November 2003

NEWSLETTER NO: 8

Looking back over the last few months since our last Newsletter we have been really busy.  The Sunset Rally in early October saw us returning to a lanes format, which proved very popular with the competitors.  Both Officials and competitors had a great days fun.  Congratulations to Stephen Moore and John Clark who were the winners on the day accomplishing their first Overall win.  Coming in a close second was Greg McCormack and Sean Magee, with Seamus Donnelly and Paul Garry hot on their tyres in third.

To celebrate the end of our events and unwind after all the hard work throughout the year we decided to hold a Club night out in Walsh’s Hotel at the end of October.  As always this was well attended and all had a great nights craic.

For the first in the Club’s history not only do we have one Northern Ireland Champion in the Club but we have four!  Congratulations to Bernard O’Neill and Eugene O’Kane on winning the Northern Ireland Tracker Clubman’s Championship out right, which was decided on the final round last weekend in Newry and Mourne.  Also congratulations to Eugene Donnelly and Paddy Toner for their performance during the ME Crowe Northern Ireland Rally Championship, which they win.  Not forgetting our own Caulfield Insurance Club Champions for 2003 – Barry McKenna and Donard McCann.  Looking at next years MADMC Championship is a working group who plan to revamp the current structure and therefore attract more interest.

The wheels are already in motion for next year, both event wise and socially.  Our first event is as always the Davagh Stage Rally on Saturday 28^th February 2004.  This year we have been fortunate to secure a Road Closing Order.  This should make this already popular and challenging event even more so.  Get this date pencilled in.  Next in the Club’s calendar is the Tour of the Sperrins.  Again planning for this event is well underway.  This year’s CoC Philip Shaw has already selected the stages.  In order to raise the profile of this Northern Ireland Championship event, the Club are currently undertaking a massive project to invest substantial corporate funding to improve the standard of the stages.  This was made possible by the continued generous support of our corporate sponsors over the last 2 years to whom  we are very grateful.

The Planning Working Group have also met with numerous organisations over the last few months to investigate the possibility of expanding the Club’s access to forests.  They are also currently exploring opportunities for grant funding to assist in the delivery of these projects.  You will be updated of developments at further Club Meetings.

Danny Gormley from Maiden City Motor Club has agreed to attend the Club meeting on Monday 5^th January 2004 in order to demonstrate the new timekeeping equipment recently obtained by Donegal Motor Club.  We believe this training would be of great benefit to both competitors and officials for use on future events and would encourage as many as possible to attend.

As you are already aware the Annual Dinner Dance and Prize giving is taking place on Saturday 31^st January in Greenvale House Hotel, Cookstown.  To celebrate our 25^th Anniversary the dress code is formal, so get your dickie bows and long frocks reserved.  Tickets priced at £25 each will be on sale on Wednesday 10^th December and the point of sale will be disclosed at the AGM on Wednesday 26^th November in Walsh’s Hotel Maghera at 8 pm SHARP.  Can we take this opportunity to remind you that attendance at the AGM is required in order to make you eligible for end of year awards as long as you have assisted the Club on at least one event.  If you are unable to attend the AGM a written apology to Alan Bolton will be acceptable.

I would like to wish you and your families a merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in 2004.

Ursula Mullan, Chairperson

REMINDER – AGM

Walsh’s Hotel, Maghera at 8 pm SHARP

WEDNESDAY 26^th November 2003