A reminder and...

Summary of the 03/04 season.... 

Round One:  "Mynd over Matter 2"


 The long summer wait finally came to an end on Friday eve when a capacity (!) entry arrived ready to do battle through some of Shropshire's finest. After an hours rain in the afternoon, the lanes were already dry for the assembled mass to check out the S1 loop which started slightly E of Leebotwood. Across the A to All Stretton & a taster for the big loop took cars via Womerton to SF1 just next to the start venue. After handing in card one & collecting card two the meat was about to be tasted! S2 consisted of a run NW to the Smethcott Common, h/p right & Pease Lane tackled in the Southerly direction. Across Wilderley Hill & the finish of two at Stitt Farms.
The long final section commenced @ Leasowes & the most Northerly point at Wescott triangle. Crews now fell S all the way to the h/pin turn R onto Squilver. Confronted with a road closure it was apparent that two cattle grids were under replacement & a sneaky route through gates could be undertaken. S @ the Bog & the classic lanes again S to Linley Hill h/pin left allowed no time for navigator error en-route to Cold Hill & Bridges. Ratlinghope spelt only one thing… Mynd, the run taking everyone via Boiling Well to the section finish part way down Burway Hill.

Round Rwo: Friday October 10th. This is Chris & Andy's first taste of organizing an NE event. I'm pretty sure it will be a cracker. All detail enclosed. Please be aware that we plot in the car so get the internal light sorted…

Stop press…  The night after R1 the above gents came 1st o/a on Telford's Novice Road Rally. Not bad lads…

Forgot to mention time: Any crew that wins the class or comes 1st overall twice in succession this season will receive a free entry to the next round they enter! Just keeps getting better does it not!

Well, I really think we should be proud of ourselves. What a start to the season. Lets keep it going people.

 
O/A	Driver		Navigator		Vehicle       Class    Fail    Points
1st	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin		 Galaxy		E	0	135
2nd	Pete Bonds	Chrys Bonds		 Sante Fe	E	0	138
3rd	Anthony Ellis	Ian Jarman		 Vauxhall	E	0	159
4th 	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley		 Ford		E	0	186
5th	Karl Ellis	Dave Clayton		 Ford V6	E	0	205
6th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor/Miss Smith	 Metro		N	0	227
7th	Chris green	Andy Lawrence		 Ford		N	2	181
8th	Mozza		Vicki Price		 Nissan		E	2	238
9th	Simon Bentley	Philippa Bentley	 Mini		E	6	270
10th	Pete Beards	Elwyn "The Daddy" Manuel Shogun		E	6	276
11th	Rob O'Dowd	David O'Dowd		 Vauxhall	N	6	281
12th	Jane Taylor	Jon Taylor		 Landrover	E	7	240

Round Two:  "One Stipe Beyond"

        

With conditions once again a little unseasonable, a full entry, (some in shorts & flip flops!) gathered just W of Cressage all ready to plot in the car & eager to begin. With the hour came our route, and then trouble started for most. S1 disguised as a cunning code threw us into confusion right from the off. Clever ploy for our inaugural orgs… and it worked.

The route, a three-section affair, started immediately taking in the popular Evenwood dry ford, (are any wet after this summer?) and the first code board at Evenwood Common. Generally W thru Great Ryton we crossed the A49 to finish S1 just S of Stapleton. A not as map tulip section followed with a nice run taking in the Wilderley Hall triangle, down Cothercott to head N en-route to Minsterley and SF2. S3 started at Malehurst & we were now using new to NE lanes all the way to event end. Loops around Farley & Edge gave navs additional problems due to a serious lack of OS info in this weird area. It appears there are no streams, woods, houses etc, this, of course was excellent for the orgs. The finish venue near Cruckton presented us with a nice curry whilst our hosts sorted out the winners/losers.  


 Thanks again then to our three "new boys." Good job done.

Taking the win was indeed a bonus; they don't come to often just lately! Well done to the little Metro, this crew earning a free entry on R3 with two consecutive class wins so far.

