By Paul Evans

Ieaun and Owain Rowlands won the Minafon Garage Gareth Hall Memorial Rally by just one second in their Ford Escort Mk2, after a mistake on the final stage cost Dave Paveley/Rich Jones victory in their Mitsubishi Evo.

The battle for honours over the damp and slippery Ranges Motor Sports Centre near Trawsfynydd saw the lead change six times during the exciting 12 stage event.

Rowlands, who had been delayed early on with an engine misfire, and Paveley were neck and neck going into the final stage, but a mistake on a hairpin cost the Llandudno-based driver time – and victory by the smallest of margins.

Geoff Jones came home third in his Escort, co-driven by North Wales Air Ambulance auction winner Chris Shaw. It was only a wrong tyre choice that put them adrift of the top two, after an excellent performance on the Bala and District Motor Club-organised event.

Gethin Jones/Tomos Williams took a commanding class victory in their 1400cc Vauxhall Nova, also scoring an incredible fourth place overall finish. Geoff McQuilling guided his Honda Civic to a 1600cc class win after a close battle with Gary Ollerenshaw, while Huw Jones took the road rally class in a hired Escort Mk2.

Gareth Hall Memorial Rally – top 10 finishers
1. Ieaun Rowlands / Owain Rowlands (Ford Escort Mk2)….20m24s
2. Dave Paveley / Rich Jones (Mitsubishi Evo 3)….+01s
3. Geoff Jones / Chris Shaw (Ford Escort Mk2)….+25s
4. Gethin Jones / Tomos Williams (Vauxhall Nova)….+1m21s
5. Myf Owen / Baz Green (Mitsubishi Evo 9)….+1m23s
6. Hefin Lloyd Davies / Gerallt Williams (Vauxhall Corsa)….+1m30s
7. John Rowlands / Catrin Price (Ford Escort Mk2)….+1m39s
8. Geoff McQuilling / Stephen Landen (Honda Civic)….+1m42s
9. Gary Ollerenshaw / Dion Morley (Honda Civic)….+1m52s
10. Huw Jones / Aled Davies (Ford Escort Mk2)….+2m00s