Gwyn Thomas and Anthony O'Connell took a start-to-finish victory on the opening event of the year at Trawsfynydd Ranges. Their Ford Puma 4WD finished 47 seconds ahead of the Escort Mk2 of Kevin Jones/Rosalind Goodall, with the similar car of Keith Griffiths/Paul Hughes nine seconds behind.

Thanks to grants, a new surface had been laid in many parts of the venue by Bala & District MC members, whilst Clwyd Vale MC were first to try it out!

With Thomas/O'Connell taking overall honours, the over two-litre class went to late entrants Simon Povey/Paul Griffiths in a borrowed Escort Mk4 RWD, fourth overall after a spirited drive. Andy Williams/Brian Harrison finished best of three Imprezas, second in class almost a minute adrift of the Escort, ahead of the Mk2 Escort of Jonathan Whalley/Peter Dennis.

Jones/Goodall and Griffiths/Hughes took top spots in the two-litre class, third going to the enthusiastically driven 205 GTI of Danny Postlethwaite/Aled Jones

Closest battle of the day was in the 1600cc class where Gary Edgington/Roger Evans took victory by just nine seconds from the similar 106 GTI of Chris Phillips/Sarah Hughes, helped by Edgington's fastest time on the second stage of the day. Third-placed Gareth Owen/Darren Thompson missed a top ten overall placing on furthest-cleanest.

The 1400cc class was initially led by Pete O'Dougherty/Keith Markham (Astra), sixth overall after the first lap of three stages but a maximum on the next stage due to mechanical problems dropped them. The class win went to Arwyn Williams/Rich Hughes in an aged Talbot Sunbeam, nine seconds up on Gareth Roberts/Ian Lloyd (106) with Paul Ellis/Chris Elmore third in a Skoda Favorit, Elmore's first rally for thirty years!

The class for 1000cc cars was headed throughout by the 106 of Dylan Thomas/Ifan Rowlands, from the Micras of Aled Loveluck/Lyndon Barton (usually found driving much quicker machinery!) and Craig Gibson/Daniel Bailey.

Just four retirements, three on the first stage including the newly-completed Mini of John Lindsay and daughter Anna, rolling at the finish – fortunately no injuries but John received a severe ear-bashing from Mrs Lindsay when the crew arrived home!

Results: 1, Gwyn Thomas/Anthony O'Connell (2.0t Ford Puma 4WD) 21m 22s; 2, Kevin Jones/Rosalind Goodall (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 22m 09s; 3, Keith Griffiths/Paul Hughes (2.0 Ford Escort Mk2) 22m 16s; 4, Simon Povey/Paul Griffiths (2.1 Ford Escort Mk4 RWD) 22m 38s; 5, Gary Edgington/Roger Evans (1.6 Peugeot 106 GTI) 22m 54s; 6, Chris Phillips/Sarah Hughes (1.6 Peugeot 106 GTI) 23m 03s; 7, Danny Postlethwaite/Aled Jones (1.9 Peugeot 205 GTI) 23m 05s; 8, Andy Williams/Brian Harrison (2.0t Subaru Impreza) 23m 36s; 9, Arwyn Williams/Rich Hughes (1.3 Talbot Sunbeam) 24m 02s; 10, Gareth Roberts/Ian Lloyd (1.4 Peugeot 106) 24m 11s. Class winners: Dylan Thomas/Ifan Rowlands (Peugeot 106), Williams/Hughes, Edgington/Evans, Jones/Goodall/ Thomas/O'Connell.

Report by Dave Thomas, 11 Maes Canol, Llandudno Junction, LL31 9UX. (Tel 07788 995345)

Jamie Edwards
View from the hot seat

A local event for... everybody
Trawsfynydd. A village in North Wales famous for, well, nothing. The exceptions are a nuclear power station that is being decommissioned and a tiny little known motorsport venue tucked away in a remote hillside.
Last time I wrote in MN I was throwing my toys out of the pram regarding the cancellation of the Astra Stages Rally. It might have come across as a bit of a downer, but I’m feeling a lot happier about rallying as a whole after competing at ‘Traws’ recently. (It’s The Ranges to non-Welsh)
On May 19 I contested the Clwydian Cars Stages Rally at the Trawsfynydd Motorsport Ranges.
The important thing was that the rally was running at all. Just a fortnight earlier, the event was struggling to attract 20 entries. A few shout outs seemed to do the trick, and the rally ran with 36 entries in the end. The event sponsor even issued a statement via the Clwyd Vale Motor Club that regardless of the entry level, the event would run.
Given the seemingly perilous state of rallying in north Wales at the moment, I have to say the attitude applied by the organisers and all those associated with it was refreshing to say the least.
There was no fuss, no nonsense. Eddie Blackwell and his team put together a proper little rally. There were no delays, the competition was as intense as ever and everyone enjoyed themselves. This was club motorsport at its very best. Great fun, great craic. Trawsfynydd may well be the domain of the archetypal local hero, but what is wrong with that? This is a place where only the brave or bonkers go flat out. I’ve tried to do that and failed spectacularly in the past.
The future looks surprisingly bright for the place. I’ve been talking to Bala Motor Club, who run the venue. They’ve been doing their utmost to raise funds to develop the roads, and the recent arrival of new asphalt at certain points of the venue was well received by all who competed at the weekend.
The positives don’t end there. Discussions are currently underway to look at the possibility of creating a new link road within the complex to increase the stage mileage. Given that the venue is the closest thing to doing a mini Manx due to its crests, bumpy roads and fast corners, this will warm the hearts of all those who have competed there.
Two things have put people off competing there previously. One is the very short stage mileages where an average stage is no more than two miles in length. The other is the fact that it is a very challenging venue. If it is good enough for the factory teams to have tested there year in and year out for many a year, it is good enough for anyone.
So there you go. In a time when we are seeing events cancelled and venues lost, isn’t it fantastic to see one quiet part of North Wales where the backbone of rallying is working so hard to make improvements and push forwards?
Losing a venue like Trawsfynydd would be another nail in the coffin of rallying. To everyone involved in making that seem less likely, please take a well-earned bow. You thoroughly deserve it.

“It’s a place where only the brave or bonkers go flat out” jamie@jemsport.co.uk