Some of the best two wheel drivers in the country are among a huge field of 125 crews for the Sligo Mini Stages Rally on Sunday next.

Seeded at number one spot is Clones man Daniel Mc Kenna who has been setting high standards this season, most recently in the Monaghan Mini stages

At number two also in class thirteen is our local ace Domnic Mc Loughlin with his brother Stephen on the .Domnic has quite an array of successes behind him and if conditions are wet on the day , very few can stay on his pace in his usual neat and tidy style. At three and four spots are two Letterkenny men John O Donnell and Victor Hunter both in Escorts while at number five is another local crew David Leonard and Leon Jordan in the Saxo S1600.

The top twenty cars leave Sligo Park Hotel at 10am. The first car is due back at Sligo Park Hotel at 15.45. Central Service is located at Grange. Souvenir Programmes containing detailed maps will become available from Friday at Cannings House and Garden, Sligo Gate Service Station, Collooney, McCormack’s Service Station, Pearse Road, Mullens Service Station, Bundoran Road, Londis/Texaco service station in Grange, Mullaney’s Supervalu, Grange, and from Saturday at Rally Headquarters, Sligo Park Hotel.

There are a over thirty crews from the Sligo, Leitrim , Roscommon area who are club members of the vibrant local club Connacht Motor Club. Indeed many of the local heroes of the sport who have participated for many years are still highly competitive and are competing in the Mini Stages

Among them is Domnic Mc Loughlin seeded at No 2 on the road , who since the Eighties has been competing locally with a litany of achievements to his credit in a relatively modest car While in a different class , the sights of overall finish will be on David Leonard ‘s mind , as he has finally got the Saxo S1600 singing after a period of issues with the car following its complete rebuild

John Mc Gettrick has also had his sights previously set on a local outright win when in 2003 he had victory almost confirmed until on the last stage the gearbox let him down. In July last he was very satisfied to come home fifth in a very competitive class 13 while recovering from a wrist injury but his spirited driving will give him the inspiration to target an overall leaderboard finish.

Having the opportunity to taste the Class 14 Escort in July , which credited him a fifteenth overall finish , Jason Currid is on this occasion hiring a two litre Escort and , across what would be relatively familiar territory, Fellow North Sligo competitor and also Sponsor of the second stage , Colin Currid will power ahead in the class nine category As a club member ,Patrick Herity would be one of the most frequent competitors at events in the north west circuit, and a second in the class in July is a great reflection of his capabilities in what is a serious class 11

One of the most meticulously prepared local cars is that of Barry Foley while Phillip Harte in the exCurrid Nova has dominated Class 9 on most of his outings. Rory Carroll has gradually began to make a mark in Class twelve.The Quinn household on the outskirts of Ballymote would be busy in the run up to the Mini Stages with Alan and David taking part. Dromahair’s Kieran Carroll is also in the field while another notable competitor is Wesley Roberts, sponsoring the pgoramme through his business, City Electrical Services. Other locals in the top class entry list are Jarlath Barry, Diane Barry, Paul O’Brien, Ian Gunning, a regular sponsor of the summer stages, Andrae Roberts, Fergal Callaghan, Martin Ewing, Alan and Gary Egan, Ferlin Taylor, Barry Gallagher, Paul Curran, John Rooney, John Quinn, Andy Heekin, Mark Murphy, Paul Stewart, Sean Harte and Derek Chambers

- Leo Gray