The start control was located slap bang on the historic Hadrian’s Wall and the opening regularity crossed the World Heritage Site no fewer than three times before heading South to finish in sight of the landmark Hexham Abbey. This opening section set the pattern of the night with Roger & Leigh Powley (Porsche 911) dropping just 10 seconds, the glorious sounding Ferrari Dino of McAlpine/Proctor close behind on 18 and Tyson/ Harrison on 21. A cunningly placed route board in a lay-by foxed the Guthrie/Millar (Volvo Amazon) and Mankin/Bearpark (Clan) who both dropped a massive 10 minutes and a slow starting Entwhistle/ Hargreaves lost 4 with a wrong slot.

The route headed North via a series of yellows in the Matfen and Ryal area, with patchy fog starting to create an additional hazard for drivers. The nights first retirement was the Blake’s Lancia Fulvia which had been struggling with a desperate lack of brakes although it was a wheel bearing failure which forced them to head for home. Cardale/ Littlefield (Ford Anglia) lost 5 minute going back for a missed code board and Norman/ Garstang dropped a similar amount with a wrong slot.

Turning North, the route meandered up the North Tyne valley before a neutral section through Birtley village, where Bland/ Murray retired their unique Marina van, brought crews to the second regularity which used the twisty yellow over Buteland Fell. While the Powleys dropped a mere 2 seconds, Steve and Ian Mitchell (Alfa Romeo) 14 and Entwhistle/Hargreaves (Cooper S) 16, the Everitt/ Dixon Triumph 2000 slid off on a deceptive corner and took some 9 minutes to regain the road. The first half finished with a section over the 9 mile Plashetts yellow which features many blind brows, unmarked bends and, on this particular evening, a large number of errant sheep wandering all over the place. As the crews rolled into the petrol halt, the Powleys led, having dropped just 12 seconds, Tyson/ Harrison were on 34 and McAlpine on 274 having dropped a couple of minutes at TC.3. Gordon and Lisa Furness retired their Wolseley Hornet here with carburettor problems and the little Citroen Dyane of the Eland brothers was to go no further.

The second half got underway heading over the moors close to Great Wanney Crag before a regularity climbing over Hareshaw Head and using a “Not As Map” loop over the local artillery range. McAlpine/ Proctor were best on this one, dropping just 22 seconds, Tyson/Harrison were on 52 and the Cortina MK1 of Jones/ Burton on 59 while the Powleys uncharacteristically lost a couple of minutes, surrendering the lead.

The undulating yellow running past High Green and Thorneyburn caused all manner of problems, McAlpine/ Proctor dropped 4 minutes, the “Yumps” obviously not suiting the Ferrari while both the Mitchells and Everitt/ Dixon had time consuming off road excursions. Penalties were light however as the route hugged the North Tyne river for a few miles before climbing up over Dunterley Fell and skirted the massive Kielder Forest before a section featuring the famous Warksburn yellows where ice made added the already treacherous conditions.

The rally finished with a regularity which featured, you’ve guessed it, another two crossings of Hadrian’s Wall, ending almost back at the Chollerford starting point. Tyson/Harrison sealed victory here, dropping just 11 seconds, the Agnew/ palmer Porsche were next up on 19 with the novice crew of Jenkins/ Hargreaves (MGB GT) on 29 and McAlpine/Proctor on 40, the Powleys unusually dropping a minute at the final control.

While competitors tucked in to a hearty supper back in the village hall, results were swiftly forthcoming and showed a clear win for Tyson/ Harrison who were tackling the vent for the first time. The Powleys long trip up from Chester was rewarded with the runners up spot, McAlpine/ Proctor took the final podium place (and probably the spectator’s award for the night’s most glorious sounding car!). The Novice class went to Jenkins/ Hargreaves MGB while the Spirit of the rally award went, deservedly to the Series 3 Land Rover of Donald and Elidh Urquhart who brought the unwieldy vehicle home in a fine 12th place, the navigator, incidentally, is only 12 years old !!