LUDLOW Castle duo Shaun Gardner and Ben Innes lived up to their billing as fifth seeds by going one better in Saturday’s Woodpecker Rally.

The pair topped their class and finished fourth overall having defied their lack of race practice in the Mitsubishi.

They were eighth after the first stage at Bringewood but battled up to fifth thanks to a strong nine-mile section in Haye Park.

Problems saw them lose drive in the Hopton stage but they dug in to post impressive times and win their class.

Co-driver Keaton Williams teamed up Pwllheli’s Andrew Jones with the young pair seeded 34th from the outset.

Youthful exuberance possibly got the better of them in the first two stages with Williams admitting to a few shaky moments in the slippery conditions.

With a more controlled drive, Jones and Williams brought the MkII Escort home in 24th overall and fourth in their class.

Welsh championship contenders Tim Cains and Richard May were seeded at 61 in the Peugeot 309 but their rally ended prematurely when, midway through Haye Park, Cains couldn't get the car out of fourth gear. They managed to return to the service area but their rally was over.

Gary Smith and Paul Spooner started at 70 in the immaculate Ford Escort MkI.

With a more driveable engine following some work by engineer Dennis Osborne, Smith and Spooner came home with no dramas finishing 35th overall fourth in class.

Colin and Martin Griffiths lost their intercom for the first two stages and suffered a puncture in Haye Park but they still managed 46th overall and second in class.

A last-minute entry saw Martin Wyles take 57th overall and eighth in class alongside Michele Petrie in the Escort MkII.

Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson won the overall rally.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club will be held on Wednesday, September 14 at the Ludlow Brewing Company (8pm). All are welcome.