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Raymond Munro/Neil Ewing pipped Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry by 2
seconds to win the BCR2003 and add to his Snowman win in round 2
of the New Pig Scottish Rally Championship in the Kielder stages
on Saturday 22nd March. The event however was overshadowed by
the tragic death of Roy Herron, co driver to Alan Doncaster,
following an accident on stage 5.
Munro/Ewing, Johnson/Merry, Jon Burn/Stan Quirk and Dave Wesson,
co driven with HBCC member Dave Robson, were all on 5m06s
through stage 1, which subsequently was cancelled
following Andrew Wood's, and Andy Kelly's off at the same spot
as the course car. Munro and Johnson continued neck and neck
into stage 2 Pundershaw, on 14m32s each. Weston/Robson
Kept up the pace in 3rd spot, 11secs behind the leaders. Jon
Burn slipped well down the league table to eventually retire on
stage 4.
Stage 3, Plashetts saw Munro ease away by only
1 second from Johnson, with Weston still close behind, whilst
stage 4, Buck Fell had Johnson on a stormer to take the lead by
9 seconds over Munro. All change on stage 5, Dodd, as Johnson
reduced Munro's lead to 7 seconds. Stage 6 and the see saw
reversed once again to give Munro the lead by that 2 seconds.
Weston/Robson secured 3rd place.
Other HBCC members included Brick and Steel
sponsor John McClory and David Hood in their Honda Civic, who
were forced to retire in stage 3 when 3rd in class. Ian Rettie,
co driving in Steve Bannister's Subaru taking 10th overall, and
2nd in class. Ian Baumgart and
Gail Hislop in the Impreza, took 16th overall, 4th in class. Niki Cleland
and Steven Clark in a Ford Ka, secured 2nd in class, and Ian and Alistair Maxwell in the Astra, 92nd
overall and 7th in class.
All photographs courtesy
Digitalpic
The event however was overshadowed by the
tragic death of Roy Herron (50), co-driver to Alan Doncaster,
following an accident in stage 5 in their Peugeot 206. Roy was
well known as both competitor and scrutineer. His son Roger was
running as co-driver to Brian Bell in his Ford Focus, securing
8th overall running Car 8 in class 8, seventh in class.
HBCC and Whickham car club committee's and
members all extend their most heart felt sympathies at this time
to Roy's family.
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130 entries made
this the biggest BCR event so far. Once again the spring
sunshine welcomed competitors and spectators for the 6 stager
45 mile event.
Andrew Wood "off road"
A mixture of surfaces tested the crews, from the baked
gravel and sand on the sections open to over a week of spring
sunshine, to the slippy sand in between the trees where the
sun could not reach.
Dave Weston/Dave Robson
Ian Baumgart/Gail Hislop
Niki Cleland/Steven Clark
Competitors and organisers were shocked to hear of the loss of
well known rallying friend and scrutineer, Roy Herron.
As a mark of respect the
presentation ceremony was cancelled.
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