Rally - Reivers report

As far as on-event reporting was concerned, yesterday was a disaster, so there were no updates. It started off grey, wet and cold in Kelso and then it was over the border into Kielder for the five stages. Service was held on an exposed stretch of Northumbrian moor through which an icy blast cut often laden with wet and freezing rain showers. And then there were the cow pats. I don't know what the coos eat down there, but the after effects are plentiful and not at all pleasant.

It might have been the wind which blew the internet signal away or the methane off the cow dung which interfered, but it left me frustratingly bereft of contact with the outside world. So no updates.

The rain did cease and the sun came out later in the day back at Kelso for the finish, but then queries and controversy delayed proceedings and I lost heart. As usual, both sides thought they were in the right, but it seemed to take forever to resolve the situation. Each time I fired up the laptop to issue a bulletin, there was another development to chase up. No formal protest was lodged but the prizegiving was over 3 hours late.

A great pity. The Jim Clark Reivers Rally had provided close and good competition. The stages were mostly in good order and folks enjoyed the thrash, despite the weather.

It was also a pity for Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy as the gloss on their fourth outright rally victory was a little more subdued because of something over which they had no control. They had one heck of a day long battle with Peter Taylor and Andrew Roughead with just 6 seconds between the two cars at the finish. Jock and Paula were third with their one minute penalty, clear winners without it, but Mike was first to acknowledge: " Of course, it's not the way you want to win. Jock's times were unbelievable today. I couldn't get near him, and Peter (Taylor) was very close all day."

David Bogie retired in the first stage when the oil light came on: "The engine was due a rebuild anyway," he said, and Andrew Gallacher retired his Fiesta in the second stage with a punctured radiator.

A full report will follow in due course, watch this space as they say. 

Results:
1, Mike Faulkner/Peter Foy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 42m 06s
2, Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Ford Focus WRC) +0:06
3, Jock Armstrong/Paula Swinscoe (Subaru Impreza) +0:21
4, Peter Stephenson/Ian Windress (Ford Focus Wrc) +0:56
5, Matthew Robinson/Kim Baker (Ford Fiesta) +1:32
6, Bruce McCombie/Michael Coutts (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) +1:46
7, Rory Young/Allan Cathers (Ford Fiesta R5) +1:51
8, Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) +2:31
9, Freddie Milne/Neil Shanks (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) +2:38
10, John McClory/David M Hood (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) +2:45