Border Championship 2013 – Preview
Compelling Competition awaits in Sligo Pallets Border Championship
The 2013 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship gets into gear with the Mayo Stages Rally once again the opening round of the series. The Championship will be contested over five rounds with Monaghan, Cavan, Sligo and Donegal also hosting rounds. The unique class based structure gives crews from all classes a chance of winning the overall title. For 2013, Class 11 will be split into class 11f for front wheel drive cars and 11r for read wheel drive cars due to the large number of entries regularly received. The onus on consisent class performances ennsures that the championship regularly goes down to the final round of the series. Competitors count their best four scores from the five rounds. 10 points are awarded to each class winner providing at least five cars started in that class.
Arthur & Mac Kierans will be chasing an unprecedented 3 straight Border title following their championship successes in 2011 and 2012. The Monaghan pair have been the dominant force in class 12 in recent years, but could face stern competition from Sligo pair, Enda Haran/Patrick Corcoran who pipped them to class honours in Donegal. Adrian Cannon/Paddy McCrudden will be the crew to beat in class 2 and have regularly figured in the overall standings come the end of the year. Pakie Duffy/Colin Duffy have been regular front runners in class 3 and Pakie will be hoping to improve on his 3 overall last year. Class 4 should be intense with the likes of Championship sponsors Andrew Mullen/Elaine Doherty, Shane Maguire/Martin McGarritty, Pat Kirk/Peter Ward and Trevor Bustard/Kenny Bustard battling for class honours in recent years. Liam Branley/Samantha Branley in class 6 and Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge in class 7 are both regular border campaigners and front runners in their respective classes. Class 9 was a battle royale in 2012 between Barry McGill/Derek Heena and Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan and 2013 should be no different. Gary Kiernan/James Fulton hope to contest the series with Gary having required last year’s class 10 championship winning car from his brother Paddy. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden will be out to defend their class 11 title in their Toyota Corolla. 2012 Class 10 Champion, Patrick Kiernan with new navigator James McCarville have made the step up to class 13 and will face stiff competition from the likes of Declan Gallagher, Columba Heena, Daniel Conaghan, Jonathan Pringle and Michael Conlon. Gary McPhillips, Camillus Bradley, Frank Kelly and Jim McKenna could well feature in the battle for class 14 honours during the year. David Leonard/Darragh Mullen will be favourites in class 15 with Michael Carbin/Evin Hughes expected to be the pacesetters in class 20.
The Championship dates are:
Mayo – 10 March
Monaghan – 21 April
Cavan – 26 May
Sligo – 14 July
Donegal Harvest – 12 October
