… Galloway Hills Preview and Entry List …
The best and brightest, not to mention the fearless and fastest, will gather this weekend in the south west of Scotland for the Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally on Saturday (14th September).
In a truly ‘international’ line-up crews from all four home nations will gather in Dumfries and Galloway for the final round of the Scottish and British Rally Championships.
There’s an unusual format to this weekend’s rally with two events in one whereby competitors in the KNC Groundworks Scottish Championship will contest 5 forest stages (44 mls) while the British Championship contingent will contest 9 forest stages (75 mls).
The ‘Brits’ will get underway from Dalbeattie first at 08.00 Hrs while the rest will start at 09.30 Hrs.
In another departure from the norm, Rally HQ has moved from Castle Douglas to a brand new facility just outside Dalbeattie where the forestry machinery firm of Jas P Wilson has opened a brand new depot which will be full of rally cars this weekend instead of timber handlers and wood chippers.
Reigning British Rally Champion Matt Edwards heads the 75-mile event entry list in his Ford Fiesta R5 with fellow Welshman Tom Cave running at number 2 in his Hyundai i20 R5 and these two will determine who becomes outright 2019 British Champion. Jonathan Greer (Fiesta R5) and James Wilson (i20 R5) from Northern Ireland run at 3 and 4 with Scotsman (although he now lives in Englandshire!) Alex Laffey at 5 in his Fiesta R5 with England’s Ian Bainbridge completing the top six in his Skoda Fabia R5.
Local interest will centre on the battle for supremacy in the Scottish Championship field which will be led away by three top drivers, and all from the south west, David Bogie, Jock Armstrong and Rory Young. Borderer Euan Thorburn has already clinched the 2019 Scottish title (along with his 2019 BTRDA title) but he won’t be taking part – thanks to a man in a van with a cam!
Although not contesting this year’s Scottish series, Bogie is taking the opportunity to try something different having entered a MINI WRC. Armstrong will be at the wheel of his normal steed, the orange Subaru while local Christmas tree farmer Young will use his Fiesta R5.
Completing the top six line-up is Hamsterley’s Stephen Petch in a Fiesta WRC sandwiched between more Scotsmen, number 5 seed John Wink (if he’s sobered up from last weekend’s Ken Wood birthday party) and one Andrew Gallacher Esq appearing for the first time this year, but not in the Ford Focus which he used to clinch the Scottish title last year, instead a Ford Fiesta R5+.
Being so close to Northern Ireland, there’s no surprise that there is strong representation from across the water including the likes of Joe Hegarty in his Mitsubishi Evo10, the spectacular Shane McGirr in his Toyota Starlet and regular Scottish visitor Paul Mcerlean in his Ford Escort Mk2.
Mind you, Mcerlean will have his work cut out when mixing it with the two local hotshot Mk2 rivals, James Wilson and Mark McCulloch. If you’re spectating, stand well back!
The Scottish Rally
Championship crews are expect back at the Finish Ramp in Threave Gardens at
Castle Douglas from 16:00 Hrs ahead of the British Championship crews around
18:15 Hrs.
Car Parks for spectators have been set up at Dalbeattie Forest 08:00 Hrs (off
the A710 south of Dalbeattie village), Cairn Edward from 10:30 hrs (off the
A762 near the northern end of Loch Ken), Black Loch at 14:00 Hrs (off the A712
at the eastern edge of Goat Park) and Raiders Road from 14:30 Hrs which uses
the same car park as Cairn Edward access.
