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Sam Bowden wins Omagh Motor Club’s Ken Irwin Trophy Autotests

Thursday, 12 January 2012

SAM Bowden from Stewartstown triumphed in Omagh Motor Club's Winter Autotests, but he was pushed all the way and had to call on all his vast skill and experience.
Sam is a former nine times Northern Ireland champion, five times Southern Ireland champion and a former British champion.
This very popular event always attracts a top class entry, with everyone trying to win the trophy donated to Omagh Motor Club 30 years ago by the legend Ken Irwin, himself a multiple championship winner, who is also now recognised as the top man to prepare Autotest cars. Currently he is responsible for the car that has won the Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and British championships.
After the first loop of three tests, it could not have been closer. Peter Grimes, from Dublin, led the event by 0.4 seconds from Sam Bowden, with the current NI, ROI and British champion, Steven Ferguson, from Stewartstown, a further 1.7 seconds behind. Robin Lyons, from Drumbo - son of former autotest champion from Castlederg, John Lyons - was fourth.
Christopher Grimes was fifth with Glen Irwin, from Castlederg, the 2003 Northern Ireland champion, making a welcome return to the sport, was in sixth place, despite a five second penalty for touching a pylon on the first test.
On the second loop of tests, Peter Grimes and Bowden both hit a pylon and incurred a five second penalty. This allowed Ferguson to take over the lead, but only by 2.1 seconds from Peter Grimes, with Bowden a mere 0.9 seconds behind that.
Christopher Grimes was up to fourth, but Glen Irwin had now settled into his borrowed car and he moved up to fifth, even setting a quickest time on test six, a remarkable achievement considering his long lay-off, and driving an unfamiliar car and he was also in a saloon competing against the more competitive specials.
Third loop
With half the event over, it was on to the third loop. This time it was Ferguson to incur a five second penalty allowing Peter Grimes back into the lead, but Bowden had not given up and was still only 1.2 seconds behind. Ferguson had moved back to third. Christopher Grimes still held fourth. Irwin had continued to close the gap and was only a further 0.1 seconds behind in fifth place and had now increased the gap to sixth placed Lyons, who had a penalty on test eight.
So it was on to the last loop and all to play for. Bowden set out in a determined mood, setting the quickest time on test 10; in the process taking the lead from Grimes by 0.2 seconds.
With two test to go it could not be closer, but disaster struck for Peter Grimes when his car had an electrical fault on the way to test 11, resulting in a small fire in the engine compartment. Quick work by him and his brother, Christopher, got the problem fixed but left them running later, by which time it had started to rain. With the other competitors getting a drier run, Peter Grimes lost some time and any chance of a win.
So it was Bowden who finished first with Peter Grimes in second. Steven Ferguson was third, Christopher Grimes maintaining his fourth place right to the end. Robin Lyons really turned on the pressure taking time off Glen Irwin on both test 10 and 11 and then on test 12 Irwin hit two pylons, which allowed Lyons to take fifth spot.
Local honours go to the very talented Glen Irwin, from Castlederg, but a great drive was also seen from Seskinore's Alastair Barker - a relative newcomer to autotesting.
Results: 1, Sam Bowden, Mini Special, Stewartstown, 663.8; 2, Peter Grimes, Mini Special, Dublin, 666.8; 3, Steven Ferguson, Mini Special, Stewartstown, 669.1; 4, Christopher Grimes, Mini Special, Dublin, 682.6; 5, Robin Lyons, Mini Saloon, Drumbo, 683.6; 6, Glen Irwin, Mini Saloon, Castlederg, 697.1; Class A, Peter Grimes; Class B, Timmy Lynch; Class C, Robin Lyons; Class D, Paul Mooney.

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