LEEMING transport magnate Kevin Procter took his sixth victory in seven years on Northallerton AC’s popular Swift Signs Christmas Stages Rally but it was anything but plain sailing for the versatile Subaru WRC driver as the weather conditions played their part at Croft Circuit last Sunday.

Along with Northallerton co-driver Dave Bellerby, the pair had to contend with some stiff opposition as one of the strongest entries in years had been assembled and, combined with a hard overnight frost which left the early stages covered in black ice; it made for an interesting start.

With one of the biggest crowds ever seen at the festive event, it was Thirkleby driver Mike Herrington and Hartlepool co-driver Rachel Heel who took advantage of the rapidly thawing conditions to set fastest time on SS1 from a seeding of 82 in their Ford Escort with Procter only fourth fastest but by SS2, the leading contenders were starting to flex their muscles.

As conditions improved, Procter hit the front on SS3 where he was to remain for the remainder of the event, comfortably controlling his lead as he looked to add to his winning tally. After SS4, Procter headed the Subaru of David and Mathew White by 26 seconds which he increased to nearly a minute by the end of SS6, Into darkness for the final two tests around the North Yorkshire racetrack and at the finish, Procter took the win by a minute and 41 seconds over White with the MG Metro 6R4 of Yorkshireman Peter Smith and Welsh co-driver Patrick Walsh half a minute further back in third.

Fourth went the way of Lancastrian driver Graham Coffey with Newcastle co-driver Andrew Roughead on the maps in their state-of-the-art Ford Fiesta WRC with Pickhill duo Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor West claiming fifth following their icy start in their MG Metro 6R4.

The Proton Millington Satria of Midlander Oliver Mellors, co-driven by Richmond’s Reg Smith claimed six with the first two wheel drive car home in seventh in the hands of Darlington driver Paul Swift. Along with wife-to-be co-driver Jessica Bell, they too overcame the treacherous early morning black ice and a technical glitch during the day to bring the newly-built Millington-engined PSI Global, Smiths & Allen and Smart IFA-backed Ford Escort Mk2 home to a class win for good measure.

Another class winning performance came from Richmond brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine who powered their 1400cc Vauxhall Corsa to an amazing top ten placing overall with Catterick driver Martyn Tinker and co-driver Heather Grisedale claiming Class 3 and 11th overall in their Lotus Exige despite a misfire.

12th overall and second in Class 4 went the way of Consett’s Barry Renwick and co-driver Steve Dargan with the Saltburn pairing of Ian and Nick Colman claiming 14th overall in their Nissan Sunny GTi-R. Hutton Rudby brothers Ian and Stephen Woodhouse ended up 16th overall and third in class in their 2.5 litre Ford Escort, three places ahead of Ingleby Barwick driver Martyn Peters and Stokesley co-driver Jason Leaf who drove well to claim second in Class 2 in their 1600cc Citroen Saxo.

The Whashton pair of Paul and Chris Alsop brought their venerable Chrysler Sunbeam home in 23rd overall and fifth in class, two places ahead of Guisborough Taxidermist Dave Hornbrook and co-driver Ann Forster in their Mitsubishi Lancer. Durham’s Kev Monaghan and Neil Thompson finished 26th overall in their Ford Escort Maxi, six seconds ahead of the Guisborough pairing of Neil Marshall and Dave Scrimgour in their 1900cc Peugeot 205.

Brompton on Swale’s Geoff Wright had drafted in Guisborough British Superbike team boss Shaun Muir into the co-driver’s seat and they ended up 29th overall in their Nissan Almera, just ahead of the Ford Escort Mk1 of Whitby driver Nick Cook and Bedale co-driver Tommi Graham. Northallerton duo Larry Carter and Linda Ashman brought their Peugeot 206 home in 33rd overall and fourth in class.

Tanfield driver Bill Bates and Pickhill co-driver Mick Johnson overcame a broken radiator in their Peugeot 106 to claim 34th overall and fifth in class, one place ahead of the VW Golf of Sunderland’s Jon Olds and co-driver Stuart Simpson. Thirlby’s Ben Cree and Boltby co-driver Richard Shores claimed 37th overall and sixth in class in their Peugeot 205 whereas the fancied challenge from Durham pairing Andy Fawcett and Chris Purvis was scuppered when they had to stop to change a wheel in their 1400cc Vauxhall Nova and dropped them to 39th overall although they did salvage third in class.

Consett pair Jimmy and Alistair Knox ended up 41st overall and 13th in class in their BMW Compact, just two seconds ahead of Whitby veteran John Cockerill’s historic specification Ford Escort he was sharing with Darlington circuit racer David Cox. Next up were Northallerton brothers Andrew and Richard Chandler who brought their 1300cc Ford Escort home in 43rd overall and fourth in class.

After his brilliant start, Mike Herrington dropped to 47th overall and fifth in class at the finish, two places ahead of the Ripon pairing on Gordon Watson and Mark Casey in their Peugeot 205. Crakehall plumber Andrew Auld, along with son Daniel on the maps, claimed 55th overall in their Peugeot 205 whereas the 1000cc Toyota Yaris of Staindrop driver Colin Butler along with Barnard Castle co-driver Joe Hutchinson finished 59th overall and sixth in class.

Middlesbrough’s Craig Hesse and co-driver Paul Rowland eventually brought their Subaru home in 61st place overall whilst the affable pink MG Maestro of Whitby pair Martin and Andrew Cockerill finished 67th overall out of the 68 finishers.

Favoured runners Tony Bardy from Scotch Corner and Northallerton’s Graeme Bell failed to make it to the start and amongst those who did, a number of local crews didn’t see the finish. Brompton driver Darren Grimston and co-driver Richard Ross got no further than the opening stage with gearbox problems on their Subaru whilst the Durham pair of Trevor Gamble and Ron Roughead hit a wall in their Ford Puma on SS2.

Thirkleby caravan site owner Rob Herrington and Ripon co-driver Charlotte Banner retired their Subaru with an oil leak on SS3 and the challenge of Leeming pair Dave Johnstone and Simon Little ended with engine failure on their Peugeot 205 after SS5. Mickleton’s Alistair Hutchinson and Staindrop co-driver St John Dykes retired their Renault Clio after clouting one bale too may on SS6 and also retiring within sight of the finish was Teesside businessman Peter Stephenson and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress in their MG ZR. Chop Gate brothers Mark and John Gaskin broke the steering on their Citroen Saxo on the final stage by which time the Bedale pairing of Joe Cunningham and Glen Coates (Peugeot 106) were just using the final stages as a test following electrical problems before the start.