There is a fully detailed Spectator Pack with times, maps and entry list available
for download at, so get that on your smartphone and you’re good to go:
Entry List:
- 1, David Bogie/John Rowan (Dumfries/Portglenone) Mini JCW WRC, 12
- 2, Jock Armstrong/Cameron Fair (Castle Douglas/Stewarton) Subaru Impreza,10
- 3, Rory Young/Allan Cathers (Dumfries/Brampton) Ford Fiesta R5, 11
- 4, Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Hamsterley/Tow Law) Ford Fiesta WRC, 11
- 5, John Wink/Neil Shanks (Huntly/Elgin) Hyundai i20 R5,11
- 6, Andrew Gallacher/Jane Nicol (Kilmarnock/Edinburgh) Ford Fiesta R5+, 11
- 7, Michael Binnie/Claire Mole (Cornhill-on-Tweed/Duns) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
- 8, Scott Beattie/Paula Swinscoe (Alford/Withnell) Mitsubishi Evo7, 10
- 9, Thomas Gray/Harry Marchbank (Tore/Thornhill) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
- 10, Joe Hegarty/David Turkington (Draperstown/Cookstown) Mitsubishi Evo10,10
- 11, Alan Dickson/Martin Forrest (Glasgow/Bridge of Don ) Mitsubishi Evo9, 10
- 12, Keith Morris/Terry Mallin (Aberdeen/Motherwell) Mitsubishi Evo9, 10
- 14, Ian Baumgart/Sinclair Young (Hawick/Lairg) Subaru Impreza, 9
- 15, Shane McGirr/Liam McIntyre (Fivemiletown/Donegal) Toyota Starlet, 7
- 16, Iain Wilson/Chris Williams (Dalbeattie/Millom) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
- 17, Mark McCulloch/Michael Hendry (Dumfries/Archiestown) Ford Escort Mk2,7
- 18, Duncan MacDonald/Neil Ross (Portree/Portree) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
- 19, Paul Mcerlean/Niall Mckenna (Bellaghy/Draperstown) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
- 20, Gordon Murray/David O’Brien (Perth/Duns) Ford Escort Mk2, 8
- 21, Stuart Egglestone/Brian Hodgson (Penrith/Penrith) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
- 22, John Rintoul/Ross Hynd (Lower Largo/Inverbervie) Skoda Fabia,10
- 23, Peter Stewart/TBA (Dumfries/??) VW Polo S2000, 10
- 24, Kevin Crawford/Andrew Stevenson (Alford/Elgin) Mitsubishi Evo9, 10
- 25, Simon Hay/Mark Fisher (Aberdeen/Workington) Mitsubishi Evo6, 9
- 26, Robert Harkness/Michael Curry (Beith/Thornhill) Mitsubishi Evo7, 10
- 27, Paddy Munro/Keir Beaton (Kyle/Inverness) Ford Escort Mk2,4
- 28, Robert Adamson/Jamie Mactavish (Moscow/Pitlessie) Ford Escort Mk2, 7
- 29, Raymond Doyle/Jarlath Kelly (Pomeroy/Pomeroy) Toyota Corolla, 3
- 30, Bobby Mitchell/Craig Wallace (Dunbar/Kirriemuir) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
- 31, John Lowe/Dave Robson (York/Jedburgh) Ford Escort, 5
- 32, Andrew Robinson/Graham Wilcox (York/TBA) Ford Escort, 5
- 33, David Brown/Steve Bielby (Pickering/Kirbymisperton) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
- 34, Dave Forrest/Charlie Carter (Bradford/Bradford) Ford Escort Mk2,5
- 35, Tom Coughtrie/Ian Fraser (Ayr/Aros) Mitsubishi Galant VR4, 5
- 36, Jude MacDonald/Michael Cruickshank (Inverness/Crieff) Skoda Fabia R2, 3
- 37Matthew Calderwood/Phil Sandham (Rosneath/??) Mitsubishi Evo7,9
- 38, Max Redpath/Callum Redpath (Duns/Duns) Subaru Impreza, 9
- 39, Jan Budge/Bruce Lindsay (Thatcham/Thirsk) Subaru Impreza, 9
- 40, Paul Mckenna/Ethan Colgan (Draperstown/Draperstown) Mitsubishi Evo6, 9
- 41, Mervyn Wilson/Darragh Sheridan (Enniskillen/Enniskillen) Ford Escort, 2
- 42, Douglas Watt/Ian Parker (Inverary/Lochgilphead) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
- 43, Jamie McIntyre/Damian Greenall (Sorn/Ayr) FordEscort Mk2, 8
- 44, Iain Haining/Mark Roberts (Dumfries/Torthorwald) BMW E30, 8
- 45, Ross McFadzean/Shona Hale (St Quivox/Dunfermline) Subaru Impreza, 9
- 46, Brian Little/Adam Semple (Omagh/Limavady) Ford Escort G3,4
- 47, John O’Kane/Meghan O’Kane (Kyle/Kyle) Ford Escort Mk2, 4
