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Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Press Release 6th July 2015

Photo courtesy of Gary Craig Motorsport Photography

Press Release: 6^th July 2015: For immediate release.

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally

A large number of spectators enjoyed a bumper day out on last Saturday’s Lurgan Park Rally and saw a great display from Kesh’s Garry Jennings as he powered his Subaru to victory, clinching a hat trick of wins. The weather early on Saturday morning was wet and miserable but brightened into a marvellous summer’s day which revealed the true beauty and grandeur of Lurgan Park.

Besides all the Motorsport action, it was a real family day out and as the rally cars roared around the narrow paths, families enjoyed picnics, children’s face painting and fun activities by the lake.

The rally action wasn’t bad either, with Draperstown’s Derek McGeehan in his Mini WRC leading the event initially. Garry Jennings upped his pace as the tracks dried and by lunchtime had moved into a lead he wasn’t to lose. Eleven times previous Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry, this time in a Subaru similar to the Jennings machine, set some cracking times late in the day to move into 2^nd place, usurping McGeehan to 3^rd. There were crews from many parts of Ireland and the UK taking part, and happily there were no major mishaps, although Welshman Melvyn Evans did clip one of his Subaru’s wheels in stage 2 and was forced to retire. The organising North Armagh Motor Club, supported by the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council did put in a massive organisational effort, with safety and security the priority.

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Top Ten:-

1^st Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Impreza WRC) 15.42.5

2^nd Kenny McKinstry/Michael Gilmore (Impreza WRC) +0m 06.8s

3^rd Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth (Mini WRC) +0m 10.7s

4^th Derek McGarrity/Alan Beattie (Impreza WRC) +0m 25.0s

5^th Stuart Biggerstaff/Stephen Jess (Impreza WRC) +0m 33.0s

6^th Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Lancer) +0m 54.6s

7^th Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley (Lancer) +1m 00.7s

8^th Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort) +1m 05.0s

9^th Ray Brammer/Mo Downey (Impreza WRC) +1m 05.1s

10^th Denis Biggerstaff/Adam Carson (Metro 6R4) +1m 06.9s

Class Winners: – CL1 Paul Barrett/Declan Tumilty (Impreza N): CL2 Alan Smyth/Richard Kinloch (Citroen C2R2): CL3 Alastair Cochrane/Jason Craig (Escort): CL4 Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort): CL5 Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Lancer): CL6 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Impreza WRC): CL7 (Historics) Stephen Mawhinney/Alex Couples (Sunbeam): CL8 (Historics) Drew Wylie/James Leckey (Escort).

Issued by: Brian & Liz Patterson: Patterson Agencies Ltd. E-mail pattpace@aol.com tel 028 90844111

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Press Release 29th June 2015

Press Release – For Immediate Release: 29.06.15

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally

This Saturday’s (4^th July) annual Lurgan Park Motorsport Rally has once again got all the ingredients for a superb family day out, starting with the excitement of top seed Garry Jennings in his Subaru Impreza WRC chasing a Lurgan Park victory hat-trick.

Fermanagh man Garry, fresh from a superb win on the Donegal Rally, will face some talented top drivers in what is an extremely interesting entry. The organising North Armagh Motor Club has allowed for an increase in the number of competitors, for this event, up to 60 plus reserves.

Seeded behind Garry Jennings is multiple Circuit of Ireland winner Derek McGarrity, also in a Subaru, Derek McGeehan in a Mini WRC, 11 times Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry in his Subaru WRC, Melvyn Evans (Subaru) from Wales, a former Irish National Champion, Kevin Kelleher (Subaru), a former National GpN Rally Champion, Stuart Biggerstaff (Subaru) a former NI Rally Champion and the very talented driver Emma McKinstry (Subaru) at No.8.

That is just the top layer of a very interesting line up. Former Irish Forestry Champion Pat O’Connell in his Lancer for example is at 10. There is a fantastic line up of Mk2 Escorts further down the list – with drivers such as European Championship leader Craig Breen and former five times Scottish Champion David Bogie, as well as such brilliant home drivers as Frank Kelly, Wesley Patterson and Adrian Hetherington. There is variety aplenty in the line up as well with Robert Woodside in the charismatic new Porsche 911 R-GT, Denis Biggerstaff in his MG Metro 6R4, young Callum Devine in the new Opel Adam to name just a few.

There will be 8 special stages through the Park on Saturday, starting at 10.07 am from the ramp in the central paddock/service area. The North Armagh Motor Club team headed by Rally Director William Fullerton and Clerk of the Course Barry Taggart emphasise that throughout the day, safety and security will be the watchwords. The champagne finish, still in the paddock, will be at 17.15 and the prize giving will take place in the bowling pavilion at 17.45.

In recognition of the rally being on American Independence Day, 4^th July, there will be an American Theme vehicle display, as well as a display of cars from the “Scooby Club’, the ‘Droop Snoot’ Club, the Ford Classic cars and the ‘Mazda Rotary’ club. In addition to all this, there will be comprehensive entertainment activities for children and various trade shows.

As well as Brian Stinson of Orchard Motorsport sponsoring the rally, the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council are lending their full support, especially with the use of the beautiful Lurgan Park. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Darryn Causby, represented the Council at a reception in the Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre earlier this week and will be present at the event on Saturday.

