A familiar face climbed the podium to take first place in the Mayo Stages Rally, based in Achill for the second year.

Conditions were perfect for the return to Achill Island and after the success of last year’s event, Clerk of the Course Trevor O’Connell and his team produced a spectacular event. With the addition of a new stage this year the first round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and opening round of the Sligo Pallets Border Championship kicked off in style.

Declan Boyle and James O’Reilly took the lead from early on and held on to it. Following in second place, 37 seconds behind the leader was Josh Moffett who had Keith Moriarty on the notes. Antrim’s Desi Henry and Liam Moynihan took 3rd, with last year’s winner Joseph McGonigle and Ciaran Geaney coming in 4th.

In 5th place was Niall Maguire and his navigator Enda Sherry; next up were Aidan Wray and Kieran McGrath in a Mitsubishi Evo 10, they took 6th place. Stuart Darcy and Keith McCarthy in an eye catching Darrian T9 were 7th. Just out of the workshop with their brand new Ford Fiesta R5, Brendan Cumiskey and Stephen McAule were delighted with its performance and came 8th. Following closely in 9th place were Chris Armstrong who had Chris Melly on the notes. Donagh Kelly and picked up a puncture after stage 3 and limped his way back from 46th on one occasion to finish in 10th place.

Jason Black from Armagh with Jack McKenna navigating took the Junior Class in a Toyota Starlet.