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Mel Harries Memorial Rally 2003
Sponsored by Marc's Motors & Sons
Ammanford Motor Club
28th/29th June 2003
Clerk of the Course: Huw Mathias
Route: 125 Miles
Maps: 146 159 & 160
Starters: 75
Winners: Martyn O’Connor/Peter Collins (Vauxhall Astra)
Martyn O’Connor/Peter Collins took victory by the narrowest of margins on Ammanford MC’s Mel Harries Memorial Rally. They finished the event with just twenty-five seconds penalty, this was equalled by John ‘Mk1’ Thomas/Patrick Walsh – the two crews having to be seperated by the furthest clean principal.
Both crews dropped twenty-two seconds at ITC5, but Thomas/Walsh were one second slower than O’Connor/Collins at the next control. Thomas/Walsh achieved this result despite damaging the steering after hitting a rock on an early section, and then struggling with clutch problems in the second half.
The rally had a 125 route which used the lanes to the west and north of the organising clubs home town. Despite being a non-championship event there was a capacity seventy-five car entry.
The organisers had planned that the deciding sections would be at the very end of the event, in lanes and tracks to the east of Llandybie. Unfortunately the two vital time controls had been cancelled. Firstly, ITC15 was lost after Car 1, Ceri Richards/Aled Jones, drowned out in a ford and made the correct route impassible. Then a PR objector blocked the track to ITC16.
Gary Jones/Andy Oakes had a clear run to third, while Gordon Thomas/Carl Williamson were delayed by a puncture on a vital section, but recovered to take fourth. Nigel Nelson, navigated by Iestyn ap Daffydd, made a rare outing in the driver’s seat and was rewarded with fifth overall.
Top seeds Ceri Richards/Aled Richards had a miserable rally, losing four minutes in the first half due to a puncture and then getting stuck in the ford in the second. They finished in 16th place.
Dan Holley/Steve Herbert dominated the Semi-Expert class coming home in seventh place overall, well ahead of their nearest rivals. Chris Williams/Brian Thomas were even clearer winners of the Novice class, finishing ten minutes ahead of second in class.
Elgan Jones/Byron Jones (Vauxhall Astra) lost over a minute with a wrong slot and, in such a tight contest, this meant that they finished in 12th place.
There was a big 'moment' for Mike James/Richard Evans (Vauxhall Astra) when they landed heavily after an unespected yump. They lost a wheel and the back window.
OVERALL POSITIONS
| Pos | Driver | Navigator | Car | Penalty | |
| 1 | Martyn O'Connor | Peter Collins | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 0m 25s | |
| 2 | John 'Mk1' Thomas | Patrick Walsh | Ford Escort | 0m 25s | |
| 3 | Gary Jones | Andy Oakes | Toyota Corolla | 0m 44s | |
| 4 | Gordon Thomas | Carl Williamson | Ford Escort | 0m 54s | |
| 5 | Nigel Nelson | Iestyn ap Dafydd | Vauxhall Astra | 1m 13s | |
| 6 | Robert Wilson | Dylan Jenkins | Peugeot 205 GTi | 1m 15s | |
| 7 | Dan Holley | Steve Herbert | Ford Escort RS | 1m 16s | |
| 8 | Alyson Acreman | Matthew Maidment | Honda Civic | 1m 46s | |
| 9 | Gareth Harries | Dalis Ifans | Honda Civic | 2m 01s | |
| 10 | Richard James | Eurig Davies | Vauxhall Astra | 2m 03s | |
| 11 | Mark James | Rob Duke | Ford Sierra 4x4 | 2m 08s | |
| 12 | Elgan Jones | Byron Jones | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 2m 21s | |
| 13 | John Davies | Neil Bevan | Vauxhall Nova | 2m 28s | |
| 14 | Roy Thomas | Michelle Thomas | Peugeot 205 GTi | 4m 07s | |
| 15 | Neal James | Eurig Evans | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 4m 07s | |
| 16 | Ceri Richards | Aled Jones | Ford Escort | 4m 10s | |
| 17 | Andrew Thomas | Paul Morris | Peugeot 205 GTi | 4m 20s | |
| 18 | Darrell George | Arwel Thomas | Vauxhall Nova | 4m 29s | |
| 19 | Chris Williams | Brian Thomas | Peugeot 106 | 5m 45s | |
| 20 | David Wilmer | Mark Powell | Ford Escort | 6m 33s | |
| 21 | Alan James | Edwin Venville | Peugeot 205 GTi | 6m 58s | |
| 22 | Dafydd Walters | Ian Nicholls | Ford Escort Van | 8m 30s | |
| 23 | Bruce Charles | Stephen Jancziak | Ford Escort | 8m 37s | |
| 24 | Ceri Jones | Edrian Monk | Ford Escort | 9m 43s | |
| 25 | Mike James | Richard Evans | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 9m 52s | |
| 26 | Clive Davies | Trevor Davies | Toyota Corolla FWD | 10m 37s | |
| 27 | Mark Coleman | Christian Male | Ford Escort | 13m 20s | |
| 28 | Mark Reardon | Fiona Reardon | Vauxhall Corsa SRi | 13m 57s | |
| 29 | Aled Evans | Martin Richards | Vauxhall Nova | 15m 34s | |
| 30 | Peter Smith | Paul Seabourne | Ford Escort | 15m 56s | |
| 31 | Max Jones | Anthony Powell | Ford Capri | 18m 06s | |
| 32 | Barry John | Seyyan John | Ford Escort | 23m 38s | |
| 33 | Paul Davies | Steven Hicks | Vauxhall Nova GTE | 24m 38s | |
| 34 | Alun Cole | Euros Lloyd | Ford Escort Mexico | 28m 29s | |
| 35 | Robert Price | Lionel Plant | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 32m 14s | |
| 36 | Paul Roberts | Anthony Lemon | Vauxhall Astra | 33m 42s | |
| 37 | Simon Griffiths | Paul Jennings | Vauxhall Nova GTE | 46m 47s | |
| 38 | Sterling Jenkins | Wayne Owen | Vauxhall Nova | 49m 04s | |
| 39 | Ian Evans | Christopher Saunders | Vauxhall Astra SRi | 50m 40s | |
| 40 | Scot Gregory | Ben Murray | VW Golf | 61m 51s | |
| 41 | Alan Hands | Melanie Hands | Vauxhall Chevette | 1F 1m 23s | |
| 42 | Dyfrig Evans | Noel John | Peugeot 205 GTi | 1F 26m 06s | |
| 43 | Gareth Davies | Thomas Blair | Vauxhall Nova | 1F 38m 42s | |
| 44 | Paul Davies | Martin Curzon | Daihatsu Applause | 1F 67m 19s | |
| 45 | Jonathan Oliver | D Morris | Peugeot 309 GTi | 2F 16m 58s | |
| 46 | Robert Brown | Alexander Reilly | Peugeot 309 GTi | 2F 47m 19s | |
| 47 | Steven Price | Alan Roberts | Ford Escort | 3F 31m 51s | |
| 48 | Chris Lewis | Chris Williams | Vauxhall Astra GTE | 5F 33m 41s | |
| 49 | Jayson Francis | Roger Davies | Toyota Celica GT | 6F 33m 08s | |
| 50 | Howell Wyn Christie | Sandra Powell | Ford Escort | 33F 58m 11s |