1970 Ulster Rally Champions

Johnston and Phelan are 1970 Champions

By DES MORROW

THE “Tullyhommon Flyer” Mervyn Johnston and co-driver Paul Phelan, from Dublin, are the 1970 Ulster Rally champions, their first championship title win which was confirmed to-day with victory in the Queen’s University Motor Club Winter Rally.

Johnston, from Tullyhommon, Kesh (Cooper S) finished a brilliant season netting 51 points to Ronnie White’s 47, and Cahal Curley’s 42. White was second to-day in the Queen’s rally, and Curley went out last night with a burnt-out clutch. A win for any one of these three drivers would have meant the championship title, so close were the points.

Johnston and Phelan emerged clear winners this morning at Drunsill House Hotel near Armagh, losing 45 points to White’s 81. David Agnew came through to take third place with 86 points lost.

Ninety cars started from Queen’s University last night and followed a course through Down, Armagh and Tyrone. Only 39 finished this tight navigational test. Only five cars in the experts class finished, and Ken Atkinson did well to take fifth place overall and first in the semi-experts.

Mervyn told me later: “This is the first year I have entered for all the events in the rally championship. Before that I only took part in selected events. Now I’m preparing for the Circuit of Ireland next Easter.”

What about to-day’s win? “Well, it was a great night for a rally, very clear and the roads weren’t too sippy. We had a trouble-free run.

The rally brings to an end a most exciting series, and from it emerges a new champion, 31-year-old garageman Mervyn Johnston from Fermanagh.

Results:

Experts

1. Mervyn Johnston and Paul Phelan (Cooper 8S) 45 points lost;
2. Ronnie White and Harold Hagan (Cooper S) 81;
3. David Agnew and Micky Thompson (BMW) 86:
4. Oliver Hadden and Gordon Taggart (Escort TC) 91;
5. Gerry Campbell and Jonathan Palmer (Cooper S) 105.

Semi-experts

1. Ken Atkinson and Drew Todd (Escort) 122;
2. Pat McCourt and Peter Scott (Cortina) 170;
3. Dessie Nutt and Adrian White (Cooper S) 222.

Touring

1. John Brown and John White (Cooper);
2. Denis Pigott and Tony Stevens (Midget);
3. D. McCutcheon and D. Foster (Cortina).

Novices

1. D. Briton and W. Smith;
2. J. C. Smith and D. Wright;
3. R. Shannon and D. Shannon