Top 20 Competitors:-

1 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Impreza WRC)

2 Derek McGarrity/Alan Beatty (Impreza WRC)

3 Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth (Mini WRC)

4 Kenny McKinstry/TBA (Impreza WRC)

5 Melvyn Evans/Sean Hayde (Impreza WRC)

6 Kevin Kelleher/ TBA (Impreza WRC)

7 Stuart Biggerstaff/ TBA (Impreza WRC)

8 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC)

9 Ray Brammer/Mo Downey (Impreza WRC)

10 Pat O’Connell/Mark Wiley (Lancer)

Issued by Brian & Liz Patterson, Patterson Agencies Ltd: Tel, 02890 844111: e-mail pattersons@rallynews.net

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Press Release 8th June 2015

Press Release, immediate 8^th June 2015.

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally 4^th July 2015.

Plans for The North Armagh Motor Club’s Lurgan Park Rally (Sat 4^th July) are now well advanced and indeed competitors are once again showing a strong interest in this very special event. The event is being sponsored by Brian Stinson’s Orchard Motorsport Company, now in its 7^th year as headline sponsor. Since the rally started in 1980, when the late Bertie Fisher took victory, there has been many top drivers appear at the Lurgan Park Rally. The most successful of all has been Banbridge man Kenny McKinstry. He first won in ’83 and has chalked up 11 victories. Kenny has pledged to be in Lurgan Park again this year and chasing his 12^th win. One of the drivers favourite to deprive McKinstry of his wish is Garry Jennings. Fermanagh man Garry has won for the last two years and would dearly love to make it a hat-trick. However Garry also sees the Lurgan Park Rally as much as a social occasion, for the kids, the families, the fans to mix in the wonderful atmosphere of the paddock area.

The rally, set in the wonderful Lurgan Park venue, has been fully supported since the very start in 1980 by Craigavon Borough Council. Now of course under the restructuring process, it is the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, who are continuing that support.

The format of the rally, with short, sharp special stages is the making for exciting action, allied to great ambience as well as an array of family entertainment. This should once again make the Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally, this year on Saturday 4^th July, very special.

Issued by Patterson Agency Ltd (028 90844111)

NEW DATE FOR LURGAN PARK RALLY

This year Lurgan Park Rally moves to a new date, 04^th July. The rally, which is backed by Orchard Motorsport and supported by Armagh City Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, is in its 35^h year running in the beautiful natural amphitheatre environment of Lurgan park. The event is considered a jewel in the scheme of NI motorsport.

To fit in with the busy summer motorsport schedule the organising team, the North Armagh Motor Club (www.namcc.com) has moved to this new date of 04^th July. Rally Director William Fullerton reports that it will be all stations go for the Club from now until the end of June as the event represents a massive organisational task. The successful format of the rally, central service area in the park, 8 short sharp special stages with 50 of the best drivers fighting for every split second, will be retained.

For further information, the Secretary of the Event is, Keith Somerville who can be contacted at 07745 959141. Regulations will be available soon.

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Press Release 23rd June 2014

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally 2014

Press Release: For immediate release 23^rd June 2014

The entry list for this weekend’s Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally shows Declan and Brian Boyle, fresh from winning the Donegal International Rally last weekend in their Subaru, as No.2 seeds. Current Tarmac Champion Garry Jennings is at No.1 in his similar Impreza WRC. Fermanagh man Jennings has Michael Moran co-driving, and that was the winning combination last year.

Declan Boyle commented from his Lettermacaward base earlier this week, ‘I’ve spectated at Lurgan Park and always wanted a crack at it, so here goes!” No.3 seed is Kenny McKinstry, dubbed ‘King of the Park’ in deference to his 11 wins over the years. Former multiple Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity, Kevin Barrett from Co Kildare, and Ballinamallard’s Jonny Leonard (Mitsubishi) make up the top half dozen of the fifty invited crews.

A big part of the event is the Mk2 Escort Challenge. The iconic Fords, always an exciting spectacle in the Park, are seeded together further down the field and just some of the top drivers include Wesley Patterson, Frank Kelly, Martin Teggart, Adrian Hetherington and Donegal man Eugene Ferry.

Lurgan Park is about more than motorsport of course. The organising North Armagh Motor Club, in conjunction with Craigavon Borough Council and Brian Stinson of Orchard Motorsport have laid on a great variety of attractions, with special emphasis on a family day out. There are lots of free children’s entertainment organised by professional companies and include face painting, model making and games. In addition there are several classic car shows, plus displays by car enthusiasts such as the RS Owners Club and the Vauxhall Club.

As ever the extra magic of the rally will be in the great atmosphere the beautiful park generates, the excitement of the competition and the social ambience of the central paddock area.

At a Press Conference in the Craigavon Civic Centre on Monday evening, the Worshipful the Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Colin McCusker expressed the Council’s continuing support for the rally which has been taking place in the Park since 1980.

Over the years the organising North Armagh Club has held the admission price down to £10, but because of extra expenditure on all the safety equipment, over £15,000, the cost has had to go up to £15. Children are admitted free of charge, plus there are concessionary pensioner and student rates. There will again be plenty of well-directed car parking. The first competitor will cross the start ramp in the Park at 10.15 on Saturday morning (28^th) and there will be 8 special stages running more or less non-stop during the day, with the winner and the champagne expected on the ramp at 5.00pm.

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Top Ten seeds

1 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Subaru Impreza WRC)

2 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC)

3 Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Subaru Impreza WRC)

4 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Mini WRC)

5 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC)

6 Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Mitsubishi Lancer)

7 Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth (Mini WRC)

8 Emma McKinstry/John Woods (Subaru Impreza WRC)

9 Paddy McVeigh/Martin McCann (Subaru Impreza WRC)

10 James Gillen/Sarah Whelan (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Issued by: Brian & Liz Patterson, Patterson Agencies Ltd. Tel: 02890 844111