LOCAL competitors were scattered far and wide for a number of rallies last week and once again, a mixture of success and frustration greeted the crews in their bids for glory.

Heading north to the Hytorc Stages Rally at Ingliston, near Edinburgh, were Consett’s Barry Renwick and Newcastle co-driver Ken Bills in their Ford Escort Mk II, while Ingleton teenager Matt Thompson was making his debut in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX he was sharing with codriver Paul McGuire.

Renwick put in an excellent performance to claim a fine fourth place overall and third in class after the eight stages around the Royal Highland Showground, but for 17-yearold Thompson, his rally ended in disappointment when transmission problems forced him out after the opening stage.

The Epynt ranges of mid- Wales saw a number of leading tarmac crews in action for the opening round of the 2010 MSA Asphalt Championship and it was the Gateshead pairing of Andy Fenwick and Lee Tindall who came away with a terrific class win on their way to fourth place overall in their Subaru WRC. Marton’s Geoff Glover and co-driver Keith Barker claimed 27th place overall and seventh in class in their Vauxhall Astra for good measure to make the long trip south worthwhile.

Meanwhile, at the Three Sisters racetrack near Wigan, Catterick’s Martyn Tinker was continuing his good form since returning to rallying and, along with co-driver Ian Jones, took their Lotus Exige to third place overall as they missed out on the win by 15 seconds.

THE Guisborough-based Swan Honda British Superbike Championship team completed their final Spanish pre-season test at Guadix last weekend and are feeling positive ahead of their next test at Cadwell Park on Wednesday.

On the final day at Guadix, Kendal’s James Ellison and Hawick rider Stuart Easton targeted longer stints on track as the team’s hard work over the week paid off with both riders improving their lap times on the final day.

JEDBURGH plays host to the annual Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally tomorrow as crews tackle the infamous stages of Kielder Forest, and a number of local crews will be in action.

Hamsterley driver Stephen Petch, along with Northallerton co-driver John Richardson, will be tackling their fourth event in six weeks when they compete in their SGP Motorsport-prepared Hyundai Accent WRC in the main event, while former Birkby residents Carl and Rob Tuer, who now have a business in the Borders region, will be hoping for a good result in the Clubmans section in their MGZR.

Another pair who deserve of a good result after a wretched run of luck is Thirsk’s Amanda and Derek Cornforth who will contest the Clubmans event in their Ford Ka.

There is more rally action in the region on Sunday when Trackrod Motor Club organise the Lookout Stages which takes place at Melbourne airfield, near York.

TEESSIDE Motor Sport Group, in association with Stockton DMC, has announced the Tour of Hamsterley will run on Sunday, May 9 and will once again use both Hamsterley and Stang forests.

Further information is available at www.tourofhamsterley.co.uk.