Forgot to mention time…  Round Two 03/04 was Event No: Eighty for the anoraks amongst us. Well done all…

 

O/A	Driver		Navigator		Vehicle       Class   Fail    Points
1st	Karen Matthews	Phil/Simon M		Ford		E	1	057
2nd	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley		Ford		E	1	084
3rd	Jane Taylor 	Jon Taylor		Land Rover	E	1	092
4th 	H		Andy Rousell		Ford		E	2	083
5th	Karl Ellis	Dave Clayton		Ford V6		E	2	086
6th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor/Miss Smith	Metro		N	2	109
7th	Julie Darkin	Nick Darkin		Galaxy		E	3	075
8th	Nick Nicolaou	Dave Millard		Peugeot		N	3	108
9th	Richard Roberts	Ian Jarman		Volkswagen	E	3	109
10th	Simon Bentley	Philippa Bentley	Mini		E	3	113
11th	Rob O'Dowd	David O'Dowd		Vauxhall	N	4	120
12th	Pete Bonds	Chrys Bonds		Mazda		E	4	180

Round Three:  "Halloween Nightmare 2"

                       

I enjoy the events that are aptly named! Whilst not quite as warm as R2, car interior temperatures would soon rise after the first of 143 sheets of info were handed out. What an amazing concoction we found ourselves presented with, and I don't just mean the chocolates!
The route, a five-section job, immediately gave us a challenge in S1 by encompassing squares within rectangles. Pass us another choc Kaz. Up for a tour of the 1/2penny green triangles & unique to R3, we could cross, join, double back & traverse just about whatever we wished. It was good stuff, and few crews arrived back @ event HQ with the correct c/boards. S2 sent us SW via Four Ashes to a freeze chilled Dave C waiting with additional (!) route info just W of the Sheepwalks. This was the start of sting no12 whereby all crews fell foul, (again) of the simple but v effective: "use as little A road as poss rule". Crossing the A @ Fenn Green was ok but even less A was lurking 2 junctions S in Sq7782. Damn. Up through Alveley, Coton, a loop through Kingsnordley to sting 56. Less A road this time by dropping through Broadlanes & Wooton en-route to 5ways than driving the direct route from Tuckhill to 5ways direct! By now some of us were on the limiter via Beobridge, Draycott, Long Common & Siesdon to reach the haven of beer in Wombourne & the final control.
It is natural to be disappointed at the end of competition if all has not gone well. Stick with us chaps even if the points are not flowing yet. They will.

Surprised-r-us was the winning crew, Anth/Ian. Their 13th NE win. A triple class win for the Taylor crew with 2nd o/a, class act. Anyone fancy betting against a career first win on R4? 

Thanks Dave. Thanks Paul. Another full entry makes me very proud. 


O/A	Driver		 Navigator		Vehicle       Class   Fail    Points
1st	Anthony Ellis	 Ian Jarman		Vauxhall	E	4	121
2nd	Matt Taylor	 Ben Taylor/Miss Smith	Metro		N	4	145
3rd	Philippa Bentley Simon Bentley		Mini		E	4	149
4th 	Dave Hartill	 Karl Ellis		Mondeo V6	E	4	163
5th	Simon Roberts	 Richard Smalley	Ford		E	4	169
6th	Karen Matthews   Phil Matthews		Ford		E	5	139
7th	Rob O'Dowd	 David O'Dowd		Audi		N	5	161
8th	Tony Green	 Andy Lawrence		Peugeot		N	5	167
9th	Jane Taylor	 Jon Taylor		L/Rover		E	5	168
10th	Pete Beards	 Elwyn Manuel		Toyota		E	6	209
11th	Dave Thompson	 Chris Thompson		R/Rover		N	6	250
12th	Nick Nicolaou	 Dave Millard		Vauxhall	N	8	223

Round Four:   "The Bone Collector"

