WINTER arrived for the first time at Croft Circuit just in time for Darlington and District Motor Club’s annual extravaganza with the unforeseen snow causing no end of problems for the capacity entry last Sunday.

Eventually emerging victorious from the varied conditions was Lancastrian Arron Newby and co-driver John Cope who took their Subaru to an impressive win, eventually edging out three times victors Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor West from Pickhill in their MG Metro 6R4 by just 17 seconds after a day of drama around the North Yorkshire racetrack.

SS1 saw dry conditions with a light covering of frost but it was Wise and who drew first blood, stopping the clocks 15 seconds faster than his pursuers as the snow clouds loomed dark overhead.

With heavy snow falling, SS2 got underway with a covering of the white stuff, which saw some crews abort after only a lap, taking a stage maximum. As this was quicker than actually completing the route, the organisers had no option but to effectively scrub the stage meaning all held station going into a thawing SS3.

As was the case on the Christmas Stages a few weeks earlier, lower seeds took advantage of the rapidly improving surface on SS3 with Crakehall plumber Andrew Auld, co driven by son Dan in their Bedale Motor Factors-backed Peugeot 205 setting fastest time as the leaders struggled and because of the delays and lunchtime noise restrictions, SS4 was cancelled as the organisers set to claw back some time.

Already by now, fancied runners Graeme Bell and Russ Radford from Northallerton (Ford Escort) had called it a day because of the conditions leaving Wise to hold a 12 second lead over Barry Lindsay who was making the most of his ANECCC prize drive in Steve Petch’s Mitsubishi alongside Exelby co-driver John Richardson at the mid-point turnaround.

By now, driving sleet had replaced the snow and event sponsor Wise continued his bid for title number four as Newby dropped time on SS5 in the slushy conditions. However, just as it seemed as he was taking command, Wise hit problems on SS7 and dropped over minute when he found himself with no forward motion due to a broken gearstick which saw him eventually select fourth gear to complete the stage and allowed Newby to take full advantage.

As dusk fell, Wise, with the problem rectified, set about trying to close the gap but the time loss on the previous stage proved insurmountable and he had to settle for runner up spot for a second year running.

Kepwick’s Peter Stephenson and Northallerton co-driver Ian Windress claimed the final podium spot in their MGZR ahead of James Gibb/Billy Gower (Subaru) and the impressive Lindsay with Richardson on the notes. Sixth went the way of Christmas Stages runners-up David White/Edward Pikul in their Subaru.

Class 1 was won by Durham’s David Coatsworth and Tristan Atkinson (MG ZR) in 32nd overall with a tight Class 2 battle seeing Joe Cunningham from Aiskew and co-driver Marc Fowler emerge victorious in their Coach2.com backed Peugeot 106 in 13th overall just five seconds ahead of Chop Gate brothers John and Mark Gaskin in their 1600cc Citroen Saxo who ended up 15th overall.

Finishing an impressive 14th overall were Durham’s Drew and Peter Gibson with Staindrop driver Mark Thompson and co-driver Tom Bruce racing against time to fix the engine they blew the previous week to end up 16th overall and second in class in their 2000cc Peugeot 206.

Guisborough’s Dave Hornbrook and co-driver Ann Forster claimed 17th overall in their Mitsubishi as Hartburn co-driver Ian Jackson guided George Scott to 22nd overall in their similar car. Martin Peters from Ingleby Barwick and Stokesley co-driver Darren Wilcox finished fourth in class en route to 23rd overall in their Preston Farm MOT Citroen Saxo as they edged out Consett’s Barry Renwick and Steve Dargan by just six seconds in their Ford Escort.

Darlington precision driver Paul Swift was in action again in his PSI Global, S&A and Smart IFA-backed Ford Escort Mk2 but it turned out to be a frustrating day. A misfire on the opening stages leaving him down in 64th place overall at half way but a spirited drive once sorted saw him claim 26th overall and third in class.

Northallerton’s Larry Carter and Linda Ashman finished 28th overall and sixth in class in their Yorkshire Van Lease-backed Peugeot 206, just ahead of Andrew and Daniel Auld whilst Thirkleby caravan park owner Rob Herrington, co-driven by Thirsk’s Charlotte Banner, overcame a last minute collision with a stage split to bring their Subaru home in 30th overall.

Pickhill duo Geoff Simpson and Bruce Lindsay eventually took 33rd overall in their Mitsubishi, one place ahead of Great Ayton’s Ian Horn and Brotton co-driver Bob Brown in their Vauxhall Nova with Thirsk’s Mike Herrington and Hartlepool co-driver Rachel Heel in 35th overall and fourth in class in their Ford Escort Mk2.

Masham driver Shaun Wilson and co-driver Chris Longster took 36th overall in their Subaru, just two places ahead of Northallerton builder Andy Smith, who had daughter Georgina as co-driver on her first event. The Redmire Vauxhall Nova pair of Andrew and Rachel Foster claimed 41st overall and second in class as Middlesbrough’s Craig Hesse and Hutton Rudby co-driver Paul Rowland took 43rd overall in their Subaru.

Darlington racing drivers David Cox, co driven by Paul Moss, ended up 47th overall in their Rover 25, edging out Richmond son and father, Luke and Terry Searle in their Rover Metro by just two seconds as the latter claimed third in class. Northallerton brothers Andrew and Richard Chandler encountered a misfire on their 1300cc Ford Escort late on which dropped them to 49th overall and fourth in class, one place ahead of Sinderby’s Bill and Kari Bates in their Peugeot 106.

Staindrop driver Colin Hutchinson, partnered by Barnard Castle’s Andrew Hutchinson took their Toyota Yaris to 61st overall and sixth in class whilst the Guisborough co-driver Dave Scrimgour guided Neil Marshall to 64th overall after they encountered problems in their Peugeot 205.

Witton Gilbert’s Edward Todd and co-driver Andy Brown suffered a day of frustration in their GTM Coupe, eventually finishing last of the 72 finishers but the real surprise given the conditions was that only 18 crews failed to see to finish.

Brompton shopkeeper Darren Grimston suffered his second retirement in as many events when the head gasket blew on his newly acquired Subaru Impreza he was sharing with Gilling West co-driver Michael Phillips at half way. Stage seven claimed Bishop Auckland Subaru driver John Pye as well as Topcliffe’s Nick Kitching in his Ford Escort plus the Peugeot 205 of Leeming Bar driver Malcolm Taylor.