Bala & District Motor Club Ltd
Gareth Hall Stages
10th October 2009


Gavin and Aled Edwards were never headed over the Ranges, the Escort crew finishing 25 seconds up on Ranges master Ken Pugh, with Gwawr Hughes, in the Lancer. They in turn were just two seconds in front of the Escort of Richard Lewis/Emma Davies who had climbed the leader board steadily through the day.

Meirion Roberts/Lowri Davies would have been on the podium had they not gone off the road on the last stage, the time lost dropping them six places. Gwyn Thomas/Paul Hughes promised to be a threat for honours but their Puma stopped twice on the first lap of four stages, then again later when they contested the Trophy Rally section!

The small engine class went to Gareth Roberts/Ian Lloyd (106) but not without a fight from the aged Singer Chamois of Gary and Jane Edgington, third being Richard Thomas/Chris Evans (205 XS) who had been held up when Trevor Groves blocked the road with his rather sorry looking Porsche.

Geoff McQuilling/Rob Hopewell (Civic) and Chris Phillips/Sarah Hughes (106) finished just three seconds apart in the 1600 class, the two swapping times and never more than three seconds apart all day. Third were Alun Roberts/Karen Watts in a 206 Cup Car.

Despite problems with a loose exhaust that was fixed by fellow competitors, Edwards took overall honours so the class fight was between Kevin and Ian Jones (Escort) against the similar car of Richard Lewis/Emma Davies, who had a slow start but finished first. The Jones boys were intent on a high ANWCC championship points score, which they achieved. Len Jones/Robert Evans (Escort) were lowly-seeded but pulled up into third spot and the top ten.

Winners of many Ranges events, Ken Pugh/Gwawr Hughes (Lancer) took second overall when Roberts/Davies slipped back although they had their own little moment. Myfyr Owen/Eddie Blackwell survived a huge moment at the infamous yump to take second in class whilst Roberts/Davies hung on for third.

Barry Jones/Chris Williams brought their road-rally Escort to a class win; Andrew Williams/Gweneira Davies second in an Astra whilst third was the Chevette of Alan and Ryan Hands.

Results:
1, Gavin Edwards/Aled Edwards (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 20m 52s
2, Ken Pugh/Gwawr Hughes (2.0t Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III) 21m 17s
3, Richard Lewis/Emma Davies (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 21m 19s
4, Kevin Jones/Ian Jones (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 21m 22s
5, Geoff McQuilling/Rob Hopewell (1.6 Honda Civic VTI) 21m 29s
6, Chris Phillips/Sarah Hughes (1.6 Peugeot 106 GTI) 21m 32s
7, Myfyr Owen/Eddie Blackwell (2.0t Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII) 21m 42s
8, Meirion Roberts/Lowri Davies (2.5 Ford Escort Mk2) 21m 55s
9, Len Jones/Robert Evans (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 21m 55s
10, Emyr Morgan/Paul Jones (2.0t Subaru Impreza) 22m 03s

Class winners:
Gareth Roberts/Ian Lloyd (1.4 Peugeot 106)
McQuilling/Hopewell
Edwards/Edwards
Pugh/Hughes
Barry Jones/Chris Williams (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2)

Snippets:

Many cars sported black ribbons as the crews remembered Stephen Dukes, a popular competitor who often tackled the Trawsfynydd Ranges stage events. Dukes, 44, a local taxi driver had died of a brain haemorrhage a couple of days earlier and his driving style in his Escort will be sadly missed.

The event was the final round of the Trawsfynydd Challenge, a championship based on class performance and ended with a tie for victory between Chris Phillips/Sarah Hughes (106 GTI) and Gareth Roberts/Ian Lloyd (106), the larger car getting the win due to a greater number of class stage wins during the year.

Lampeter driver Emyr Morgan entered the event as a shakedown to the Cambrian Rally; currently heading the ANWCC Forest Rally Championship a finish will secure victory in his Subaru Impreza. Co-Driver Emyr Hall was officiating on the Bala & District MC event and has already secured the ANWCC Forest Rally Co-Drivers Championship.

Report by Dave Thomas, 11 Maes Canol, Llandudno Junction, LL31 9UX. (07788 995345)

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