Northern Stage Rally Championship

Bulletin 12 – December 2007

After 16 events, around 1000 stage miles and hundreds of stages across a wide area (and some horrendous summer weather thrown in as well!) we've reached the conclusion of the 2007 Championship.

The Coppermines Grizedale Stages Rally provided the final event and the snowy Cumbrian forests provided a fitting end of year challenge. Three of the four contenders in with a shout of the overall titles elected not to take part, leaving Brett Mitton as the Overall Champion Driver in his Swindon Race Engine powered Mark II Escort, ahead of Chris Peart. St John Dykes tried valiantly to clinch the overall navigator’s title with a last minute ride but unfortunately retired, resulting in Gordon Blyth hanging onto the Overall navigator’s title. Congratulations to Brett and Gordon - worthy winners of this year's Championship.

The GSR also saw the other forest awards sorted out. Chris Peart missed out on the Overall Championship but claims the Forest Challenge award ahead of Graham Haigh who wins class 3 in the challenge. With Gordon winning the overall championship John Birkitt wins the navigators Forest Challenge, moving Charlotte Kimber up to 1^st in class 3. The class 1 battle saw Sian Beaty and Julianne Antrobus emerge victorious after their closest rivals Amanda & Derek Cornforth failed to finish. Jonathan Bean / Ian Vickers (class 2) and Keith Turner / Steve Ward (class 4) held onto their class positions. For the record, top points on the event went to Garry Johnson & Phill Bond with 103.

The full list of provisional award winners is :

1^st Overall Driver	Brett Mitton	1^st Overall Navigator	Gordon Blyth
1^st Forest Challenge Driver	Chris Peart	1^st Forest Challenge Navigator	John Birkitt
1^st Tarmacadam Challenge Driver	Gareth Frank	1^st Tarmacadam Challenge Navigator	St John Dykes
1^st Multi-Use Challenge Driver	John Deegan	1^st Multi-Use Challenge Navigator	St John Dykes
1^st Class 1 Forest Challenge Driver	Sian Beaty	1^st Class 1 Forest Challenge Navigator	Julianne Antrobus
1^st Class 2 Forest Challenge Driver	Jonathan Bean	1^st Class 2 Forest Challenge Navigator	Ian Vickers
1^st Class 3 Forest Challenge Driver	Graham Haigh	1^st Class 3 Forest Challenge Navigator	Charlotte Kimber
1^st Class 4 Forest Challenge Driver	Keith Turner	1^st Class 4 Forest Challenge Navigator	Steve Ward
1^st Class 1 Multi-Use Challenge Driver	Andy Okane	1^st Class 1 Multi-Use Challenge Navigator	Phil Clowes
1^st Class 2 Multi-Use Challenge Driver	Garry Salmon	1^st Class 2 Multi-Use Challenge Navigator	Steven Dargan
1^st Class 3 Multi-Use Challenge Driver	Alistair Hutchinson	1^st Class 3 Multi-Use Challenge Navigator	Chris Smith
1^st Class 4 Multi-Use Challenge Driver	Dave Hawkins	1^st Class 4 Multi-Use Challenge Navigator	Paul Train
1^st Class 1 Tarmacadam Challenge Driver	Tracy Louise Muir	1^st Class 1 Tarmacadam Challenge Navigator	Garry Muir
1^st Class 2 Tarmacadam Challenge Driver	Ken Monaghan	1^st Class 2 Tarmacadam Challenge Navigator	Steven Dargan
1^st Class 3 Tarmacadam Challenge Driver	Alistair Hutchinson	1^st Class 3 Tarmacadam Challenge Navigator	Chris Smith
1^st Class 4 Tarmacadam Challenge Driver	Neil Andrews	1^st Class 4 Tarmacadam Challenge Navigator	David Atack

These results are now provisional and will be declared final at noon on 31^st December 2007. If anyone has any queries about the scores please let me have these in writing before this time. Should any queries be received that results in any change to any of the awards then a further provisional list will be issued to all contenders. I hope though that I have added the scores up correctly or that you have raised the queries earlier!

Next Year’s Events

I’m just waiting for a couple of details before I can issue regs for next year. In the meantime here are the contact details for the first few rounds. Please ensure you get in touch with the event organisers or watch their websites closely for regs coming out as they may fill up quickly (especially the NW Stages which fills up in about 3 days – be warned!!) .

Round 1 Jack Frost Stages Sunday 13^th January.

Regs are out at www.darlington-motor-club.org.uk or contact Terry Wright, 01325 359895.

Round 2 Riponian Rally Sunday 10^th February.

Regs are out at www.riponian.co.uk or contact Annette Beckwith, 01765 600587 E-mail

Round 3 NW Stages Saturday 16^th February.

Regs due out over Christmas at www.nwstages.co.uk or contact Ann McCormack, 01928 710 546 E-mail

Round 4 Robin Hood Stages Sunday 9^th March.

Regs due out over Christmas at www.robinhoodforeststages.co.uk or contact Karen Spencer, 01422 345887 E-mail

Championship Awards Presentation

The awards presentation will be held on Friday 22^nd February at the Whitcliffe Hotel, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire . The format will be like last year which proved a popular “upgrade” on previous years – a hot buffet, guest speaker and awards. Full details will be sent to you shortly along with ticket application form.

So, all that remains for this year is to say a huge thank you to all the event organisers that have put on some excellent events and in particular all contenders who have made the Championship once again very competitive. My congratulations to all the award winners, and to our Champions Brett and Gordon in particular. I hope to see you all that the Awards Presentation in February and hope also to see you signing up for more next year.

Merry Christmas!

Mike