LAST weekend's Grizedale Stages sponsored by Hargreaves Garages saw John Thompson/Mal Capstick take the title by a minute and 23 seconds from David Shuttleworth and Steve Perie but, this gave them enough of a margin to take the Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club Stage Championship title for 2001.

In an event, which saw sixteen crews fail to negotiate the first stage, attrition was high.

Those failing to register a time included Burton's Steve Head/Andrew Dugdale winners of the event in 2000, they secumbed to mechanical failure only seven days after crashing out of the Network Q in spectacular style.

With only limited access to the forest this year due to Foot & Mouth, the tracks weren't as compacted as usual, which could have played a part in the non-finishers, as could the hail and rain which added to the conditions later in the day.

Morecambe's Phil Burton/Mick Fallow in their Driveline supported Escort Mk 2 played their usual crowd pleasing role as they finished in 10th place, 12 places ahead of the next car in the 2-wheel drive class.

Bill Dawes/Danny Stephenson also went on a giant killing mission when they put their 1300 Escort into 34th place which gave them a class win.

For the first time in a few years both Paul and Rick Fry finished the event with Paul in 21st place with Rick in 30th, both in Escort Cosworth's..

The Spirit of the Rally award went to Steve Joel/Glenn Fothergill on their second outing in the Wilding's sponsored Subaru Impreza.

After spending 18 months preparing the car it took three and a half stages to wreck the bodywork at least, when they barrel-rolled the Impreza on the second time through the Dunnerdale stage.

It took several spectators and marshals to get them back on the track but Joel and Fothergill carried on wearing goggles after removing the shattered windscreen at service. They finally finished in 35th place.

Regulations for the 2002 Series are being compiled at the moment and should be available in the New Year from Club-nights and Road & Stage Motorsport.