MANY local crews won silverware at last weekend’s Axon Severn Valley Stages, writes Paul Willetts.

The Builth Wells-based event saw opening round of the British Rally Championship combined with the Fuchs British Historic Rally Championship and Pirelli Welsh National championship.

There were some 52 miles over seven tests mainly in the Myherin and Tarenig complex with a 18-mile final stage.

The 115-car entry faced a tough day of sleet, hail, snow and rain.

Top local finishers were Bob Morgan and Adrian Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda Fabia R5 in 21st overall but sixth in the Interclub section and a good haul of Welsh championship points despite a very time-consuming puncture.

Geoff Phelps welcomed back regular co-driver Colin Jenkins in the Cherry Rock Farm Escort RS1600 and continued recent good form with a class win and 38th overall

Jeremy Easson and Mike Reynolds dusted off the beautiful Datsun 240Z as the Escort engine rebuild wasn't finished.

A sensible run secured 52nd overall & second in class.

Just one place behind was the Hopgrove-backed Mk1 Escort of Dave Hopkins and Siobhan Pugh who finished 53rd and second in class.

Jeremy Harris with daughter Alex took home valuable Welsh championship points in the Kilcot Garage Edge Networks, Country Construction & Gurney Family Butchers Escort Mexico in 77th fifth in class.

The event was won by former British champion Osian Pryce together with James Morgan debuting his new Castrol-backed Toyota Yaris Rally 2 beating team mates Merion Evans and Dale Furniss in a similar car by 19 seconds.

There were last stage retirements for Jonathan Jones who had Cliffy Simmons co-driving his Evo 10 which went into a ditch.

The GB Motorservices Subaru Impreza Stationwagon of Gary Bollands and Nigel Baldwin also retired, reason unknown.

A total of 83 cars made it to the finish.