The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kilcummin father and daughter win Jimmy Devane Trophy
THERE was huge celebrations as Pat and Tara Looney brought their Ford Escort Mk1 over the finish ramp of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally as the best local crew on Saturday evening.
The father and daughter team, from Kilcumnin, set out to win the Jimmy Devane Memorial Trophy and drove a perfect rally to secure one of the most coveted awards.
Garage man, Looney, was a life-long friend of the late Jimmy Devane, a stalwart of Killarney and District Motor Club, who passed away after an illness in 2009. The memorial cup is presented annually to the highest placed KDMC crew.
The Looneys were ninth fastest over the open stage, Moll’s Gap, before improving their position by one place on the next test that passed within a short distance of their home place. They maintained this position to the end of the seven-stage rally.
Speaking at the start ramp, on Killarney’s High Street on Friday night, Pat outlined his ambitions to set about winning the trophy named after his great friend. Less than 24-hours later he and his daughter Tara were nearly in tears as they drove their Escort over the finish podium as winners.
“It is a special feeling,” said Pat. “This is what we wanted. We set out to do it and... unbelievable.”
Tralee man Sean Wash was next over the line. Co-driving for County Louth’s Phillip McKribben, the Ford Cortina pairing were 13th overall and third in class. PJ O’Dowd and John Young were expected to challenge for class honours but the new engine in their Talbot Sunbeam failed after three stages and they were forced to retire,
Killarney crew Aidan Kennedy and Joe O’Leary reported a trouble free run on their way to winning their class in a Mini Cooper.
Rathmore’s Donal O’Connor, a double Southern Four Historic Rally champion, finished fifth his category driving a Ford Escort MK1.
There was a local celebration in the keenly contested modified rally that runs in parallel to the main historic event.
The overall rally title went to Tyrone man, Ryan Barrett, who came from behind on state one to overhaul early leader and Welsh visitor Melvyn Evans.
Rob Duggan and Ger Conway, the current British Junior Champions, switched from the usual front-wheel drive Vauxhall Adam to a rear-wheel-drive Ford Escort and led the category from start to finish, despite coming under a lot of pressure from County Meath’s Jack Newman and Andrew Brown.
Even a late scare, when the spun on the final stage near Shrone church, and broke the left rear wheel on the Escort, unbelievably without puncturing, to claim victory in the hotly contested category. Charlie and Johnny Hickey were 11th overall after a mixed day. “It’s going great,” explained Charlie. “It’s a disaster.”
Vincent O’Shea and Brian Hickey were 12th and took home the Kenmare Trophy, awarded to the highest placed residents of the south Kerry town.
Glenflesk’s Denis Hickey and Sean Nolan were one place behind and took second in their class to cap a fine year that saw them collect a class win in the Southern Four Rally Series.