Chillington...
The route, consisting of four sections, back to the venue for score card 2, and a further two sections which formed the final long loop. After a herringbone route through Calf Heath & Saredon crews were treated to a journey around the South of Cannock Chase taking in the long Mansty Lane and the inevitable double code boards. Sect 4 started adjacent to Horsemoor Wood, looped around Fullmoor, over the vicious yump in Sq 9312, to finish along the narrow Y near Boscomoor.
SS5 took crews N of Brewood & W along the Shutt Green yellow where many had problems plotting the CB. A sneaky trip around Bishops Wood then S to begin final section starting @ Codsall Wood. Longest route allowed competitors to sample Gunstone, the Chillington (!) loop, Park Lane and on through a final twist around Crateford.

Bunch/Clayton led handsomely @ halfway but a determined chappie from Knighton put it all together to give Mr Beards & himself a good win. Good form from Chris & Andy netted 4th with a class win whilst the class leaders had a night to forget, allowing even the Snr Tayor's to beat them!
So Richard & Simon wrestle the Challenge lead back into their court. After ten seasons then, is this the one?

  Never lose the plot...  

Fils Fact File:  Not wanting to harp on such matters but for those of you interested; Without my knowledge whilst planning the route, I was later to learn the terrible truth that had shrouded the area known as  Mansty Lane (SS3) and specifically within meters of where the two Code boards had been sited!  
 

O/A	Driver		Navigator		Vehicle       Class   Fail     Points
1st	Pete Beards	 Elwyn Manuel		Mitsubishi	E	0	097
2nd	Paul Bunch	 David Clayton		Quattro		E	0	102
3rd	Simon Roberts	 Richard Smalley	Ford		E	0	102
4th 	Chris Green	 Andy Lawrence		VW		N	0	108
5th	Anthony Ellis	 Ian Jarman		Vauxhall	E	0	116
6th	Philippa Bentley Simon Bentley		Mini		E	1	111
7th	Jane Taylor	 Jon Taylor		L/Rover		E	1	124
8th	Dave Hartill	 Karl Ellis		Vauxhall	E	1	132
9th	Julie Darkin 	 Nick Darkin		Ford		E	1	147
10th	Karen Matthews	 Simon Matthews		Ford		E	1	150
11th	Nick Nicolaou	 Dave Millard		Vauxhall	N	1	154
12th	Phil Sleigh	 Paul Sleigh/Tim Stone	VW		N	1	165

Round Five:   "A Mere 40+"

Chocolat...  

It was always going to be a tough night, so with a couple of crews non starting due to plotting problems, ten cars ventured into the unfamiliar lanes flowing N as far as Eccleshall & Walk Mill.  
Four sections then, the first starting just W of Great Chatwell, flowing N via the hpleft @ Moreton and on to finish near the A519.  

Sect 2 motioned crews the "don’t cut" way round Grub Street triangles and on thru Tunstall to an awkward loop around Bishops Offley. Finishing 2 near Eccleshall the eagerly awaited pace notes began @ Four Lanes End. All crews relished this section it also allowing us to drop south to the sect end near Ellenhall. By now a light fog was appearing so the navs job took on a new meaning! The clever final section asked us to stay as close to the Roman Road as poss which caused a few probs but generally, having negotiated sq8014 we all made the finish & tucked into the home made black pudding!

 Very pleased to see the O'Dowd bros take the class win whilst the class rival Taylor bros crew need to pick it up going into the final four rounds. One fail in it then, but after such a brainteaser we all deserve a pat. Once again the orgs worked very hard and managed to almost outfox us all! Well done.

Round Six: Friday Jan 10th … OS 137, details included. Jane & Jon Taylor have found a cave for us…  under the Mynd…

old stagers...    No way to treat a Roamer...

  orgs...     Class win... sorted...
 

