THE DG Jones Agri Ltd. Powys Lanes Rally organised by Epynt Motor Club took place at the start of November. The road rally was based on the Royal Welsh Showground, from where 75 crews started a 120-mile route at just before midnight.

The field were led away by last year’s winners, George Williams and Epynt Motor Club member Jon Hawkins from Llandefallte, but slippery conditions ensued through the night due to heavy rain, making the event a true test for driver, navigator and car.

The highlight of the first half saw the crews head through Beulah and Abergwesyn to tackle the infamous Devil’s Staircase, and around Llyn Brianne Reservoir to Cilycwm.

After a halfway halt in Llandovery, the second half started under the scenic backdrop of Cynghordy viaduct for a small loop back to Llandovery. From there the crews headed through Halfway, Pentre’r Felin, Llanfihangel Nant Bran, Pont Faen and Merthyr Cynog before returning to Builth via Upper Chapel and Gwenddwr.

This was the eighth running of the DG Jones Agri Ltd Powys Lanes Rally and each year the rally has been won by a Ford Escort MKII. The event sponsor Gerwyn Jones of D G Jones Agri Ltd, who drove his own Escort MKII as course car on the night, said ‘As an incentive again this year we were offering a free entry on next year’s event for the first non-Ford Escort to win the rally but the Escort remained unbeatable and the free entry couldn’t be claimed.’

The overall winners were Kevin Davies and Dale Bowen (pictured courtesy of JMS Photographic) in a Ford Escort MKII, who made it a hat trick after winning the event twice previously, with a total penalty of 6:26 minutes.

Local competitors included a number of Epynt and Brecon Motor Club crews. Craig Jones, from Brecon, who was co-driven by Ian Taylor in a Subaru Impreza finished 12th overall with a penalty of 12:56 minutes. Brian Jones from Llanwrtyd Wells, driving his Ford Escort MKII with new navigator Jenny Evans on the maps, finished 14th overall and won the Best Mixed Crew award, with a penalty of 13:46 minutes.

Clive Jones, from Llandrindod Wells, navigated by Daniel Jones, in another Subaru Impreza, finished 23rd overall with a penalty of 18:02 minutes.

The Best Epynt Motor Club Driver award was won by Marcus Naylor from Brecon, who finished in 42nd position with navigator Shane Cairns, in a Peugeot 205 GTi. Eurwyn ‘Wiggy’ Davies from Llandovery, who was navigated by Elgan Davies, finished 50th in his Peugeot 205 GTi after picking up a fail for missing a code board, leaving the pair with a penalty of 1 fail 28:13 minutes.

Novice Brecon Motor Club crew David Barrell and Sarah Canning from Abergavenny, also missed a code board and therefore finished just behind at 51st overall with a penalty of 1 fail 33:22 minutes in a Peugeot 205.

Last year’s winners George and Jon suffered early on in the event after missing a code board on the Abergwesyn loop. They then got their Ford Escort MKII stuck in a farmyard but managed to get the car mobile again. They lost considerable time and finished in 55th place with a penalty of 8 fails 12:19 minutes, but Jon still won the award for Best Epynt Motor Club Navigator. The pair also set two fastest times during the night showing that they had not lost any of their pace from last year.

Ceri Davies, clerk of the course, said: “Epynt Motor Club value the assistance of local residents and we thank them for their co-operation in the running of this event.”

Since 2011 the Powys Lanes Rally has donated £9,920 to charitable causes, including £300 each to eight local primary schools along last year’s route. This year the event raised money for The Bracken Trust and CREDU Powys Young Carers.