Northern Stage Rally Championship

Bulletin 7 – June 2005

First of all, my apologies for not getting a bulletin and results to everyone before the Proflex – occasionally it’s just not possible to cram anything else into a day! So, we have two rounds to provide an update on – and some impressive performances on both…..

Firstly, the John Overend Memorial Stages at Melbourne .  Congratulations to Greg Wilkinson, who pedalled his Escort Cosworth to 3^rd overall, two places ahead of Gary Parker and Dave Everard. There was also a Championship clean sweep in class 3 with John Haygarth & Yvonne Coppin winning the class from Chris Peart / Gordon Blyth with Mark Thompson / Giles Dykes taking third.

On the Proflex you did the Championship proud! How’s this for one event from 15 Championship crews : 1^st class 1 : Steven Crowther / David Batley, 1^st in Class 2 : Roger Priestnall / Jamie Forrest, 3^rd Class 2 : Martin Farrar / Andy Ward (who without a stage max would have been well inside top 10), 1^st class 3: Mick Davey / Martin Pullan, 3^rd Class 3 : Alistair Hutchinson / St John Dykes (contenders also took 4^th & 5^th in this class) and 2^nd class 4 : Ian Wheatley / Fred Roberts – well done to all of you! It was also good to see last year’s Champion Richard Wormald out for the first time this year. He set off impressively, setting top 5 times early on until the car packed in – welcome back Tricky!

So some impressive points hauls over the two events. All this means that Roger maintains a healthy 146 point lead in the overall driver’s championship and also leads the MU- challenge. John Deegan and Mark Thompson are 2^nd & 3^rd overall. Chris Smith has a less comfortable lead over Jamie Forrest with Giles Dykes just behind in third in the overall navigators Championship. The Tarmacadam Challenge is led by Steven Crowther & David Batley but only by one point from John Deegan / Chris Smith. Chris also leads the navigator’s MU Challenge.

Next up is the Dukeries so it’s back to the woods to see how this changes things.

Next Events

Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally, Saturday 18^th June, www.dukeries-rally.co.uk

Still some entries available if you’re quick. Contact Marie Dobson, 01302 773312

Tudor Glass Torque Bac Stages, Sunday 26^th June, www.torquebac.co.uk

Bury AC’s event is to be held at Swinderby near Lincoln . Event : 8 Stages offering approximately 65 Stage Miles on tarmac and concrete runways and perimeter roads for £170. Entries are filling up quickly – looks like a good turn out from contenders. Event contact is John Cope, 0161 761 1847

Opposite Lock Rally, Saturday 23^rd July, www.slaithwaitemc.co.uk

Slaithwaite’s multi-use event runs at Manby Showground, near Louth in Lincolnshire . Entry fee is £170 for 50 stage miles. The event (weather permitting) will include 2 all sealed surface stage and 6 mixed surface stages using the unique loose tracks at the venue. Event contact is Karen Spencer, 01422 345887 . Regs should be with you any day now. The event has been oversubscribed for the last 2 years so don’t hang around if you want a run.

There will be no update between the Dukeries and Torque BAC events as I’ll be away on business and on holiday so enjoy the next couple of events and normal service should be resumed in July.

Mike