The National Navigation Championship got underway last weekend with the Cork Motor Club Startrek Navigation Trial.
Clerk of the Course Ken Carmody assisted by James Fitzgerald organised an 85-mile event from the Donoughmore Community Hall. There were two Co. Monaghan Motor Club crews involved.
In fact, it was Co. Monaghan Motor Club who began the event. Indeed, 2023/24 national champions Gregory Shinnors with Andrew Mackarel were seeded first on the road.
Whereas, last season’s Squealing Pig Monaghan Border Navigation champions Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy were second seeds.
When results were totted up after 85 miles, the Co. Cork pairing of Aaron O’Regan/Patrick Murphy who took a two mark (penalty) win over Evin and Pakie in second place. Gregory d Andrew finished in 5th place.
The event was tricky from the get-go as there were 40 checkpoints to reach in the 85 miles. Throughout, the drivers met torrential rain and blanket fog.
In the first part of the event around Donoughmore and Stuake there were a plethora of farm lanes including seven checkpoints within a squared kilometre (one OSI map box).
One of which was on a supplementary route instruction located in the same farm complex. From here it was into the Boggeragh Mountains for a taste of the forestry gravel tracks.
