Husband and wife duo, Nigel and Karen Jenkins, continued in their quest for 1400 BTRDA championship points with 41st overall and 5th in class in the NJ Autos Vauxhall Nova on last weekend’s Nicky Grist Stages.

The event, a round of both BTRDA and various Welsh championships, attracted 113 crews to the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells for what was a blazing hot and dusty day for all competitors who tackled the eight stages that were on offer. They consisted of two loops of four tests, totalling some 45 miles, including a brand new gravel stage in the Drovers Arms area of the Epynt ranges.

For Nigel and Karen it was a trouble free day despite the heat and being slowed by dust, they were very pleased to reach the finish with a good haul of points.

Drybrook’s James Dunkley, with Colin Jenkins on the notes, were another crew to have a trouble free day in the Dunkley Autos 1400 Vauxhall Corsa. The duo finished 63rd overall and 2nd in class, despite James admitting he didn’t get going till the afternoon stages.

Richard Cole and Abi Haycock had another good run in the Cole Contracting Escort RS finishing 53rd/7th in class to collect more BTRDA points.

Amongst the retirements were local crews Bob Morgan and Ade Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda. A leaking fuel tank ended their rally at service while lying inside the top 20.

Ross Motor Club’s Paul Morris co-drove for Steve Black in the Suzuki Swift; Paul’s first event for many months after having a bad cycling accident in Belgium. However, a broken engine on stage six ended the event for them.

Sacha Kakad and James Aldridge ended their event when they rolled their Fiesta R5 on stage four.

Another Ross-on-Wye resident Tim Phelps, with Elwyn Manuel alongside, went OTL in their Escort RS.

Graham Waite and Gill Cotton retired the Toyota Corolla with brake issues on stage six.

Matt Edwards and Darren Garrod continued their domination of British rallying with yet another victory in the Swift Group and M-Sport Fiesta R5 by taking victory by 58 seconds.