There were mixed fortunes for the Ludlow Castle Motor Club members taking part in the Agbo Stages Rally, a 30-mile tarmac event in the grounds of Weston Park on the Shropshire Staffordshire border.

Top seed for the club was co-driving chairman Ben Innes who was out with last year’s winner Oliver Davies in his Ford Escort MkII.

A four second lead at the end of the opening stage was scrubbed due to a glitch with the timing system and from then on it was nip and tuck at the head of the field with another former winner Roger Moran and No4 seed Paul Evans. Sadly, there wasn’t to be a repeat of last year’s victory, the engine on the Escort cut out towards the end of the final stage to force retirement.

There was also disappointment for Phil Clarke and Tony Robinson in the latter’s 1978 Porsche 911.

After posting the fastest time out of the Historic crews on the second stage, the throttle stuck open just 400 metres into the next stage, propelling the Porsche up a grassy embankment narrowly avoiding two large trees before Clarke could reach the master cut off switch to bring their rally to a halt.

Roger Titley brought out his 2.8 BMW 323 with Telford co-driver Christopher Page calling the bends and the crew finished 15th overall and seventh in class.

John Worthing and John Cadwallader were seeded at No 47 in their Ford Escort Mexico and reported having a good day in the freshly rebuilt car which was back on the road following a big accident in Radnor Forest back in 2009.

Worthing admitting to being a bit untidy over the first few stages but tidied his driving to finish 30th overall and 5th in class.

The club’s next meeting is on Wednesday, April, 13, from 8pm at Ludlow Brewing Company. All are welcome.