‘C.A.R. Centre’ Charterhall Stages - Saturday, 29th March 2003

Rally Report by Dave MacLellan

Mike Glendinning and Dave Thompson from Stocksfield in their Subaru Impreza won the C.A.R. Centre of Kelso supported 2003 Charterhall Stages for the second year in succession.They finished over a minute clear of  Musselburgh’s Robin Hamilton/Vanessa Rawson with their MG Metro 6R4, the Mitsubishi Evo 7 of Ian Peake/George Tindall from Ponteland were placed third.

The organising club had attracted a quality entry of eighty crews contesting no fewer than four titles, the Rallyaction PR Scottish Tarmack Championship, the NE Continious/Techservices North of England Series, the ESACC Stage Rally Championship and the Anderson (Builders) Scottish Borders Rally Championship promoted by the host club.

Brilliant sunshine brought out spectators in their hundreds for this annual Charterhall Stages event organised by Border Ecosse Car Club which was run over the perimeter roads of the old wartime airfield and former racing circuit at Charterhall, near Duns. With the recent dry spell came the added problem of dust which made negotiating the course rather hazardous at times for the competing crews.

Lauder’s Nigel Atkinson, partnered by Dave Robson from Ancrum were top border crew finishing in fourth place overall with their Escort Cosworth.

In a highly-creditable fifth place were the Coldstream pairing of Des Campbell and Christine Sanderson, they were the ‘talking point of the day’, grabbing the limelight with a series of unbelievable times, including third fastest on the final stage, aboard their ‘Team Twin Cam’ Suzuki-powered Nova 1300.

Another quick 1300 duo, Craig Curry/John Straughan from Berwick, also set some good times in their Astra Mk1 however a spin on the opening stages cost them time but still managed to claw back valuable seconds to finish 7th overall by the end of the day.

George Anderson/Johnny Millar from Chirnside took 8th place with their ‘Cheviot Motorsport’ prepared Mitsubishi Lancer. The immaculate ‘Border Farm Supplies’ supported Mk11 Escort of Kelso’s Ian Watson/Tom Clark were placed ninth on the final leaderboard.

St Boswells driver Andrew Borthwick with Duns navigator Fiona Gourlay clinched 13th overall. This was their first outing with their newly acquired 2 litre rear-wheel-drive Vauxhall Astra.

Meanwhile, Gary Stevenson and Dale Robertson from Duns finished in 14th place aboard their Subaru Impreza.

Hawick partnership of Barry and Paul Hogg stopped the clocks in 22nd place overall in their 1300 Suzuki Swift.

Jedburgh’s Brian Middlemas/Stuart Bruce with their trusty Hillman Avenger won class 5 in 24th place overall with the Opel Manta of Iain and George Rettie from Hawick placed 30th on the results.

St Boswells crew of Ryan Borthwick/Keith Richardson finished 34th with their 1300 Vauxhall Nova and George Knox (St Boswells) and Robert Hay from Kelso were placed 37th overall

Ian and Gary Anderson from Innerleithen had a day full of problems including two punctures on one stage, this dropped them well down the order to finish 52nd.

This demanding circuit as usual had it’s share of retirals, 28 in all with five locals taking an ‘early bath’. Jock Threadgall/Willie Mallen retired their Subaru Impreza on the second stage with mechanical problems. Kelso’s Scott Threadgall/Mike Dickson broke a ball-joint and lost a wheel on the early stages of the event. Jedburgh’s Maxwell brothers Ian and Alistair retired Their 2.0 Astra with a broken drive-shaft on stage 2.

Copyright © 2002 Berwick & District Motor Club, Border Ecosse Car Club
Last modified: 30/05/03