LUDLOW Castle Motor Club members Alan Walker and Jez Rogers impressed in the Roger Albert Clark Rally.

At 300 stage miles, the four-day rally was the longest to be held in the British Isles for 22 years.

Beginning at the oldest motorsport venue in the world, Shelsley Walsh, the rally headed into the Mid Wales forests en route to Northumberland, Scotland and finally the infamous Kielder Forest.

On the opening day, co-driver Phil Clarke flew the flag for Ludlow as he sat alongside reigning British Historic champion Jason Pritchard in his MKII Escort BDA.

The pair took the lead of the event on stage five while Rogers sat in seventh following a good start with regular driver Simon Webster in the RS1800.

Walker was over the moon to be in ninth place considering his lack of seat time in his MKII.

Henri Grehan and Chris Ridge made a welcome return but unfortunately had engine issues on the first forest stage, Radnor.

Clarke and Pritchard extended their lead on day two’s ten stages covering 95 miles of gravel tracks in Northumberland.

Walker and co-driver John Connor climbed to seventh, just 18 seconds ahead of Rogers and Webster.

Grehan and Ridge were in the wars again, rolling their car on stage 14. Fortunately both men were unhurt.

Day three saw the end of Clarke and Pritchard’s hopes when a half shaft broke on stage 21.

Walker and Connor moved up to fifth whilst Rogers and Webster were behind them in sixth overall.

Grehan and Ridge responded with a much better day and climbed up to 39th.

The final day consisted of 70 miles and it proved just too far for the duo of Grehan and Ridge as they slid into one of Kielder Forest’s big ditches and retired.

It was great news for Walker and Connor, however, as they continued to impress with a string of top five times to claim fourth place overall.

Rogers and Webster were also pleased with their finish as they came home in fifth.

The next meeting of Ludlow Castle Motor Club will be held on December 13 at the Ludlow Brewery, starting at 8pm.