Successful Grass Autocross competition in Cloughjordan

Birr & District Motor Club held its annual 2-day Billy Cavanagh Memorial Grass Autocross recently, making a welcome return to Cloughjordan with the permission of Jim Casey and Alan King, who once again provided a suitable field for this event.

This year, local men Willie Percy took on the Clerk of the Course role once again; saying: "It’s hard to credit how many people it takes to make an event like this a success and a lot of unseen work behind the scenes goes on before it even gets going, but a huge thanks to everyone for making this a very successful weekend for the club".

This event attracted a great number of competitors on both days (26 on Saturday, 25 on Sunday), coming from nearby and far.

On day 1, it was James O'Keeffe who took the overall win in his Semog Bravo Buggy, but the Ace from Aglish, Pat Horan, recorded the fastest time in his Lancia Ypsilon.

On Sunday, battling through the changeable weather conditions, it was nearby fellow competitor John Cavanagh who took the overall honours in his Suzuki Hayabusa Special.

John's brother Willie won the Billy Cavanagh Memorial Cup, which was awarded to the highest placed club member in a Buggy/Special over the weekend.

Their dad, Billy, was a 6-time National Grass Autocross champion between 1978 and 1983, and the Cavanagh family were present the award. Pat Horan recorded the fastest time of day 2 once again, and was awarded the Tom O'Reilly Memorial Cup, which is given to the highest-placed club member in 2-wheel drive saloon.