Janna Turner (centre) with Alex Johnstone (left) and Deborah Taylor Dyer with the Flock2Flight display. Wonderwool Wales, the award-winning show that celebrates all that’s great about Welsh wool and natural fibres, is on target go achieve 6,000 visitors this coming weekend. The event, which is being held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, exceeded 4,000 online ticket sales at https://wonderwoolwales.ticketsrv.co.uk last week and the organisers expect more to be sold in the coming days, as well as at the gate. Overseas visitors will be travelling from as far away to Australia, America and Canada, including a party of 18 booked with Rowan Tree Travel. Tickets cost £12 per day or £22 for the weekend and young people aged under 16 years get in free. “Online ticket sales are ahead of where they normally are and we could well have 6,000 visitors this year, “ said Wonderwool Wales director Chrissie Menzies. “We are delighted that the event is becoming ever more popular because it costs around £120,000 to stage and any surplus is reinvested.” The show will have around 220 exhibitors, including around 40 newcomers this year. Some of the new exhibitors are Gary Jones Ceramics from Leintwardine, Phoenix Pottery from Conwy, the Museum of Welsh Textiles, Knighton and the Indian Block Print Company from Bicester. Another newcomer is Glamorgan Smallholders’ Great Glamorgan Sock Project, which involves members making a pair of socks from each sheep breed in the county. Certain to attract a lot of interest will be ‘Flock2Flight’, an engaging display of felted birds which measures 10 metres by three metres. It’s the creation of fibre artist Janna Turner and two friends, Alex Johnstone and Deborah Taylor Dyer. Both Shepton Mallet based Janna, who runs Flocks2Felts, and Alex are no strangers to Wonderwool Wales. Janna was project lead and felting advisor to a special, eight-metre long exhibition entitled Alice in Wonderwool in 2022. This year, Janna is featuring colourful birds in the display, some of which include wooden mechanics to make them fly. For example, there’s a small flock of swallows that fly in circles, a zipwire bird, a diving kingfisher, bird marionettes and hand puppets. “When we did the Alice in Wonderwool display in 2022, people were not allowed to touch the exhibits,” said Janna. “This time, I will be encouraging people to engage with the birds and have a play as they walk around. I just love seeing their reactions. There are also hand puppets for people to take selfies with.” Money raised by the display will be donated to the Wales Air Ambulance and Ukrainian charity NGO Molotok, Wonderwool Wales’ adopted charities. This year’s event will see nine Woolschool afternoon workshops each day, with only a limited number of spaces left. The Woolschools, which give visitors the chance to learn or perfect their skills with help from an expert, can be booked online at the Wonderwool Wales website. Another popular feature, the Sheep Walk fashion show, will keep the audience entertained on both days. This year, all visitors are being encouraged to knit, crochet or make and wear their own beanie or hat to add colour to the event. Stewards will be awarding vouchers to the best hats on both days. Wonderwool Wales 2023 Bursary winners Jade Carey Holt, from Aberystwyth and Kay-lee Davies, from Capel Dewi, near Llandysul, will be exhibiting their work on stand C1. To tantalise the tastebuds, new street food caterers join the popular regulars to provide a wider menu for show visitors. Wonderwool Wales was first held in 2006 to promote the market for Welsh wool and to add value to products made by small wool and fibre producers in Wales. The show celebrates the green credentials of Welsh wool and its versatility as a material for creative crafts, designer clothes, home furnishings and more. Wonderwool Wales covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process. Exhibits of sheep, raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books can be found alongside superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings. Find out more about the 2024 show at www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk , like Wonderwool Wales Ltd on Facebook or follow on Twitter @wonderwoolwales The Sheep Walk fashion show at last year’s Wonderwool Wales.
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The challenging Devil’s Staircase awaits runners on October 5. A busy year of wacky and wonderful outdoor activities in Llanwrtyd Wells, reputedly the smallest town in Britain, continues with the Welsh Open Stone Skimming Competition on Sunday, May 26. The Mid Wales town has developed a reputation for organising a series of off the wall outdoor activities since 1980 under the leadership of Green Events. Welsh Open Stone Skimming Competition starts at around 10.30am at the Manor Adventure Centre, with online entries at the Green Events website - https://www.green-events.co.uk - or on the day. Entrants must be eight years and above. Next event on the Llanwrtyd Wells calendar is the famous Whole Earth Man v Horse Race on June 8, which has a full entry list already. The event will be supported by refreshments, a bar and music. Drovers’ Walks will be held on June 22 when walkers will follow in the footsteps of the drovers of old who used to drive their sheep, cattle, pigs and geese across the mountains to the market towns of England. There is a choice of a 12 or 20 mile walk through the beautiful summer countryside around Llanwrtyd Wells. One of the checkpoints will be sited at the location of an old drovers' inn, which is re-opened for the day, serving locally brewed traditional ale and other refreshments. August 10 is the date of the Cider Cycle, a sociable, non-competitive mountain bike ride over a marked course with the opportunity of sampling cider – and other drinks - along the route. This route is suitable for all standards of mountain bike riders with challenges for the more experienced. August Bank Holiday weekend, August 24 and 25, see two major events, beginning