O/A	Driver			Navigator		Vehicle       Class   Fail    Points
1st	Karen Matthews		Phil Matthews		Ford		E	3	129
2nd	Julie Darkin 		Nick Darkin		Ford		E	4	106
3rd	Philippa Bentley	Simon Bentley		Mini		E	4	154
4th 	Rob O'Dowd		Dave O'Dowd		Audi		N	5	128
5th	Anthony Ellis		Ian Jarman		Vauxhall	E	5	154
6th	Dave Hartill		Karl Ellis		Vauxhall	E	6	148
7th	Matt Taylor		Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro		N	6	194
8th	Chris Green		Andy Lawrence		Ford		N	8	194
9th	Phil Sleigh		Paul Sleigh		VW		N	10	229
10th	Frank Evans		Russ Evans		Ford		N	11	250

Round Six:  "Onny Trail"

    

When the intrepid Bonds duo slithered to a halt, the Hyundai axle deep in the mud, we should have realised it was to be a crackin night in the lanes. And this was just the start venue!

45 minutes later and we set off on the first of four sections starting just prior to Mynd Town. An approach from N, SH 234 in SQ3895 caught a few, then a link to Norbury, Walkmill & Linley saw a few crews travel way up to The Bog without reason! The famous triangle in 3495 fooling a few. Nice lanes anyway! Start of two just E of Cefn Gunthly allowed us to drop S to Hyssington then came the Moreswood yellow. Serious mud & an even more serious junction at the section end catching more nav's out. 1 fail, thank you v much…

S3 turned out to be pretty cleanable taking in More en-route to Hardwick & the sect fin. Final section then, dropping S through Eyton then up & over Lynchgate. A small loop to app Round Oak from south directed crew's to the final run down to Cheney Longville. This lane, the sq left over brow in 4085, almost caught out your scribe after calling it just a bit late (!) and Miss Karen made a crackin job of keeping the wings intact! Back to Corfton then, where our Taylor's had it all under control as usual. 

Another full entry then, bit norm now really - but nice. Good result by the old duo, as Anth said… "Nav was on it 2nite."    Just as impressive was the "H" & Andy car, started late, as they do and popped back with second spot. Class win for the young-one's, this probably cementing the class. But it's got to dry yet…

O/A	Driver		 Navigator		Vehicle       Class   Fail     Points
1st	Anthony Ellis	 Ian Jarman		Vauxhall	E	0	068
2nd	"H"		 Andy Rousell		Ford		E	0	083
3rd	Matt Taylor	 Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro		N	0	103
4th 	Julie Darkin 	 Nick Darkin		Ford		E	1	123
5th	Karen Matthews	 Phil Matthews		Ford		E	1	132
6th	Philippa Bentley Simon Bentley		Mini		E	2	109
7th	Dave Hartill	 Karl Ellis		Vauxhall	E	2	136
8th	Rob O'Dowd	 Dave O'Dowd		Audi		N	2	149
9th	Pete Beards	 Elwyn Manuel		Shogun		E	3	116
10th	Simon Roberts	 Richard Smalley	Ford		E	3	123
11th	Chris Green	 Andy Lawrence		Ford		N	3	140
12th	Nic Nicolaou	 David Millard		Vauxhall	N	6	196

Round Seven:   "Revenge"
    9th o/a...

The thing is, we tend to forget our roots. Way back, Karl & Dick Lee Esq. joined forces & became regulars to NE. Way back. Every one has to have a minute, sort the business out sort of thing. So it's no surprise that a few crews' go "missing" and then return. Mr Hartill has filled a gap & our Karl really has made a great effort this season. It paid off on Round Seven, and some. Sorry but I was genuinely happy for this crew. Dick was just as happy I'm sure…

 So, after fighting our way into event control (full entry just for a change!) the route found it's way onto an OS map with just a little help from The Basic Roamer, (sorry!) Three sections starting with a longest route in the rectangle type job that took us from Pedlars Rest up to Hope Dale then S to the sneaky one, Shawbank via Bache to Norton. Conditions were pretty muddy, just how we like them apparently! End of section was situated near the racecourse and a cleverly placed CB caused a few probs just next to the Onny/Railway/road! S2 started near Whittytree, this forced us W to Clungunford then back across the cracking Goat Hill/Aldon/Weo Farm complex. Roman Rd up to Cheney & section 2 finish allowed crew's to travel through Craven Arms for S3. This treated us to a crack at the reasonably deep ford near Strefford (we waited for a green Audi to lead the way!) Wolverton & Burwood completed a great but mucky night. Results appeared in sensible time and the pizza was washed down with plenty of local ale. Very well done Mr. Corin, and the lovely lady.  

