Galway Advertiser 2008/GA_2008_01_10/GA_1001_E1_134.pdf 

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134

MOTORING

January 10 2008

Irish Van of the New MD for Partway Motor Factors Year 2008 awards
The Kia cee'd and Land Rover Freelander were voted category winners in the Semperit Irish Van of the Year 2008 by the Irish Motoring Writers Association's van jury. In deciding on these category winners, the jury members, including your motoring correspondent, took into account such attributes as: load capacity, reliability, overall versatility, cost of ownership, and drive comfort. The Semperit Car-derived van of the Year award was presented by Noel McGrath of Semperit Ireland to Louise Egan, marketing manager of Kia Ireland for the cee'd van. And the Semperit Irish SUV Commercial of the Year award was presented to David Harpur, managing director of Land Rover Ireland and John Paul Mooney, marketing manager of Land Rover Ireland for the Freelander 2 Commercial. Paddy Murphy of Semperit, the awards sponsor, commented: "The van market in Ireland is a very healthy six per cent up on last year. You can take that as a good indicator of the strength of the Irish economy. In tandem with the growth in the market, the choice to operators continues to grow. I am sure that winning this Semperit Irish Van of the Year category award will support the success in the marketplace for both the cee'd and the Freelander." On behalf of the Irish Motoring Writers Association, Tony Toner, who jointly presented the awards said: "This is only the second year that we have awarded these van category titles and I believe they recognise two important and growing segments in the van market. Both of our winners are excellent commercial vehicles and are great examples of their specific van segment." Last November, the Kia cee'd car finished second to the Ford Mondeo in the Semperit Irish Car of the Year awards, while last October the Land Rover Freelander 2 was voted Scottish SUV of the Year. Both the cee'd and Freelander have something else in common - both have been awarded an excellent five stars for adult occupancy and four stars for child occupancy in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

The Top Part Group has appointed well-known motor industry figure Ann Lynskey as managing director of its Galway outlet, Partway Motor Factors. Lynksey has an extensive background in motor factoring, stretching back many years. Indeed, she was instrumental in the establishment of Partway Motor Factors back in the late 1970s, before moving on a decade later to explore other opportunities in the motor trade. "I spent many years in the garage sector in both finance and sales. However, there isn't the same customer interaction, so when the opportunity to rejoin Partway presented itself I was delighted to accept the challenge," Lynskey says. She admits that competition is keen in the Galway area, but is confident Partway can grow its market share on the back of representing leading brands, competitive pricing, and high levels of customer service. As part of the Top Part group, Partway Motors Factors offers "hard parts", the Sikkens range of re-finish paints, as well as a myriad of garage equipment from many of the world's leading automotive equipment suppliers.

Jarlath Sweeney, IMWA van jury; Noel McGrath, Semperit Ireland; Louise Egan, Kia Ireland; Tony Toney, IMWA van jury.

Noel McGrath, Semperit Ireland; David Harpur, Land Rover Ireland; Tony Toner, IMWA van jury; and Jarlath Sweeney, IMWA van jury.