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A Novice Trial 2019 - Competition day

At 9 am on Sunday 12th May, 16 crews left the Lion Quays Hotel and Spa in Oswestry and put their new found skills from the HERO Training Academy into practise.

A Novice Trial 2019 - Competition day
Welcome To The World Of Regularity RallyingThe day started with a short run out to the first Regularity of the morning where there were three Timing Points to visit. Robert and Julie Clifton and their Saab 96 V4 were off to a great start, dropping only 4 seconds and being the most accurate out of all the crews to match the ideal times for the first Regularity. They were closely followed by Duncan and Kay Hopkinson in the MG C GT who dropped five seconds and then Malcolm Dunderdale and Anita Wickins in the Mercedes 190E 16V who dropped eight seconds.

After the first Regularity, crews took to Rednal Kart Track for two Tests. Also used on last year's RAC Rally Of The Tests, Rednal Kart track would allow crews a chance to really stretch their cars legs. A lap of the track for the first Test and another lap plus a gravel section for the second. It was the Porsche 911 of Robert Clarke and Clara Stone that were victorious in the first, with a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds, two seconds ahead of joint 2nd and 3rd place, Chris and Jen Woodhead and Roger Fildes and Dave Stocking. The Mercedes Benz 190E of Malcolm Dunderdale and Anita Wickins claimed the win for the second test and posted a time of 1 minute and 40 seconds, a second ahead of Robert Clarke and Clara Stone in the 911 Targa and five seconds ahead of Timothy and Melanie Green in the Austin Mini.

After the two Tests at Rednal, competitors went on to tackle another Regularity before a welcome coffee halt at The Green Inn. Malcolm Dunderdale and Anita Wickens were at the top spot here dropping only 21 seconds, 13 seconds less than the rest of the field.

Results at lunch showed that Malcolm and Anita were leading by an impressive 39 seconds. Duncan and Kay Hopkinson were sitting in second place and Robert and Julie Clifton were in third.

After coffee, the 16 crews would tackle a further two Regularities as they made their back towards the main Time Control at the Lion Quays hotel. Regularity three would see the competitors take on some incredible welsh lanes that are often used on night events. Duncan and Kay Hopkinson would be the most accurate here, closely followed by Chris and Lynette Whitby and then Peter and Clemency Upton.

The final Regularity of the day was map based and was dominated by the number 5 crew of Roger Fildes and Dave Stocking in the MG B. Experience in road rallying possibly giving them an advantage here, but still remaining as novices in the world of Regularity rallying.

All 16 crews made it back to the Lion Quays hotel and enjoyed a well-deserved lunch. Stories of wrong slots, drivers not listening, and navigators spending more time looking at the countryside than at the instructions could be overheard, but everybody was smiling and congratulating the other competitors for finishing the event.

To view the full list of final overall results - CLICK HERE

Photos by Will Broadhead

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