IN PREPARATION for the 2012 motorsport season, Wexford Motor Club held their A.G.M. and elected the officers for the committee to oversee the club's activities for the year. John Naylor has been reappointed as Chairman with Pat Caulfield as ViceChairman.

Secretary will be Pat O'dowd and Margaret Fielding will be the Treasurer. The remainder of the committee members are Karen O'dowd (P.R.O.), David James, Margo Doyle, Noel Moran, Philip Cullen, Brendan Harpur, Michael Brady and Seán Martin. The honorary Wexford Motor Club President is Tommy Moran.

IRCA MARSHALS' DAY: Despite all the doom and gloom that surrounds the country in the current times, the Irish motorsport season has kicked off with great style in recent weeks. The first port of call was the annual trip up to Mondello for the I.R.C.A. marshals' day.

This is a day where marshals get their turn to see what it's like being bolted in and getting a chance to experience sitting in the passenger's seat in cars varying from Subaru Impreza WRCS to 300bhp 2.5 litre Mk2 Escorts! It is always a great day's craic and this year was no exception.

Wexford was well represented with Liam Howlett, Leo Tector, Mark Culleton, Niall Fortune, Brian Kirwan and Leon Galvin all bringing marshals for spectacular spins in their Ford Escorts, while Eamon Bates in his new Suzuki Swift treated the crowds to a great day's fun.

DONEGAL FORESTRY: From there, the serious side of things kicked off in Donegal with the opening round of the Irish Forestry championship. Garry Jennings brought his Subaru Impreza 555 home to take top points on the opening round, followed by the very impressive Stephen and Suzanne Wright in their Mitsubishi Evo 6, while Colin Britton and Arthur Kiernan rounded off the top three. Taking top twowheel drive honours were a hard-trying Frank Kelly and Liam Brennan in their 2.5 litre Ford Escort.

A second fastest time overall on the last stage saw Adrian Hetherington and Wexford's Gary Nolan climb to eighth and second two-wheel drive in the screaming two-litre V6-engined Escort, with Shane Mcgirr and Niall Connelly dropping to third twowheel drive on the final stage. Stephen Cullen ventured back into the forests after a five-year absence and, partnered by Seamus O'grady, they took 20th overall.

GALWAY INTERNATIONAL RALLY: Hot on the heels from Donegal was the Galway International rally, the opening round of the Irish Tarmac championship. In a thrilling finish, Darren Gass and Enda Sherry took their first international victory aboard their Subaru Impreza WRC by a mere 1.3 seconds from Eugene Donnelly and Paddy Toner who were debuting the fabulous Mini John Cooper WRC.

They were just under six seconds ahead of Tim Mcnulty and Paul Kiely in another Subaru Impreza WRC, the current tarmac champions leading for most of the event until suspension damage caused by a collision with a chicane dropped them back in the final stages.

It was Liam Howlett and Andy Hayes who upheld Wexford honours, as the Palace East driver manhandled his Mk2 Escort to ninth overall in the national section and first in class 13, despite a puncture on stage seven and a bent front strut which was probably caused by launching the Escort off every jump he could find and ones that only he seemed to find!

Bannow brothers Conor and Richie Moore were out in their respective Civics for the first time also this year. It was Conor who took the bragging rights as, partnered by Richard Cleary, they took 23rd overall and the national section, with brother Richie with Frank Dwyer on the notes just one place and seven seconds back! Mark Nangle unfortunately failed to make the end of stage two.

UPCOMING EVENTS: The next events where Wexford Motor Club members are most likely to compete in will be the Birr Stages Rally on February 26, followed by the Carrick-on-suir forestry rally on March 3. The annual trek to Clonakilty for the West Cork two-day rally will be on March 17 and 18.

Apart from club members competing in these events, there will also be a number of people travelling to each event to help out. We would appeal now for all the help we can get for these clubs as without our help these events can't run. If you would like to get up close and involved in the action, please contact Wexford Motor Club on 0879974151.

WEXFORD HILLCLIMB: The next big event for Wexford Motor Club itself to organise will be the two-day Hillclimb, which will take place on Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1. With final preparations and route planning currently being put in place by clerk of the course, Philip Cullen, for the event, further details will be available very shortly.

CLUB MEETINGS: The Wexford Motor Club meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month in the Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford, at 9 p.m. If you wish to get involved with organising events or just wish to share your interests and have a chat with our members, please feel free to come along to any of the meetings, whether you are a member or not.

If you have any enquiries to make, please remember the club can be contacted on 087-9974151 and we will be glad to try to help you out.