Unless otherwise clearly indicated, results on this site have been declared final and are therefore not subject to query or protest
Clerk of the Course: Alan Davies & John Hands
Route: 130 Miles
Maps: 145 & 146
Starters: 75
Winners: Iwan Jones/Dyfan Davies (Ford Escort)
Iwan Jones/Dyfan Davies took victory on the Valley Services Rally, a round of both the Welsh and West Midlands Championships. The 130 mile rally proved a tough test. The format of minimal plotting time combined with an intricate route caused problems for a number of crews. Andy Sheppard/Mike Hart and Gethin Lewis/Aled Jones were amongst those that went OTL due to the tight schedule.
Jones/Davies had a healthy lead at Petrol which they maintained to the end. The main challenge to their victory came from Adrian Davies/Mark Jones, who held on to take second. Gwyndaf Lloyd/Mike Morgan had been challenging for the runner spot before they were eventually slowed by engine problems and struggled home in fifth. It was therefore Tony Davies/Ieaun Thomas who finished in third in their hired Corolla, the similar car of Geraint Davies/Sarah Gluyas was fourth and they took top Welsh Championship points for the event.
A number of other championship contenders were well down the order after picking up fails at passage controls and route checks. Dennis Quinn/Andrew Thomson missed a PC in the Brechfa Forest. Toby Adams/Pat Gadsby missed two boards to spoil their run, and Aled Thomas/Rob Richardson were awarded three fails after failing to get counter signatures for code boards.
Prior to going OTL, Andy Sheppard/Mike Hart had already picked up a fail after getting a wrong approach at a tricky three metre control.
Huw James/Patrick Walsh were the first retirement of the night, their Cavalier developed a serious misfire only half a mile into the event. Alan Gaunt/John Gilbey and Clive Greeves/Rob Duke got as far as the second section before getting stuck on a white; the latter blowing the clutch on their Chevette trying to free the car.
John Evans/Eurig Evans drowned out in a ford, but still came home in seventh place. Meanwhile Elgan Jones/Byron Jones made it to the Finish but with a large number of fails after their Astra suffered a water pump failure in the second half; they had to cut the final section.
Meanwhile Ian Elias/Phil Roach came home a creditable 14th and took the Semi-Expert award. Their second class win in two events.
TOP TEN RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Iwan Jones | Dyfan Davies | Ford Escort | 9m 00s | |
2 | Adrian Davies | Mark Jones | Ford Escort | 10m 17s | |
3 | Tony Davies | Ieaun Thomas | Toyota Corolla | 10m 26s | |
4 | Geraint Davies | Sarah Gluyas | Toyota Corolla | 11m 17s | |
5 | Gwyndaf Lloyd | Mike Morgan | Ford Escort XR3i | 12m 33s | |
6 | Wayne Morris | Paul Middleton | Ford Escort | 14m 07s | |
7 | John Evans | Eurig Evans | Talbot Avenger | 14m 13s | |
8 | Neil Griffiths | Carl Williamson | Ford Escort | 14m 30s | |
9 | Pete Cotton | Dave Pitchford | Ford Escort | 15m 56s | |
10 | Huw Davies | Gwynfor Jones | Ford Escort | 16m 00s |