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: Karl Hancocks & Byron Jones
Route: 146 Miles
Maps: 161 & 171
Starters: 75
Winners: Gary Jones/Iestyn ap Daffydd (Toyota Corolla)
For the second year in succession Gareth Jones/Iestyn ap Daffydd won their local event, Blackwood MC's Malky Road Rally. The torrential rain and gales that hit South East Wales during the day preceding the rally, and that continued throughout the night, made life difficult for both competitors and marshals. Despite this only half a mile of the 149 mile route had to be cancelled.
Of the total distance, 104 miles was competitive. This was split into 5 standard and 4 regularity sections. There were fails for errors at time controls, but 10 minute penalties for mistakes at Passage Controls and Route Checks.
The course car duties were taken by Ron Beecroft driving is famous Escort RS2000 'Virginia'.
Dennis Quinn/Andrew Thomson were attempting to secure both the West Midlands and Welsh Championships on the night. They were holding a comfortable second place late in the event, when they picked up a fail for a wrong depart at a time control. This dropped them to 19th place at the Finish and, with dropped scores, failed to add to their Welsh total.
However the misfortunes of their main rivals meant that this result was still sufficent for them to secure the West Midlands Championship with two round to spare. In contrast, the fight for the Welsh Championship would continue as their closest challengers, Geraint Davies/Sarah Gluyas, came home in fifth place.
Jones/ap Daffydd were in a league of their own, leading from the first section and coming home exactly four minutes ahead of the field. However, the tightness of the route, meant that they still dropped time on seven sections. Chris Evans/Nigel Nelson in a Ford Escort took the runner up spot.
Welsh Stage Tarmac Championship regular, Owain Beaman, took to the lanes for the Malky and, navigated by Rob Richardson, secured third place. Fellow Tarmac contender Damien Cole, who had Tim Gluyas on the maps, had less luck; he broke the differential on his Escort early in the rally.
Mynydd Ddu winners Neil Griffiths/Carl Williamson were another crew to come to grief early on. Their Escort got stuck on a muddy track. After a delay, they managed to get going again and finished in 12th place.
Peter Zjalic/Richard Preece lost their West Midlands and Welsh title hopes when they went out after drowning out in one of the many rather large puddles along the route. Ironically, given the conditions, Steve Durbin/John Surridge retired when their Cavalier lost all its water after a hose broke.
The leading Semi-Experts, Clive Baylis/Roger Holder, were ninth in their Manta, while the Novice Class was won by the Escort of Len Giles/Steve Roderick.
TOP TEN RESULTS
Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
1 | Gary Jones | Iestyn ap Dafydd | Toyota Corolla | 8m 16s | |
2 | Chris Evans | Nigel Nelson | Ford Escort | 12m 16s | |
3 | Owain Beaman | Rob Richardson | Peugeot 205 GTi | 12m 39s | |
4 | Andy Sheppard | Mike Hart | Ford Escort | 15m 32s | |
5 | Geraint Davies | Sarah Gluyas | Toyota Corolla | 18m 18s | |
6 | Toby Adam | Mark Robinson | Ford Escort | 20m 39s | |
7 | Phil Stroud | Andrew Card | Peugeot 205 GTi | 24m 05s | |
8 | Martin Evans | Ceri Davies | Nissan Micra | 27m 55s | |
9 | Clive Baylis | Roger Holder | Opel Manta | 29m 08s | |
10 | Pete Cotton | Dave Pitchford | Ford Escort | 38m 57s |