Merrick Rally success locally
THERE was hard-earned success for local crews competing on Saturday's action-packed Hankook Merrick Stages Rally in the Galloway forests.
Mark McCulloch and team-mates Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll were first and second in their class on the gruelling event, while Craig McMiken was back on the pace with a fine top-fifteen finish.
The overall victory went to defending champion David Bogie of Dumfries, who also put the seal on a second Scottish title, with one round remaining.
Bogie won by just five seconds from a hard-charging Jock Armstrong of Castle Douglas, who dominated the Merrick in 2009.
The relocation of the start/finish and rally headquarters to Wigtown was also given the thumbs up by competitors, organisers and spectators.
It had been predicted that the 19-mile opening stage through Glentrool would be a "make or break" test, and so it proved, with a string of retirements, punctures, and tales of hanging dust and big moments.
A puncture four miles from the end of the stage did not greatly heed Craig McMiken's progress on the way to 13th overall in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
"I feel I'm back into the swing of it again," said McMiken, who was partnered by Berwick co-driver Christine Sanderson: "They were very good hard stages – it's been an excellent day."
As a footnote, the Upper Barr farmer disclosed that he was busy with the birth of a calf just prior to the event, and, as a consequence, had been the last competitor to sign on.
In the 2-wheel drive category, Mark McCulloch and navigator Craig Wallace survived a remarkable day to bring their newly-acquired Vauxhall Nova home first in class.
McCulloch had only brought the car up from York a few days before, and had driven it for the first time on gravel on the eve-of-rally "shakedown".
Although delighted with the pace and feel of the car, McCulloch summed up his Merrick outing as "one disaster after another".
"Firstly, in Glentrool we had a spin and a stall, and lost about 20 seconds, then the tyres went off and we had no grip for half the stage. On the second stage we nearly ended up in Black Loch because the "shocker" was off at the back. We managed through the third stage and got it welded back on at second service. Then the other side came off on the run through Arroch Hill. We then got jammed in first gear, and to cap it all we drove the last stage without suspension springs!"
The Port William duo of Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll were also relieved to get back to the finish in front of the County Buildings in Wigtown after a tough day's rallying which saw them take second in Class 2 in their Vauxhall Nova.
Following problems on the previous round, Wilson had been burning the midnight oil in the run-up to the "Merrick", dismantling and re-building the gearbox.
However, there was no respite on the day: "We've had more bother with the gearbox, so I'm afraid it's going to mean yet another rebuild. I can just about put them together in my sleep now", said Wilson: "Apart from that, we've had a mixed day – we've not really got into it – but we brought the car home, that's the main thing.
Meanwhile, at the top end of the field Bogie and Armstrong had been battling it out for the overall win.
With four victories to his name this season, the Dumfries driver only required a top four finish to successfully complete his defence of the Hankook Scottish crown in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
As it was, he led from start to finish, with two fastest stage times: on the opening 19-miles of Glentrool – where he beat Armstrong by seven seconds - and the five-mile Drigmorn third stage.
If by now any chance of winning the championship had slipped from his grasp, Armstrong was not about to give up on the rally victory, and a change of tyre strategy was called for at second service ahead of the two afternoon stages.
"We cut them this morning to get more heat into them, but it turned against us on the longer stage because there was a lot of movement in the car and we were going in wide to many of the corners", said Armstrong: "So we've changed the tyres in the hope we can claw back some time".
The tactic worked, with Armstrong sharing top honours through the 8-miles of Arroch Hill. Bogie was seventh quickest, eight seconds off the pace.
With 19 seconds covering the top seven crews going into the final test of the day, SS5 Borgan, it was "gloves off".
Armstrong gave it his all in setting the benchmark, and reduced Bogie's overall lead from eight to five seconds.
However, the champion-elect had achieved his target and the smiles were as wide as the surrounding streets as the winning car was piped the final few yards to the finish ramp in Wigtown.
"Every day I've been thinking about winning the championship again and here we are - it's been a fantastic effort by the whole team this year. A perfect day in a perfect season for Kevin and myself".
For Armstrong it was a case of what might have been ("we'll be back for another crack at it next year") but he still has the advantage in the Group N standings, with one round remaining, the Colin McRae Forest Stages, on September 25th.
At a packed post event prize-giving ceremony in the County Buildings, "Merrick" manager Allan Marshall said the rally had been a resounding success, and he paid tribute to the support he and his fellow organisers had received from the "people of Wigtown".
One of the biggest rounds of applause greeted the announcement that the James Fleming Rosebowl "Man of the Meeting Award" was being presented to Howard Steele of Wigtown Community Council for all his hard work in helping to bring the event to the town.
Mr Marshall also disclosed that two local families had come to the rescue on Friday night in offering beds to eight competitors, who found themselves without accommodation following a mix-up over an hotel booking.
"That for me sums up the welcome we've had from the local community – it's been absolutely tremendous", he said.
Hankook Merrick Stages Rally – Dumfries and Galloway finishers, with total times
1 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 44 mins 12 secs
2 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas)/Kirsty Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Subaru Impreza 44.17
7 Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Evo 6 44.29
13 Craig McMiken (Newton Stewart)/Christine Sanderson (Berwick) Mitsubishi Evo 9 47.13
20 David Hughes (Dumfries)/Bruce Harper (Dumfries) Mitsubishi Evo 9 48.19
21 Peter Stewart (Dumfries)/Phil Shortt (Dumfries) Ford Fiesta ST 48.36
29 Mark McCulloch (Newton Stewart)/Craig Wallace (Kirrimuir) Vauxhall Nova 50.08
31 Iain Haining (Dumfries)/Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Vauxhall Nova 50.09
35 Stuart Paterson (Dumfries)/Colin Maxwell (Dumfries) Subaru Impreza 50.19
37 Fraser Wilson (Port William)/Steven Broll (Port William) Vauxhall Nova 50.49
47 Lee Hastings (Dumfries)/Brian Findon (Dumfries) Subaru Impreza 52.11
50 Charlie Munro (Dingwall)/Michael Baird (Castle Douglas) Ford Escort Mk2 53.20
51 James Robertson (Thornhill)/George Myatt (Ae) Citreon C2 53.35
61 Allan McMorran (Castle Douglas)/Albert Connelly (Castle Douglas) Peugeot 205 Gti 58.26
63 Mark McLeary (Castle Douglas)/Duncan Hastings Vauxhall Astra 1 hr 00 m 20s
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
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