- 48, Mike Moates/Gary McDonald (Ellon/Aberdeen) Subaru Impreza, 9
- 49, Paul Collins/Robert Wood (Rosneath/Dumbarton) Subaru Impreza, 9
- 50, Billy Thomson/Ian Windress (Glenlochar/Northallerton) Ford Fiesta,10
- 51, Robert Rook/TBA (Market Weighton/??) Ford Escort MkI,2
- 52, Alistair Brearley/Paul Barbet (Galashiels/Chester) Ford Escort RS, 7
- 53, Scott Peacock/Robin Neil (Castle Douglas/Haugh of Urr) MG ZR,1
- 54, William Pollock/Helen Brown (Cumnock/Auldgirth) Ford Escort MkI,7
- 55, Niall Cowan Jnr/Callum Shanks (Dumfries/Castle Douglas) MG ZR,3
- 56, Chris Lawson/Richard Wardle (Ampleforth/Pickering) Vauxhall Corsa, 3
- 57, Andy Kelly/Roy Campbell (Greenock/Fenwick) Ford Escort Mk1, 5
- 58, Jim Stephenson/Sam Spencer (Market Weighton/Malton) Talbot Sunbeam Ti, 5
- 59, Christopher Rankin/Alex Knight (Banbury/Towcester) BMW 318 Compact, 7
- 60, Hector MacInnes/Jenny O’Kane (Isle of Skye/Kyle of Lochalsh) Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 9
- 61. Niall Cowan Snr/Clare MacKenzie (Dumfries/Inverness) MG ZR,3
- 62, Donald Peacock/Albert Connelly (Castle Douglas) Peugeot 205 GTi, 2
- 63, Rhuaridh Campbell/Michael Moates (Glenshiel/Bridge of Don) Chrysler Sunbeam, 7
- 64, David McLeod/Eamonn Boyle (Mauchline/Kilmarnock) Chrysler Sunbeam, 7
- 65, Caroline Carslaw/Charley Sayer-Payne (Dunlop/Glasgow) Ford Fiesta R2, 3
- 66, Fraser Smith/Steven Brown (Houston/Fort William) Honda Civic, 3
- 67, Johnnie Mackay/Emily Easton-Page (Newburgh/Finzean) Ford Fiesta ST, 6
- 68, Darren McDonald/Susan Shanks (Mosstodloch/Elgin) Subaru Impreza GC8, 9
- 69, Paul Rawson/Paul Wild (Bradford/Keighley) Ford Escort MkI, 5
- 70, Ian Milne/Dawn Milne (Brechin/Brechin) Ford Escort Mk2, 5
- 71, Nikki Addison/Rachel Matheson (Inverness/Inverness) Peugeot 106 GTI, 3
- 72, Bryan Gourlay/Scott Gourlay (Colvend/Dalbeattie) Peugeot 205 GTI, 2
- 73, Aileen Forrest/John Forrest (Inverurie/Inverurie) Mitsubishi Evo5, 9
- 74, Barry Meeke/TBA (Dungannon) Nissan Micra, 1
- 75, Austin Snow/John Henderson (Omagh/Portadown) Mitsubishi Evo9, 9
- 101, Matt Edwards/Patrick Walsh (Colwyn Bay/Aberystwyth) Ford Fiesta R5, BRC1
- 102, Tom Cave/Dale Bowen (Aberdovey/Hirwaun) Hyundai i20 R5, BRC1
- 103, Jonathan Greer/Dai Roberts (Belfast/Llanelli) Ford Fiesta R5, BRC1
- 104, James Wilson/Arthur Kierans (Armagh/Monaghan) Hyundai i20 R5, BRC1
- 105, Alex Laffey/Stuart Loudon (Lower Peover/Glasgow) Ford Fiesta R5, BRC1
- 106, Ian Bainbridge/Giles Dykes (Barnard Castle) Skoda Fabia R5, NRC
- 107, Alan Carmichael/Claire Williams (Ballymoney/Ammanford) Hyundai i20 R5, BRC1
- 108, Enda McCormack/Colin Fitzgerald (New York/Cork) Hyundai i20 R5, BRC1
- 109, William Creighton/Liam Regan (Moira/Belfast) Peugeot 208, JBRC
- 110, James Williams/Tom Woodburn (Newcastle Emlyn/Morecambe) Ford Fiesta R2T, JBRC
- 111, Marty Gallagher/Dean O’Sullivan (Letterkenny/Raphoe) Ford Fiesta R2T, JBRC
- 112, Jordan Hone/Paul Hone (Claudy/Claudy) Opel Adam R2, JBRC
- 113, Fraser Mulholland/Geoff Patterson (Hillsborough/Hillsborough) Mitsubishi Evo9, NRC
- 114, Richard Dickson/Roger Alcorn (New Abbey/Castle Douglas) Subaru Impreza, NRC
- 115, Angus Lawrie/Paul Gribben (Castle Douglas/Annan) Citroen C2 R2 Max, NRC
- 116, Keith Riddick/Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr/Dumfries) MG ZR, NRC
- 117, Ruairi Bell/Darren Garrod (London/Pwllheli) Ford Fiesta R2T, JBRC
- 118, Finlay Retson/Richard Crozier (Inverness/Stonehaven) Ford Fiesta R2T, JBRC
- 119, Duncan Campbell/Shannon Turnbull (Mauchline/Cleland) Subaru Impreza, NRC
- 120, Grant Inglis/Robert Gray (Glasgow/Glasgow) Ford Escort Mk2, NRC
- 121, Linzi Henderson/Tom Hynd (Carnwath/Inverbervie) Ford Fiesta R2T, NRC
- 122, Ernie Lee/Patricia Milligan (Ellon/Ellon) BMW 325i, NRC