First time pairing, Mark Griffiths and Matt Rogers, took top local honours at last weekend’s Woodpecker Stages in the Griffiths Engineering Escort RS, taking 17th overall & 2nd in class.

The extremely popular BTRDA/Welsh championship event attracted a full 160 car entry to its Ludlow Racecourse base, for 42 miles of competition in the surrounding forests, plus a trip across to the fast Radnor Forest.

Heavy rain made conditions extremely treacherous.

For Griffiths and Rogers, who were back after a considerable lay off, a steady run through the notorious opening Bringewood test, was followed by a misting screen all the way through nine miles of Haye Park, causing them to lose 15 seconds to their class rivals.

A steady run through the next loop saw them arrive back in service still 2nd in class.

But a repeat of the morning’s opening two tests saw Griffiths have a bid push, although he was on old tyres, they missed the class win by just two seconds.

Ross-on-Wye’s Paul Gunter, together with Jack Walby on the notes, in the BG Landrover Escort RS, on only his second outing this year, had a trouble free run to 42nd overall, and 6th Historic car home. This was despite a slight off on stage 5, and hitting a chicane in the final test denting the co-drivers door.

Charles Hopkinson, who had Colin Jenkins alongside, in their Escort RS got useful miles under their belt, taking 82nd overall/9th in class.

Spencer Price / Chris Hands finished 94th overall/15th in class in the TPS Gates backed Landrover Discovery, despite having to stop at every opportunity to top up a leaking radiator up with water.

Sadly for both Bob Morgan/Ade Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda Fabia, and James Dunkley/Dan Evans Vauxhall Corsa, both succumbed on stage one; the former slid off on a notoriously slippery corner, with the latter breaking a stub axle.

The event was won by Northern duo Steve Petch/Michael Wilkinson in the WD40 backed Ford Fiesta R5.