Thompson Secures Championship at Eagles Rock…

Round 9 of the ANICC Millers Oils Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship took place on Saturday 24^th August at Eagles Rock, organised by Maiden City Motor Club, they had 55 starters for the event.

Like many of the other events throughout the year, the morning started with a damp road, rain threatened the day a couple of times, but it held out to be a dry day and the timesheets reflected that.

Going into the last round Graham Thompson had to score in the top 4 to secure yet another championship, with dropped scores and bonus points coming into effect, some places in the overall and class tables were going to change.

Richard McGimpsey chose not to compete, Richard leading the table all year, Gerard O’Connell could increase his points and jump up the table, Alan Cassells couldn’t increase from his 4^th position.

Once the timed runs started Gerard O’Connell wasn’t giving in and set the fastest time for the first run and a benchmark for Graham who was in 2^nd, and Alan Cassells in 3^rd.

Once the 2^nd timed run started Graham set fastest time and that’s where he was to stay, Gerard was within 0.5 of a second, but on the 3^rd run Graham set another fastest time , getting close to the hill record set back in 2002, Gerard also went faster but it wasn’t enough.

Alan Cassells reporting a mistake on his last run trying to reduce his time, still kept him in 3^rd overall. Brendan Flynn who has been getting to grips with his new car finished in 4th overall and a hard charging Roger Gage in 5^th.

In the Modified Saloon Category, Roger Gage was fastest, with Ivan McCullough in his GTR in 2^nd and Oliver Cormican in 3^rd.

In the Roadgoing Saloon Category Paul Montgomery in his Subaru was fastest, Andrew Robb in 2^nd and Conor Hamill in 3^rd, both in BMW M3s.

The class winners were Stephen Wishart, Andrew Robb, Paul Magill, Paul Montgomery, Richard Munnis, Gordon Fogarty, David Hawthorne, Roger Gage, Paul Dorritty, Neil Dugan, Gerard O’Connell, Alan Roddy, Daniel Campbell, Ivan McCullough, George Stevenson, Graham Thompson, Trevor McIlroy, Alan Jardine.

Eagles Rock being the last round of the championship bring it to a close for this year. I hope everyone has enjoyed their motorsport, and as usual we will be back next year at Croft for Round 1.

Eagles Rock Top 10.      

1^st Graham Thompson
2^nd Gerard O’Connell
3^rd Alan Cassells
4^th Brendan Flynn
5^th Roger Gage
6^th Andy Hawthorne
7^th Ivan McCullough
8^th Paul Montgomery
9^th David Hawthorne
10^th George Stevenson

Words: ALAN CASSELLS #5 | Photos: Gary Craig Motorsport Photography 
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