Last year’s runners up, Callum Black and co-driver Elliott Edmondson, returned this year to claim the top step of the podium of the Winner Garage Skoda Wyedean Stages in association with KGD of Hereford. The SBG run Ford Fiesta R5 never missed a beat over the eight treacherous stages. Holding a slender six second lead at halfway, Black got his head down on the afternoon loop to extend his winning margin to 53 seconds.

Second overall was local duo Nick Elliott with Dave Price on the notes in the familiar Kellands backed RS1800. The historic flyer put on yet another fantastic display, and kept competitive against Black all morning in difficult conditions, but on the faster final two tests the superior power and suspension of the modern car paid dividends.

Just 12 seconds behind in third were Pete Stephenson and Darron Garrod in their Ford Focus WRC.

The event was again based at the Vantage Point Business Centre in Mitcheldean, and offered the 107 entries, 40 miles of slippery forest roads and many left with bent cars and panels to repair.

Of the huge list of locals entered in the event, many walked away with silverware. It was event sponsors Bob Morgan/Ade Williams who took a superb run to 6th overall and 1st in class in the Winner Garage Subaru Impreza.

Another local crew who performed well were Jason Gardner/Graham Cox in the Brecon View Plumbing Escort RS, taking 13th overall and 2nd in class.

Andrew Stokes, who entered the very first Wyedean in 1975, had Ade McNally on the notes and finished 18th overall, 4th in class in his Escort RS1600, and with it clinched the HRCR Stage Masters crown for 2017 after a trouble free rally.

One of British rallyings great characters, Jeremy Easson/Mike Reynolds in the awesome sounding Datsun 240Z took 20th and 6th in class after a trouble free event.

Jason Morgan/Jack Bowen took 22nd and 4th in Class N4 in the GJM run Impreza, despite a strut breaking through the wing, costing a lot of time on the final two stages.

Tim Phelps/Elwyn Manuel finished 25th and 2nd in class B12 in their 2.5 Escort RS.

Husband and wife duo Nigel and Karen Jenkins finished 26th and 2nd in class in the NJ Autos 1400 Nova, despite losing their brakes on the first run through Speech House, and dropping a minute during the afternoon stage with gearbox problems.

"We’ve had a frustrating day, but I’m surprised to see how high we’ve finished to be honest" said Karen

Ed Robinson had Matt Rogers on board in the Gloucestershire Rallyschool backed Citroen C2 Max, these two really flew to take 27th and 1st in class in the upto 1600cc class.

Just seven seconds behind in 28th was Ross-on-Wye duo Scott Partridge/Mike Jode who enjoyed the slippery conditions in the Bullit Polish Impreza.

Just behind them in 29th and 3rd in class was Richard Cole/Matt Nicolas in the Richard Cole Contracting 1400 Escort.

Newent’s Geoff Phelps/Pete Wilson were 40th and 4th in class in the Drenth backed Escort RS

Paul Simmonds, who was doing his first gravel rally in 35 years, had Mark Wheeler on board the Signs by Samurai 2 litre Mk1 Escort and finished 64th and 16th in class, but won the prestigious Rex Paddock award for the best prepared car in eyes of the scrutineers.

The only lady on the entire entry list, Maureen Lane, showed some of her male colleagues how to get to the finish, along with Simon Cox, to finish 75th and 17th in class in the Escort Mexico.

The locals who didn’t make the finish included John Collins/John Smart in the Opel Manta, who left the road on the Blaize Bailey stage and tried to land in Soudley, some 30 feet off the road.

Yet again the Wyedean lived up to its tough reputation, giving competitors a first class rally in difficult conditions.