Irish Tarmac Championship announces title sponsor for 2014
A season which began at the Galway International Rally in early February came to a conclusion at the Stormont Hotel Belfast on Saturday 2nd November with the Irish Tarmac Championship Gala Awards Ceremony. Garry Jennings repeated the feat of his fellow Fermanagh driver, the late Bertie Fisher, by claiming overall honours to become Irish Tarmac Rally Champion for 2013. This year’s champion co-driver is Donegals own Kevin Flanagan who was rewarded for a consistent year alongside championship runner up Donagh Kelly.
There are of course other important categories in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship such as the Modified Challenge which was won by the Killarney pairing of Noel O’Sullivan and Nicky Burke in their Escort after a long tough season which proved that consistency pays huge dividends in a championship. In the Historic Championship the Volvo crew of James O’Mahony & Kerrie Barry took overall honours.
The Armagh Bowl was presented on the night to Rory Kennedy in recognition for his unwavering support of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship over the years, including a long career co-driving for Bertie Fisher, winning four tarmac championship titles in the process between 1990 & 1996. This year’s awards ceremony was hosted by the Ulster Automobile Club close to the Parliament Buildings at Stormont.
The main announcement on the night was that the Clonakilty Blackpudding Company are to be the title sponsors of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, Irish Tarmac Modified Challenge & Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championships for 2014. Gerard Seaman, Championship Manager, said “These are exciting times for the Championship and we are delighted to have a title sponsor on board for the coming year. It’s great that the Clonakilty Blackpudding Company have the faith in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship to sponsor the series for 2014”. David Gray, Chairman of the T.R.O.A. said “We are particularly delighted to have a sponsor on board after a drought of several years. In particular it is great that a prestigious Irish family owned has decided to come on board to sponsor the Irish Tarmac Championship. Edward Twomey from Clonakilty Blackpudding Company commented “Clonakilty Blackpudding as a company are delighted to be the new title sponsor of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. It is a great honour to share our name with such a prestigious and historic championship which has such a large following throughout the island of Ireland and beyond these shores”.
Regards,
Gerard Seaman,
Championship Manager,
T.R.O.A
Phone: 00353 23 882 0000
Mobile: 00353 87 2204650