MIDDLESBROUGH youngster Paul Veazey rounded off a successful 2001 season with a resounding performance in the final round of the Aprilia RS125 Challenge at Brands Hatch last weekend.

The 15-year-old was already guaranteed second place in the series and stood a mathematical chance of winning should his main rival Cal Crutchlow slip up. But despite winning one of the races, Veazey had to settle for an impressive runner-up spot after the 26-race championship.

After machine problems in his last few meetings had ultimately cost him the title, Veazey managed to qualify his GV Decorators-backed machine in seventh place in wet conditions at the Kent circuit before stamping his authority on race day.

In the opening race, he led the field on a drying track before getting mixed up with a back marker on the final lap to allow two other riders to slip by. His third place sealed the championship for Crutchlow.

Veazey gathered his composure to go out in race two and proceeded to decimate the opposition with a superb start to finish victory to win by over three seconds at the chequered flag.

Despite his disappointment, Veazey plans to move up to the 125cc national championship next season and is considering options from two of the UK's top teams prior to making a decision.

l Many local crews will be out in action this weekend when two major rallies take place, with both the Cambrian and Jim Clark events attracting capacity entries.

The Jim Clark Memorial Rally, based around Duns, should have formed part of the British rally championship on its original midsummer date, but with the series cancelled because of foot-and-mouth disease, the organisers have opted to run a non-championship event this weekend.

Osmotherley's David Brown and co-driver Paul Hudson from Darlington will be out in their new Ford Puma 4x4 Evolution for the first time in anger, while Peugeot Super 106 Cup challenger Ryan Champion from Castleton is set to team up with Northallerton's Ian Windress to form a formidable partnership on the closed tarmac lanes of the Borders.

Melsonby driver Barry Pittaway makes only his second appearance of the year and will be co-driven by Newton Aycliffe's Andy Tatham in the Nissan Sunny, while Tristan Pye from Bishop Auckland will be hoping for a good result in his 1600cc Proton Compact.

Other locals in action will be Stokesley's Alun Pearson in a Vauxhall Nova and Richmond brothers Mark and Andy Constantine in their 1400cc version, with Bishop Auckland further represented by Mark Thompson/St John Dykes in their Peugeot 205 and Ian and Andy Legge's Ford Escort. Stokesley driver Jonathan Brown will also be in action in his Nova.

The event starts tonight from Kelso at 7pm with a 15-mile stage at Merse before the overnight halt at Duns, where the rally recommences at 7.30am tomorrow.

Using the event as a shakedown for the forthcoming Network Q Rally GB, Scorton's Steve Petch and Romanby co-driver John Richardson plan to contest the Cambrian Rally in North Wales this weekend in their Hyundai Accent WRC.

Also using the BTRDA Championship event as pre-Rally GB testing is Kepwick businessman Peter Stephenson in his recently acquired Subaru P6 WRC with co-driver Alan Whittaker sat alongside.

Another entrant is Exelby's Chris Lewis, who gives his Food Weighouse Mitsubishi Lancer an airing with Easingwold co-driver Plug Pulleyn reading the maps