight. Frank Wray fought back to take
fastest time on the penultimate stage, half a second quicker than Jennings with Harron a further second adrift. Going into the last stage it was “all to play for” – Jennings led by just over three seconds, but one slip could spell disaster. Garry’s Evo stopped the clock with a time of 3:19.6, while Frank was fastest of all on a time of 3:17.2 – good, but not good enough! Jennings had won by a mere eight tenths of a second

Among the two-wheel drive cars it was James Kennedy who led from start to finish, eventually taking victory by ten seconds from John Waring with Augher’s Andrew Trotter third. Stewart Clarke had been hampered by gearstick maladies while ex-PWRC champion Niall McShea suffered a costly puncture in his Orion. Trevor Elliott had been in contention for a two-wheel drive podium, but ultimately, a lack of power saw him drift back to fifth.

In the class battles, Mark Donnelly, Rodney McKnight and Scott Winslow were all victorious, while Erne Safari winner, Gary Sheridan showed his stage pace, taking victory in Class 4, and Marc Johnston, navigated by his star footballer brother, Simon was third in Class 5 behind Stephen Lipsett. Trevor Elliot was victorious in Class 6 with Fabian McAleer was a fine third. In Class 7, Brendan Campbell was second with Stewart Clarke fourth. Class 8A was won by the unique rear-wheel drive Focus of Paul Barrett, while the event sponsor Craig Bennett in his 6R4 was the eventual winner three seconds of Gary McBrien. Claire Lipsett won the Ladies’ Award.

It was an exceptionally close and competitive days rallying, enjoyed by competitors and spectators alike, and the Clerk of the Course extended her congratulations to all the winners and her thanks to Bennett’s Mace stores who again generously sponsored this increasingly popular event.

Report by Keith Boyd