with the Chapel Bogathlon, a mud run crossed with a triathlon, which this year includes a 60 yard swim first, followed by a two mile mountain bike and a one mile run. All three disciplines are off road and involve mud and water. Next day, Sunday, the Chapel World Bogsnorkelling Championships will be held, a mix of madness and effort. Competitors either compete to be the fastest snorkeller over 120 yards, with no arm strokes permitted, or to win the best costume category. The current fastest time record is one minute 12.34 seconds, which was set in 2023. There are trophies in various categories and the event has refreshments, a bar and live music. The Mid Wales Four Day Walking Festival will be held from September 18 to 21. Running since 1980, this festival attracts walkers from around the world with way-marked routes of 12 or 20 miles. Later in the year, the Trailhead Get Jerky Devils Staircase ultra trail run will be held on October 5, covering around 30 miles over a very tough course. This endurance race has a total ascent and descent of about 4,700ft, starting and finishing at the Neuadd Arms in the centre of Llanwrtyd Wells. The race route combines a mixture of tarmacadam road, forest tracks, bogland, farmland and river crossings. The Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon, which is held to raise both awareness and funding for MNDA, will be held on October 20 over a tough and quite hilly course. November 16 sees the Real Ale Wobble, a sociable, non-competitive mountain bike ride which involves the chance of sampling real ale en route. This event is suitable for all standard of riders with special sections for the more experienced. The Real Ale Ramble, on November 23 and 24, is held annually in conjunction with the 10-day Mid Wales Beer Festival. The ramble begins from the Town Square and follows either of two waymarked routes of 12 or 20 miles and two guided routes of five and eight miles with free real ales available at checkpoints. For full details of these and other events, visit www.green-events.co.uk , email bob.g@green-events.co.uk or call 01591 610666 or 07856 357754. Green Events is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation representing around 600 tourism and hospitality business across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia. Gregynog, one of Wales’ leading country houses and former home of art collectors and music lovers Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, is to host two music and dance events next week. The picturesque venue, located at Tregynon, near Newtown, welcomes virtuoso violinist Ezo Sarici and her fellow Menuhin School graduate, guitarist Finlay Hay, on Monday, April 29 with tickets available for £15 at https://www.wegottickets.com/event/616557/ . The brilliant musicians will perform ‘Two to Tango’, a programme including pieces by Astor Piazzola and Ana Carla Maza, a selection of tango and folk inspired music. Ezo and Finlay requested to perform and generously donate the proceeds to Gregynog’s roof appeal in exchange for a night's accommodation. Next day, Tuesday, Jones the Dance will take centre stage when they perform ‘Y Dewis’, a combined live and film experience, with tickets costing £12 or £9 for students and children at https://www.wegottickets.com/event/611055/ . Jones the Dance used to be known as Gwyn Emberton Dance, named after Gwyn, an internationally acclaimed choreographer who grew up in Montgomery. One hour before each 7pm show, Gregynog will run a short, fun dance workshop to give participants of all ages and abilities a chance to test their choreography skills. A duo as schoolmates, Ezo and Finlay have reunited to share their musical heritage and passion. Together again for a brief series, they blend traditional melodies from their homelands with the sultry rhythms of tango, coming together for a harmonious celebration of a shared joy in music. For more information about Gregynog, visit https://gregynog.org/ . Aerial view of the Royal Welsh Show. The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) is to hold a business breakfast on May 3 to promote opportunities for Ceredigion based businesses and organisations at the 2024 Royal Welsh Show. This event at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter will be an opportunity for businesses in and around Ceredigion to make new connections with partners, suppliers and potential clients. The breakfast will also be a chance to learn more about how businesses can get involved and work with the RWAS during Ceredigion’s year as the show’s feature county. Attendees will hear from key RWAS officeholders, including chief executive Aled Rhys Jones, about the upcoming show, the charitable aims and objectives of the RWAS and the various sponsorship packages and retail opportunities available. The event is free to attend and will take place in the Lloyd Thomas Dining Hall, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter Campus, from 9am to midday. Light breakfast refreshments will be included. To register an interest and dietary requirements, businesses are asked to email sponsorship@rwas.co.uk . Booking is first come, first served. A previous ASAO Conference at the Royal Welsh Showground. Up to 80 show and event organisers from across Wales and influential speakers are due to attend a conference in Mid Wales next week. The Agricultural Shows Conference of Wales will be held at the International Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on Friday, April 26. Supported by the Association of Shows and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS), the conference brings together representatives from Welsh agricultural, horticultural, equine and countryside events. They work together to share best practice between agricultural societies and related organisations. The conference is a great opportunity for ASAO members to meet and discuss upcoming agricultural shows in Wales. RWAS chief executive, Aled Rhys Jones will welcome delegates before Amy Smith from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), gives