Welsh Motorsport

 

MATTHEWS AUTO SALVAGE CAR TRIAL 2009

Photo by Lee of: ENDAF DAVIES with the winners M.A.S. Shield on the Isle of Anglesey, with the Snowdonia mountain range in the background.

The 13 entries received in 2009 tackled 32 tests at the Lledwigan Farm site, near Llangefni. There were four rounds of five traditional climbing tests where BTRDA champion Neil McKay chugged his little FIAT Panda clear of every hill but one to record just 2 marks lost. This would normally be enough to take a clear win, but there were also 3 timed hills, mainly downhill, each run four times. Here, the young rally star, Sion Matthews was dominant driving his forest rally spec 1400cc Vauxhall Nova, which meant a tie with Neil on index score, and Sion's 21 cleans (Zero's) to Neils 20 split them.

However, this was not the end of the story. The Index scoring system where classes come into the equation meant the largest class, that for newish unmodified cars would benefit. And so it was, that the winner of class 1, Endaf Davies claimed his maiden win on a car trial, confusingly driving his nephews SEAT IBIZA, as you can see by the private No. Plate. Perhaps Sion should have used his road car?

Photo of: SION MATTHEWS on a downhill part of a Climb Test in his rally car. 1st in Class.

Another notable performance was of Gruffydd Parry who used his Subaru Legacey Estate, but got locked out a few times with the enormous cars size and four wheel drive. He was quick on the timed tests though!. 2nd least marks on the day was the C&A MC Car Trial Champion, Nigel Griffith in a 1200cc Nova, but the index scoring meant he had to match Sion who was in the same class, and despite coaching one-another when they shared each others passengers seat it was the youngster that won the day.

Paul Cross made the mistake of letting a BTRDA man share his VW Polo, so Duncan Wild duly made Paul wish he hadn't offered by beating the Anglesey man. Paul made up for it though, by later that year securing the ANWCC Car Trial championship crown. Well done Paul! 

Derek Barnes just held onto 2nd in class 1 in his FIAT Punto, while John Waddington enjoyed his first ever Car Trial in a Peugeot 306 D.

Results:

1st Endaf Davies     Ibiza       94

2nd Sion Matthews  Nova     100

3rd Neil McKay         Panda    100

4th Gruffydd Parry  Legacy   100

5th Derek Barnes    Punto      105

6th Duncan Wild      Polo        112

7th Paul Cross         Polo        114

8th Nigel Griffith      Nova       188

9th John Waddington 306      477 

H.W. ROBERTS MEMORIAL TRIAL

Photo: Carey Lindley negociating the little Micra up a Climb Hill to claim the winners trophy.

Supporting the National section of the Trial was a Clubsport event which attempted the same tests as the experts. Carey Lindley came out on top by a conciderable margin in the grey Micra, but the remaining three cars were very close to one-another. So close in fact, the tie decider favoured Wesley Williams from David Jones, who each sat in with the other as bouncer. Keirion Owen kept the two of the honest all day in a Peugeot 309Gti (rare car now-a-days!)

The only retirement of the day was Steve Lee, who started the day with a slipping clutch before even arriving at the venue. It last only one test!

The organisers wish to thank the venue owners and all the marshal voluneers, many of whom had already been up all night on a local road rally.

results:

1st Carey Lindley         Micra     59

2nd Wesley Williams     Corsa    140

3rd David Jones           Astra     140

4th Keirion Owen         309Gti    160