Good one for the Green/Lawrence entry, more of that please. Ian J still holds the lead but, having studied the dropped score situation a bit, My Mrs. & I have half a chance here. Better get the Grale out…
 

O/A	Driver		  Navigator			Vehicle       Class   Fail    Points
1st	Dave Hartill	  Karl Ellis			Vauxhall 	E	0	048
2nd	Karen Matthews	  Phil & Jess Matthews		Ford	 	E	0	055
3rd	Chris Green	  Andy Lawrence/Anthony Green	Ford		N	0	066
4th 	Paul Bunch	  Dave Clayton/Richard Edwards	Trike		E	0	072
5th	Julie Darkin 	  Nick Darkin			Ford		E	1	035
6th	Anthony Ellis	  Ian Jarman			Vauxhall	E	1	061
7th	Philippa Bentley  Simon Bentley			Mini		E	1	105
8th	Matt Taylor	  Ben Taylor/Emma Smith		Metro		N	1	114
9th	Bob Ward	  Sophie Ward/Malcolm Poole	Renault		N	1	133
10th	Simon Roberts	  Richard Smalley		Ford		E	2	065
11th	Nic Nicolaou	  David Millard			Vauxhall	N	2	085
12th	Pete Beards	  Elwyn Manuel			Shogun "Dakar"	E	2	091
 

Round Eight:  "Chilly Challenge"

  Audi doo-dee...        All right flower... 

Simple but effective summed it up. A full entry descended on the small Quatford village where we plotted a deceptively simple route split into three sections. First loop bringing crews back to the control room, thus allowing the scoring process to begin in good time.
A Southerly route used reasonably familiar lanes starting W of Alveley, linking down through Bellmans Cross & the classics up along Hightrees, Sheepwalks & Coxgreen. Exiting Sq 7886 N forced us to Kingsnordley with the difficult CB on the Wooton/Quatt road preceding SF1. A quick visit home allowed us to pick up card 2 then N via the Danesford yellow before cutting across to Bromley & Catstree. The clever use of the county boundary in Sq 7899 saw crews travel S to Hilton & a finish on the notorious Barnsley straight. The sting arrived in S3 when orgs expected us to fall for a simple black spot forcing us around the Morfevalley lanes & back to finish via Mose. In reality we only needed to travel up the Stanmore straight, then turning down the Quatford Wood House lane!

Just when it mattered then, Roberts/Smalley thrashed us all, extremely well done to our KMCC visitors on a podium finish & class win. Career high for Bishop/Soame, great stuff. Thank you all and thanks to our Darkin family, good job. 

Karen & I have certainly made life difficult for ourselves on round nine. Only a top two place can now clinch the Challenge for us . Try our best & leave the rest as they say. Below shows just how close the situation is.The notional underlined scores show Roberts/Smalley winning R9 with Matthews/Matthews coming third. Check out the count back!
The Novice class is almost sewn up by our intrepid Taylor bros… sort it out chaps. 

