THE third round of the 2015 MSA British Historic Rally Championship saw competitors converge on Carlisle last Saturday where the various classes tackled the route around the western fringes of Kielder forest.

Leading the way in the National A category was the Ford Escort Mk2 of Ripon driver Matthew Robinson and co-driver Sam Collis who claimed second overall and second in class after a spirited drive to maintain their title aspirations.

York’s Warren Philliskirk and Thirsk co-driver Nigel Hutchinson brought their Ford Escort RS1600 home to 11th overall and they too claimed second overall whilst Thirlby driver Terry Cree and Boltby co-driver Richard Shores claimed third in class and 37th overall in their BMW2000Ti.

Morton on Swale driver Charlie Taylor and co-driver Kirkbymoorside co-driver Alan Ward took fourth overall and second in class in the National B Historic class in the Ford Escort Mk 2 they were sharing whilst in the modern class, Teessider Peter Stephenson and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress claimed third overall and second in class.

Sadly for Lealholm’s Nick Cook and Castleton co-driver Jemma Champion, they slid off the road in their Ford Escort Mk1 on SS4 and were forced to retire as a result.

HUTTON RUDBY’S Ian and Stephen Woodhouse took maximum advantage of a problem for long term leader Tom Morris on the final stage to wrest victory in their 2.5 litre Ford Escort on last weekend’s Horiba D’Isis Stages Rally held at the MIRA proving ground near Nuneaton.

However, the event wasn’t kind to the Crakehall pairing of Andrew and Dan Auld who were out in their Peugeot 205. A snapped drive shaft on the opening stage meant they had to rejoin in the Trophy Rally later in the day but a similar problem forced them out for good on SS7.

Up in Scotland, Witton Gilbert driver Ed Todd and co-driver Andy Brown took their GTM Coupe to a fine sixth place overall on the DCC Stages Rally held at Ingliston near Edinburgh but sadly for Pickhill’s Bruce Lindsay, the Ford Focus he was sharing with Michael Farmer retired.

MIDDLESBROUGH’S Daniel and Paul Gibson dominated proceedings at their local Croft Circuit last weekend where they were in action in the BARC Clubman’s Cup.

The first race of the day saw Daniel get the better of his father Paul in their respective Nemesis K11 Proto cars where the winning margin was 9.2 seconds after ten laps of the North Yorkshire track.

The second out saw bragging rights restored by Paul who took the victory over his son by just 4.5 seconds after the 12 lap race.

AFTER the Redcar Bears scored a convincing win over Scunthorpe Scorpions the previous week, they had their first league match of the season against the Peterborough Panthers. The Panthers won the first four heats and shot into a ten point lead but heat five saw the Bears score a 5-1 courtesy of captain Stuart Robson, who had just returned from injury, and Hugh Skidmore. Lasse Bjerre and Jan Graversen won the next heats for the Bears which narrowed the Panthers lead to just four points.

The Panthers scored 5-1 victories in hears seven and eight to increase their lead back up to 12 points. In heat 9 Stuart Robson wore the tactical black and white helmet, which scored double points for his win, with Hugh Skidmore in second once again. The score line was now Bears 26 Panthers 31 meaning a tight finish looked on the cards but the Panthers won the next four heats and held a commanding lead of 32-49. In heat 14 Hugh Skidmore had a fall and dislocated his shoulder which caused a delay and as the 10.00pm curfew neared, the final heat was abandoned and the result stood.

The following night saw the Bears racing at Scunthorpe, without the injured Hugh Skidmore and Stuart Robson, who was riding for his Elite League team, Coventry. The Bears, however, did use guest Thomas Jorgenson who scored 12 points. The Scorpions were leading going into the last heat whereby their rider Josh Auty and Bears’ Lasse Bjerre were riding side by side right out by the fence. There was some apparent contact which caused Auty to fall but the referee deemed it fair which let the Bears win with a 4-2 and take the match 45-44.

Sunday night rounded out a busy few days for the Bears who were in action against Newcastle Diamonds. The Bears were again without Hugh Skidmore and suffered a narrow defeat going down 48-41.