WELSHMAN Gwyn Thomas scored his hat-trick after outpacing his rivals on the Neil Howard Memorial Stage Rally.

The Puma pilot, winner in 2001 and 2002, finished the two-day event just one minute ahead of John Hardman.

Third place went to Mark Skillicorn.

Organisers Bolton-le-Moors Car Club produced a well-received rally, which took in the familiar perimeter roads around the Park Hall leisure complex at Charnock Richard, together with a brand-new venue at Trax Motorsports.

The one-mile kart circuit at Preston Docks proved popular with competitors and spectators alike.

"A huge thanks to everyone that entered and marshalled," said assistant clerk-of-the-course, Neil Bye, who lives in Burnley.

"The crews I spoke to all seemed to be having fun and that's what matters.

"The event was very well received by crews and spectators alike."

Over the two days, competitors tackled 16 special stages, totalling 30 miles.

In addition, a trophy rally was open to competitors who failed the complete the first ten stages of the main event, and the second day also saw a stand-alone rally for Peugeot 205 drivers.

Blackburn businessman Russell Morgan turned in a strong performance to finish seventh overall in his Ciceley-sponsored Ford Escort Mk1.

F1000 competitor Steve Johnson, from Accrington, proved that less is more by finishing second in his class and 13th overall in his little one-litre Nissan Micra.

Co-driven by daughter Heather, the well-known autotest champion produced a neat and tidy performance to embarrass many of his more powerful rivals.

The result handed Johnson maximum points in his bid for the 2006 SD34 and ANWCC championships.

Two East Lancashire crews suffered first-day retirements, but both returned on the second day for Trophy Rally glory.

Father-and-son pairing Colin and Mark Blunt, from Rossendale, went out on stage ten in their Peuegot 205Gti, but took a well-earned Trophy victory.

Blackburn's Nigel Worswick, a three-times winner of the Neil Howard, went for an early bath on day one went the flywheel bolts sheared on his 30-year-old Ford Escort Mk2.

Repaired for the Trophy Rally, Worswick and co-driver Rebecca Shiel were enjoying themselves so much in the lead that they did an extra lap on stage 13 - the resulting penalty dropping them down to third place.

In the 205 section, former works pilot Kevin Furber, from Hapton, surprised no-one by winning, with Trawden husband-and-wife pairing of Ian and Christine Winstanley finishing fifth.