SPORTING TRIAL: GOLD STAR VEALE MAKES IT TWO FROM THREE

Sporting Trial: Gold Star

Organser: BTRDA When: January 7 Where: Starters: 43 Crewkerne, Somerset

Josh Veale won the BTRDA Sporting Trials Gold Star for the second time in three years at his home site in Crewkerne Somerset on Saturday, while Nick Speed won the Silver Star for second tier drivers, repeating his success of two years ago.

Forty three crews battled over the 30 sections set by outgoing champions Ian and son Sandy Veale. With regular passenger James Washer, Josh Veale had borrowed his father’s car for the day, having only driven it competitively once before two years ago, an event he also won.

Veale led all day, with a superb first round on a high scoring day following some magnificent trickling and blasting as conditions changed on the massively long challenging hills.

Simon Gracey, with young son Samuel passengering, was the nearest challenger but a poor second round damaged his hopes of a maiden Gold Star. He finished 14 points behind.

Reigning double British champion Roland Uglow had a terrible first round that left him down in 15th place, but then was best for the rest of the day to climb up to third overall with Laura Wilks passengering.

John Fack, who won the last qualifying event and regularly stars at the final, made a couple of mistakes that stopped him challenging the podium with the unforgiving conditions.

Andrew Mckinney travelled from across the water with his ex-brian Edgar Gold Starwinning Crossle and finished fifth just ahead of Julian Fack and committee chairman Simon Kingsley, all winning awards for best competitors from regions.

In the second tier of competitors in the Silver Star, Speed had a great day in his Crossle to finish 15th and win the category. Colin Flashman sprung a surprise by pushing him hard finishing second and 20th overall on his first attempt at the final. Tom Mckinney was third in his Concord.