AFTER a number of years of trying, Leeming rally driver Kevin Procter finally added a victory on his local event to his growing list of successes by claiming an easy win on the Ripon Land Rover-sponsored Riponian Rally last Sunday.

After a day of high drama on the North York Moors, where a number of the fancied runners fell by the wayside, Procter and co-driver Mike Gilby, from Northallerton, eventually led home a local one-two-three as the Ripon MSC-organised event made a welcome return after a year's absence.

Having recently added the Motoscope Performance Centre of Northallerton to his expanding business empire, Procter beat former winners Matt Yeadon, from Pickhill, and co-driver Richard Shores, from Boltby, in their Nu Era Mitsubishi by more than a minute.

Drive of the rally went to Harrogate's Tim Pearcey, who, along with Pickhill co-driver Mick Johnson, netted a fantastic third overall in his Ford Escort Mk 2.

After a couple of stages around the Lightwater Valley theme park, which saw the demise of pre-event favourite Barry Johnson, from Shildon, in his Subaru WRC after the cam pulley broke 100 metres into the opening stage, Procter traded blows with Ripon driver Charlie Payne in his recently-acquired ex-works Hyundai Accent as the event headed to the forests around Sutton Bank and Helmsley.

Payne fought back on College Moor, but a high-speed spin on Wass dropped him and York co-driver Craig Thorley back to third behind Procter and Lancastrian visitor Ian Joel (Ford Escort Cosworth) as the cars headed for the first service halt at Duncombe Park.

Yeadon was handily placed in fourth, just ahead of Bishop Auckland's Tristan Pye in his JPM Subaru Impreza, with the two-wheel drive contingent snapping at their heels.

Despite the predicted bad weather failing to materialise, the early stages had accounted for a number of crews, including Eric Kent and Ripon's Bob Harrison, who broke a half shaft on their Daihatsu Charmont on Wass.

Masham builder Mick Welford, along with son Richard, from Crakehall, retired his Beavers Butchers Ford Escort Mk 2 on the same stage with a split fuel tank.

The cars headed out for another loop incorporating Riccal Dale, Roppa and Boltby as well as return visits to Wass and College Moor. It was on this loop that Payne's bid for glory ended when a broken exhaust caused the rear bumper to set alight. Despite no significant damage, the crew parked the ex-Paul Bird car up as a precaution.

Procter also encountered problems when a spin in Roppa was followed by a puncture to hand the lead briefly to Joel, but a storming drive through the little-used Boltby forest restored Procter's lead.

The part-time bus driver clouted a bank on the second Wass stage, but a broken steering rack spelt the end for Joel and Procter once again led the cars back into service.

Yeadon was involved in a battle with Pye, Selby driver Charlie Gabb and the Escort Cosworth of Midlander Donovan Jenkin, with the older version two-wheel drive Ford Escorts of Pearcey, Northallerton garage proprietor Charlie Taylor and former national champion David Stokes all inside the top ten as the dry conditions helped them.

Meanwhile, Hunton's Paul Lawson and co-driver Glyn Jackson, from Catterick, visited a ditch in Roppa, which led to suspension damage and ultimately retirement in their Ford Escort, while Asenby driver Jonathan Kitchen and co-driver Nigel Bennett, from Topcliffe, also went out on the second leg in their similar car.

Procter was more than a minute ahead going into the final forest stage in Boltby, but his progress was threatened by a broken exhaust as his Subaru emerged from the test.

With a five-mile road section before his team could attempt to fix it, his hopes hung in the balance. But the problem was soon rectified and he was on his way again with a few minutes to spare.

Into the final two Lightwater stages and Procter rammed home his authority to take a convincing victory, with some flamboyant driving increasing his advantage over Yeadon's Mitsubishi to just over a minute and a half.

Pearcey, meanwhile, was having the drive of his life in the second half of the rally after a relatively slow start in his Z Farm Escort. As the day progressed, he upped the pace to set fastest time on SS9 as he fended off a concerted challenge from behind to record his best-ever result, some 13 seconds ahead of the Mark 1 BDA version of Stokes.

Pye missed out on fourth by a single second after nearly an hour's competition over the 45 stage miles, while Taylor posted his best result in a long time, along with Pickering co-driver Steve Beilby, to take third in class just six seconds adrift of Pye.

Seventh went to Whitby driver Nick Cook, who overcame gearbox problems in the early stages in his Mitsubishi, with another sterling performance by West Rounton driver Chris Blake claiming eighth in the Northallerton Tyre & Battery Escort Cosworth he shared with Mickleton's Tony Walker.

James Bullock, from Ripon, guided the MSR Motorsport Mitsubishi of driver Mike Altendorf to 22nd overall and 12th in class, while Finghall driver Errol Bairstow finished 25th overall and 14th in class in his Sapphire Cosworth.

Another of the Pickhill contingent, Chris Wise, finished 28th overall with Carlton Minniott co-driver Tony Christon to claim the best Ripon club member award in their Escort Cosworth.

Redcar's Christopher Roe partnered Kirkbymoorside driver Alan Richardson to a class win in their Vauxhall Nova on their way to a fine 19th overall, with Stanley driver Garry Johnson finishing 31st overall and fourth in class in his Vauxhall Corsa, two places ahead of Hutton Conyers driver Nick Dale and co-driver Kevin Hare, from Ripon, in their Talbot.

The CS Automotive Rallysport Team, from Darlington, saw both their cars finish yet again, with Luke Pinder taking 18th overall and sixth in class in the Vauxhall Astra, while Douglas Smith guided the Ian Cartwright-prepared Peugeot 106 to 37th overall and third in class.

Results. - 1 K Procter/M Gilby, Subaru Impreza, 52min 30sec; 2 M Yeadon/R Shores, Mitsubishi Evo 3, 54.04; 3 T Pearcey/M Johnson, Ford Escort Mk 2, 55.13; 4 David Stokes/Den Golding, Ford Escort Mk 1, 55.26; 5 Tristan Pye/Roger Herron, Subaru Impreza, 55.27; 6 Charlie Taylor/Steve Beilby, Ford Escort Mk 2, 55.33; 7 Nick Cook/Jake Carlin, Mitsubishi Evo 3, 56.32; 8 Chris Blake/Tony Walker, Ford Escort Cosworth, 56.48; 9 Curly Haigh/Sally Peacock, Ford Escort Mk 1, 57.01; 10 Steve Blunt/Andrew Wilson, Mitsubishi Evo 6, 57.30.

* Organisers of the annual Kall Kwik Rally, De Lacy Motor Club, are reporting that a number of top quality entries have already been received for the event on Sunday, February 22.

Going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive win in the Yorkshire forests will be Scorton motor dealer Steve Petch and Romanby's John Richardson in their new Hyundai Accent WRC.

Yorkshiremen Charlie Payne (Hyundai), Kevin Procter (Subaru), from Leeming, and Castleton's Ryan Champion (Mitsubishi) are expected to figure well.

Entries are still available and more information on the Pickering-based event can be found on www.kallkwikrally.co.uk

Northallerton Auto Club meet in Elders Bar, Northallerton on Monday night, with another of their popular video evenings planned with footage from the recent Riponian Rally.

Tickets will also be available on the evening for the annual awards presentation and dinner dance at Romanby Golf Club on Saturday, February 21.

Membership for 2004 is now up for renewal and can also be obtained on the night.