Mcgeehan supreme in Ballykelly

1 Declan Boyle/ Brian Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC) 1h03m40.6s; 2 Alastair Fisher/ Gordon Noble (Fiesta R5) +34.7s; 3 Josh Moffett/john Rowan (Fiesta R5); 4 Roy White/james O’brien (Fiesta WRC); 5 Peadar Hurson/ Damien Connolly (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B); 6 Step

Organiser: Maiden City Motor Club When: August 6 Where: Ballykelly, County Londonderry Championship: ANICC Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland Starters: 84 Stages: 6

A year after a spin cost them any shot at victory, Alan Mcgeehan and Niall Magee were able to put that behind them and win the Dogleap Rally by heading a Mcgeehan Motorsport one-two on Saturday by 41s.

Joseph Mcgonigle started as he finished last year. After winning the event in 2015, he went fastest on the 5.7-mile SS,1 but a penalty for missing a control dropped the Skoda Fabia S2000 to the back.

On stage times he would have finished second, just 3.7s behind Mcgeehan.

Mcgeehan’s place however was undeniable as he joined his brother Derek as a venue winner.

Alan Carmichael is a regular at Shackleton and that perseverance placed him second in another Mcgeehan-run Mini WRC. He was 41s shy of the winning time but punched in steady stages with four third fastest times beside Ivor Lamont.

Seamus O’connell steered his Ford Escort Mk2 to third and first two-wheel-drive. After SS1 he was sixth before jumping two places on the repeat before a close race with Johnny Morrow mid-event.

Young Callum Devine, 9.7s back, tried hard in his Opel Adam and believes if it rained the result would have improved. He finished fourth, one place up on last year and is in good form for the Ulster Rally on August 18.

John Bonner’s Ford Escort Mk2 climbed from 24th fastest on SS1 to fifth by the finish thanks to a final stage swap with Marty Gallagher. John Bradley majorly improved on his seeding at 75 to finish seventh.

Peter Bennett and Andrew Bushe won the Juniors by 43s in a Skoda Citigo.