Sparrow and Pickard overcome squabbling drivers to win John Overend Memorial at Melbourne

John Overend Memorial Rally

Organiser: North Humberside MC When: May 15 Where: Melbourne, nr York Championship: Roadrunner Phoenix Awards ANEMMC; Alexander Calder Financial EMAMC; Heck Sausages ANCC; ANWCC; Melbourne Challenge; Kick Start Junior 1000 Stages: 8 Starters: 65

It took three stages before James Sparrow and Phil Pickard got into their stride but, once ahead, the Subaru Impreza pairing proved unbeatable.

Dave Hornbrook/matthew Sample’s Mitsubishi Lancer E4 had a seven-second lead on the opener, from Terry Pressdee/ Mark Broadbent’s Impreza, but mechanical maladies forced them to stop on stage two while Presdee forged ahead.

Gary Wayne/luke Tomkinson’s Impreza took over the lead from Pressdee, but they were split by Sparrow on stage three as Wayne’s lead reduced by two seconds.

From stage four, it was Sparrow all the way, easing himself clear as Wayne and Pressdee followed.

But it was any one from four for fourth place before Ian Tiffany/graham White’s Impreza sealed the position from stage four, with John Saunders’ Metro 6R4 and Nick Stamper completing the top five after David Longfellow’s Impreza suffered clutch failure with a stage to go.

In Junior 1000, Josh and Tommy Mcerlean’s Peugeot 107 was never headed, finishing over a minute up on Peter Bennett/ Arthur Kierans’ Skoda Citigo.

Results

1 James Sparrow/ Phil Pickard (Subaru Impreza) 58m29s; 2 Gary Wayne/ Luke Tomkinson (Impreza) +21s; 3 Terry Pressdee/ Mark Broadbent (Impreza); 4 Ian Tiffany/ Graham White (Impreza); 5 John Saunders/tony Hart (MG Metro 6R4); 6 Nick Stamper/ Matt Daniels (Impreza); 7 David Benson/ Steven Benson (Honda Civic); 8 Steve Adamson/ Marcus Blenkinsop (Impreza); 9 Chris Greenall/james Greenall (Vauxhall Nova); 10 Kevin Franks/ Craig Walley (Ford Escort).

Class winners

Luke Myers/ Clive Escreet (Nissan Micra); Jonathan Williams/ David Longhawn (Peugeot 205); Benson/ Benson; Franks/ Walley; Charles Wilson/ Maurice Pook (Ford Escort Mk2); Josh Mcerlean/ Tommy Mcerlean (Peugeot 107).