After a demanding two days when the drivers had to deal with some appalling conditions, Donegal cousins Declan & Brian Boyle took the Colm Quinn BMW Galway  International Rally in their Subaru Impreza WRC.

After completing the 13 stages of the opening round of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship they had 25.5 seconds to spare over the reigning Tarmac Champion Garry Jennings with Rory Kennedy in the co-driver seat in their Impreza WRC.

On the first day there was just 12 seconds separating the top five overnight with Boyle holding a slender 3.6 second advantage over Jennings and Eugene Donnelly holding third place in the Mini WRC. Donagh Kelly held forth with Sam Moffett in fifth.

The first stage on Sunday, the infamous Black Road produced the first drama of the day as Donnelly crashing out on the latter part of the stage with Boyle continuing to lead.

Over Lough Cutra there was very little change other than Jennings closing the gap to just 0.2 seconds behind Boyle, but on the following stage Bradys yard the rally swung Boyle’s way decisively when Jennings hit a flood and ended facing the wrong way up the stage and losing 40 seconds. The excursion dropped him back to fourth place behind Donagh Kelly and Sam Moffett.

Despite an excellent time on the Black Road stage from Jennings when he pared back Boyles lead by 13 seconds and moved back to second, he would still need Boyle to hit trouble to have a chance of victory. Boyle held his nerve to take the maiden International win with Jennings second and Donagh Kelly edging Sam Moffett for third place on the final stage.

In Group N Stephen McCann took the honours with Eugene Meegan just seven seconds behind. The Modified Championship saw Declan Gallagher open his campaign with maximum points in his Rear-Wheel Drive Toyota Starlet after a fearless performance all weekend.

Following his outright success in the British Rally Championship just the week before, Ray Cunningham won the Historic category in his Mini to move into the championship lead after two rounds. Ray’s nephew, Ross Forde was second.

Meanwhile Pat Kelly with son Jonathon as co-driver, after many years trying lifted the coveted Brian Thornton Memorial Trophy as the best Galway Motor Club crew on the event.