FOUR crews from Ludlow Castle Motor Club took part in the Patriot Stages Rally at the MOD Camp in Caerwent, near Chepstow.

The event was a round of numerous tarmac championships and attracted a full entry of 100 cars, and competitors were greeted with perfect, dry conditions.

The first LCMC crew away was that of Eric Weaver and Andrew Sankey in their Darrian T9, starting in 12th place.

They had problems with the exhaust manifold on the second stage and this has to be welded to keep them in the event.

They had a trouble-free run for the rest of the day until the very last stage when the clutch started playing up. Fortunately they got the finish and took fifth place overall and first in Class.

Duncan Edwards and Colin Stevens did not encounter any major problems in their Mk 2 Escort and finished 24th overall, a result which gave them valuable points in their challenge in the 2009 Heart of England Rally Championship.

The provisional results show that Edwards has finished the HoE Championship as second overall driver.

Stevens has gone one better and should be crowned 2009 HoE champion co-driver.

Not so fortunate were the remaining LCMC crews competing.

James Bailey and Ryan Wood did not get very far as the head gasket on their Peugeot 205 blew on the very first stage of the day, bringing their rally to an abrupt end.

Faring only slightly better, Gary Scott and his son Dom retired in the Vauxhall Corsa on the fourth run of the day with mechanical problems.