CASTLETON driver Ryan Champion continued his unbeaten run in the Ferodo Ford Puma Rally Championship by taking outright victory on last weekend's Jim Clark Memorial Junior Rally.

It was his fourth championship victory and another step towards a Ford factory-supported drive in 2003.

The event started in torrential rain, with several cars going off the road in the first few hundred metres of the rally. But, as conditions improved, Champion, co-driven as usual by Ian Windress from Northallerton, took the lead on stage three and never looked back.

The pair led by nearly a minute at the end of the first day around the closed public roads of the Borders region and their lead had been extended to just under two minutes at the Edinburgh finish.

Champion will be hoping to continue his good tarmac form in the next event in the series, which takes place on the Isle of Man in a couple of weeks time. He last contested the Manx International Rally in 1999, when he finished seventh overall and second in the Group N production class behind this year's British Rally Championship leader Jonny Milner.

A number of other local crews were also in action on the Junior event and all made the finish ramp. Scorton's Stephen Petch junior and Tow Law co-driver Mike Wilkinson claimed second in class and sixth overall in their SGP Ford Ka, one place in class and two places overall ahead of Bishop Auckland driver Tristan Pye and co-driver Chris Thirling in their JPM Ford Ka.

Ryan's mother Joyce Champion guided Sophie Robinson to 12th overall and sixth VW Polo home, while Darlington's Paul Hudson did likewise for Gigi Bettencourt-Gomez to end up 21st overall and 14th in class.

Meanwhile, the New Pig Scottish Rally Championship maintained its reputation for delivering a different winner in each of the opening five rounds when Harrogate's Paul Kirtley won the latest round, incorporated within the Jim Clark Memorial Rally.

The Subaru Impreza driver led from start to finish before eventually easing off to win by 100 seconds from the Mitsubishi Lancer of Irishman Andrew Stewart.

Thimbleby driver David Brown was placed seventh overall and fourth in class in his and co-driver Tony Walker's Steel River Ford Puma Evo 4x4, while Thirsk builder Ian Rudd retired his Ford Sapphire Cosworth on SS5.

Shildon's Barry Johnson still leads the championship, but chose instead to contest the main British Championship event last weekend in his Barrier Impreza. With co-driver Don Whyatt from Lanchester on the notes, the pair ended up tenth overall and seventh in class.

The region's two Super 1600cc competitors both ended up retiring their MSR Ford Pumas. Reigning 1400cc champion David Henderson, from Sacriston, retired after holing a radiator on SS3, while Heighington's Guy Wilks retired on SS16.

However, the local clubmen fared considerably better in the Jim Clark Club Rally, with three crews inside the top ten. Bishop Auckland's Tony Thompson and Richard Myers took fourth place overall in their Mitsubishi, while the Newton Aycliffe pairing of Geoff Wright and Sheila Thomson ended up sixth on their way to a class win in their RMC Nissan Almera.

Toronto driver Bob Dennis and co-driver Ron Roughead took seventh overall in their BTL Subaru, with Birtley's James Knox and Alec Renwick finishing 12th and fourth in class in their Talbot Sunbeam.

* One of North Yorkshire's most traditional sporting events over the festive period has had a three-way makeover, with the most radical change seeing the Christmas Stages rally running in August!

After years of battling against the wintry elements high up on the army ranges around Catterick Garrison, organisers Northallerton AC lost the event to foot-and-mouth last year.

And with the icy conditions deterring may drivers from entering, meaning the event was becoming financially unviable, the decision was made to move it to the August bank holiday weekend.

This year's rally will be sponsored for the first time by Specsavers Opticians, courtesy of directors David Stockton and Kash Patel, and the 45-mile stage event will encompass the fast, smooth and flowing gravel roads normally associated with the rally.

The third major change will be the introduction of route notes as opposed to the traditional maps used in the past. These notes - as used by professional rally teams - will hopefully aid safety and eliminate the advantage of local crews who have built up knowledge of the roads over the years.

With the entry limited to a maximum of 90 cars and the event incorporating a qualifying round of the Deansbury Homes ANECCC Championship, the demand for places is expected to be high.

The organisers are accepting the first 60 entries on receipt, with the remaining 30 at their discretion. All entries, at a basic cost of £285, must be submitted by the closing date of August 12.

Regulations and further information are available from Ian Jackson, 1 Nelson Terrace, Stockton on Tees TS18 1NJ or on 07977 565559 or from the website www.northallerton-ac.co.uk.

* Another bumper crowd is expected at Club Amadeus in Northallerton on Tuesday night when former World Superbike champion Colin Edwards visits the NYRRSC chat show.

The Castrol Honda star's appearance has led to the organisers being inundated with calls and admission, costing £6 for adults and £2 for accompanied children, is available at the door.

Edwards' Honda team-mates Karl Muggeridge and John McGuinness will also be in attendance, as well as race team boss Neil Tuxworth. All will be auctioning off memorabilia.

There is a raffle, autograph sessions and a late bar and the evening gets underway, with Eurosport commentator Jack Burnicle hosting proceedings, from 8pm