=

1

st

 

Ian Jarman

E

20

6

30

14

16

30

12

25

0

45

180

=

1

st

 

Karen Matthews

E

0

30

12

4

30

14

25

16

20

45

180

=

1

st

 

Phil Matthews

E

0

30

12

0

30

14

25

16

20

45

180

=

2

nd

 

Anthony Ellis

E

20

 

30

14

16

30

12

25

0

40

175

=

2

nd

 

Simon Roberts

E

16

25

14

20

 

4

4

30

30

40

175

=

2

nd

 

Richard Smalley

E

16

25

14

20

 

4

4

30

30

40

175 

 
O/A	Driver		Navigator		 Vehicle      Class   Fail    Points

1st	Simon Roberts	Richard Smalley		  Ford		E	0	032
2nd	Anthony Ellis	Ian Jarman		  Vauxhall	E	0	040
3rd	Frank Evans	Russ Evans		  VW		N	0	051
4th 	Karen Matthews	Phil Matthews		  Ford		E	0	052
5th	Paul Bunch	Dave Clayton		  Popular	E	0	076
6th	Rob O,Dowd	Dave O,Dowd		  Audi		N	0	105
7th	Tony Bishop	Richard Soame		  Honda		N	0	118
8th	Dave Hartill	Karl Ellis		  Vauxhall	E	1	053
9th	Matt Taylor	Ben Taylor		  Metro		N	1	124
10th	Nic Nicolaou	David Millard		  Vauxhall	N	1	132
11th	Anthony Green	Andy Lawrence		  Peugeot	N	2	100
12th	Bob Ward	Sophie Ward/Malcolm Poole Renault	N	2	180
 
Round Nine: Friday 12th March… The Final round is here again, interesting start venue, even 
more interesting finish venue. We don't know where it is! The Jarman an Ellis combo will do us proud no doubt.

Round Nine:   "Over the Edge..."

Conditions.. reasonable! Numero Uno to you my boy...

Ten seasons, how many of us thought that one whole decade on we would enjoy, probably, our most successful challenge thus far. Certainly, it has been the "most attended." Pat on our back's time once more I suggest!

The orgs certainly had a few scares early on when the rare white stuff descended big time. But, incredibly, temperatures   increased & the event ran faultlessly on the eve, although visibility was slightly below average for the entire 60kms! 
Thank you then to Kate, Ian & Anth. A fitting Final. Very well done to Ian J, Champion once more joined by the Taylor Boyo's who have persevered all season, Matt travelling from Aberystwyth most Fridays just to compete! Experts now then.

Loads of thanks to all orgs & indeed competitors. If you happened to compete in all rounds… that’s 500kms through the season! 

Mr & Mrs Bentley…  an O/A win. Very well done to you both .   

The route, if you could see it, began with a single loop via Cleobury North & a return to the holding area where 4 code boards should have been encountered. Then, in earnest, we started the long second section taking in Earnstrey, Broadstone, due N to Easthope & a very foggy descent down through Lushcott. A tricky anti clockwise loop N of Gretton allowed crews to sample the infamous Roman Road SE of Leebotwood & the sexy numbered fail board near the ford. Cardington & Plaish drew us closer to the section finish @ Presthope where we had a slight breather on the way to one of our favourite finish venue's at Leighton W of Buildwas. 


 O/A	 Driver	           Navigator	        Vehicle	  Class Fail   Points

1st	Phillipa Bentley  Simon Bentley		Fiat	    E	0	049
2nd	Jane Taylor	  Jonathan Taylor	L/Rover	    E	0	064
3rd	Dave Hartill	  Karl Ellis		Ford	    E	0	072
4th 	Karen Matthews	  Phil Matthews		Ford	    E	0	090
5th	Paul Bunch	  Dave Clayton		SWB Quattro E	0	090
6th	Rob O,Dowd	  Dave O,Dowd		Vauxhall    N	0	098
7th	Matt Taylor	  Ben Taylor/Emma Smith	Metro	    N	0	102
8th	Pete Bonds	  Chrys Bonds		Hyundai	    E	1	065
9th	Julie Darkin	  Nick Darkin		Galaxy	    E	1	076
10th	Simon Roberts	  Richard Smalley	Renault	    E	1	092
11th	Frank Evans	  Russ Evans		Toyota	    N	1	094
12th	Tony Bishop	  Richard Soame		Honda	    N	1	157
                                               (4th o/a taken on count back)