The Limerick Motor club Winter Trial was usually the club's first event of the year. The event was a regular event until the mid 1970s at that stage trials were evolving into test trials or as they are known now autotests.
The first scheduled Winter Trial was for early 1949.
1951 This event was won by Kevin Murray by 1 1/2 marks from D O'Clery with V F Ross third. This win gave Murray a significant lead in the Hewison Championship
11 January 1953 Nineteen competitors took park in an event started by the Mayor of Limerick Mr. Kevin Bradshaw. The route, a distance of 60 miles, was via Birdhill, Nenagh, Killaloe and O'Briensbridge, and covered some very hilly country. The drivers had to undergo severe tests on the journey.
Results
Sports Car Class 1. K Murray, Sligo (Mercury Special) 2. H Newenham, Limerick (MG TD) 3. A L Young, dublin (MG TC) 4. W JFitzgerald, Waterford (Ford 10) 5. R J Nash, Newcastle West (MG TD)
Saloon Car Class 1. H Murrogh, Clonakilty (Ford 10) 2. M O'Flaherty, Dublin (VW) 3= A Canty, Cork and P Dempsey, Tullamore
1954 Winner Kevin Murray
16 January 1955 The prncipal award went to P Le Fanu from Dublin. the competition included driving tests and road manoeuveres during the four hours on the road there were 5 observation points.
First class awards went to C Ruttledge, Dublin (Ford Special) and O. Kennedy, Limerick (MG). The Best Saloon award went to Mr V Baker, Cloughjordan (Ford Anglia)
9 February 1958 This event was round 12 of 16 in the Hewison Championship. It started at Ardnacrusha Bridge and covered a route of about 45 miles. The club's annual dinner dance (dress) was held the previous night with a ticket price of one guinea.
7 February 1960
Premier Award J Griffin Griffin 547.9
Saloons under 1000cc
1. P Cramme NSU 552.8
2. D Cullen NSU 560.2
3. T Burke NSU 564.5
Saloons over 1000cc
1. K Sherry VW 565.6
2. TV Connolly VW 571.0
3. J O'Mahoney VW 585.2
Open Class
1. J Griffin
2. AD Malcolm Buckler 555.7
3. R Redmond MM3 565.7
39 Starters 3 Non Finishers
1964
The route was two laps of 25miles near Nenagh with 15 tests
1. Leslie Vard
2. Shea Griffin
3. Charlie Gunn
4. Conor Lenihan (Galway)
1965
The event started at Nenagh and had 16 tests.
1. Shea Griffin
2. Conor Linihan
3. Dermot Carnegie
4. Cecil Vard
Each of the top four received penalties for pylon bashing!
6 February 1966 A 25mile route starting at the Dunraven Arms, Adare was used for this years event which was not a counting round of the Hewison Championship. The Winner was Dermot Carnegie in an Austin Cooper S, local driver Brian Moore was second in a standard Mini and another local Connie Bourke was third in his Morris Cooper S. John Gale from Dunboyne in a Morris Cooper S won the novice award. Other award winners were P O'Callaghan (VW), T Burke (VW), E Hughes (Austin), S O'Sullivan (Austin Healy). Keith Griffin, Adare, was entries secretary.
26 January 1969 The Hurler's Castletroy was the start for this non championship event.
23 January 1972 Denis Hogan, Adare was entries secretary. The event started at the Two Mile Motor Inn, Meelick and was the second round of that year's Hewison championship. This event was run on roads rather than in quarries. Connie Burke designed theten test route with Denis Hogan.
ulster Harold Hagan in his MG Midget took the premier award.
Class results Front wheel drive saloons over 900cc. 1. Alan Murray BMC Cooper S 2. Dermot Carnegie Homelite Mini GT 3. Clive Peterson BMC Cooper S next in class were Doug Richardson, Frank Lenehan and Frank Fennell
Front Wheel drive saloons up to 900cc 1. Mrs Olive Hayes Mini 2. B Grogan Mini
Rear Wheel Drive Saloons 1. Larry Mooney VW 2. G Bourke hillman Imp 3. Sam Meyer VW
Open Cars 1. W Cavanagh Ford Special 2. G Percy Ford Special 3. D Lambe MG Midget
18 February 1973 Cancelled
19 January 1975 Shaun Wall was entries secretary fro this event held at Croagh and the second round of that years Hewison championship.
9 January 1977 This year was the last year the Hewison ran as a calendar year championship the next Hewison championship had a winter season from September 1977 to May 1978. The Limerick winter Trial was the second round of a season that ran until May.