an update in a session chaired by Dafydd, RWAS vet. Other morning speakers are Hannah Thomas, ITV Wales rural affairs correspondent, who will deliver a media session on protests, politics and the media, ASAO secretary Paul Hooper, who will provide an update. The afternoon will see addresses from Caroline Westwood, senior lecturer in events management at Sheffield Hallam University and Dr Greg Langridge-Thomas, of Builth Wells Event Safety Group, who will speak about the changing roles and expectations of agricultural shows. Jon Williams, Powys County Council’s economy projects support officer, will talk about grant funding opportunities in session chaired by Wales YFC chief executive Mared Rand Jones, followed by an open forum, chaired by Geraint James, RWAS Festival honorary director and closing remarks from Rachel Powell, RWAS head of operations. The conference is sponsored by Event Operations Specialists (EOS), TICKETsrv, Fingers & Forks, Orion Print, Entrymaster and DCRS Radios. Entrymaster offers online competition, event and registration solutions with bespoke software branded with your logo, to seamlessly connect with your website. DCRS services include the hire and sale of voice and data radio communication systems, bodycams and applications. Register attendance for free at https://rwas.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/ASAO2024 . To view the full event programme please go to the RWAS website: https://rwas.wales/whats-on/asao-agricultural-shows-conference-of-wales/ . For further information, contact Helen Evans at helen@rwas.co.uk. Matt and Nicky Capner from Silver Service Executive Travel, Russell Cooke, Kerry Vale Vineyard owners and Page Eades and Sam Parker from Marrington Escapes. A vineyard on the Shropshire border with Wales is hoping to join forces with a number of local businesses in an effort to boost local tourism and promote the area. Last Friday, Kerry Vale Vineyard, near Montgomery, invited a group of local businesses to a wine tasting afternoon to sample wine and discuss ways of working together to boost rural tourism and ensure sustainable economic growth. The award-winning local wine producer has taken a significant step towards fostering community spirit and economic growth by hosting the successful trade tasting event. The event achieved its aim of bringing together local hospitality providers, offering them a chance to sample exquisite wines with the hope of featuring them in their establishments. The afternoon gathering was more than just a wine tasting - it was a collaborative effort to strengthen rural tourism and promote sustainable economic growth. Passionate advocates for the local area, vineyard owners Russell and Janet Cooke are committed to showcasing the Shropshire/Powys borderlands as an enticing holiday destination. “Tourism is a vital economic driver for rural communities,” said Russell. “By uniting with local businesses, we all stand to gain which in turn bolsters business opportunities for all.” The event saw participation from a diverse group of local businesses, including a wine merchant, various accommodation providers, restaurants, cafes and even a private travel firm interested in conducting local tours. This initiative is a testament to the community’s shared vision of promoting regional attractions and ensuring visitors have memorable experiences. Paige Eades from Marrington Escapes said: “Kerry Vale Vineyard is a charming local attraction that our guests will undoubtedly enjoy when visiting Shropshire and beyond. The afternoon was a fantastic opportunity to foster local connections and spark collaborative ideas for future partnerships.” Nicky Capner from Silver Service Executive Travel added: “We came away so excited about the prospect of building Kerry Vale Vineyard into our new tour adventure. We’re optimistic that this marks the start of long-term partnerships that will mutually enhance our businesses.” The vineyard is nestled in picturesque landscape on the Shropshire/Powys border. With a commitment to quality and community, the vineyard has become a beacon for local tourism and a symbol of collaborative economic development, attracting more than 1,000 visitors a year for its popular tour programme. Any business that missed the event but is interested in working with the vineyard is asked to call Nadine Roach on Tel: 01588 620627 or email nadine@kerryvalevineyard.co.uk to arrange a bespoke wine tasting and tour. Kerry Vale Vineyard is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent, not-for-profit organisation that supports more than 600 independent tourism-related businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia. Grace Brown of Team FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope celebrates victory in the Women’s Tour 2022 Wrexham to Welshpool stage with Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Team Canyon SRAM Racing in second and Elisa Longo Borghini of Team Trek Segafredo in third Picture credit: SWPix. Tourism in Mid Wales will receive a big boost when Welshpool hosts the start of the 2024 Tour of Britain Women stages on Thursday, June 6. Taking place from June 6-9, the event will feature four tough stages of racing in what will be the first major international stage race delivered by British Cycling Events. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to line the streets for what is the nation’s biggest free-to-attend sporting event, as the country gears up for another thrilling summer of cycling. Llandudno will host the stage finish on day one before Wrexham welcomes the world’s top female riders and teams for both the start and finish of stage two. This year’s race will feature a number of familiar start and finish locations which have successfully hosted major international events in recent years. The race will begin in Welshpool, which hosted the thrilling finish of stage four of the 2022 Women’s Tour, when Australia’s Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) sprinted to victory. The stage will see riders head north to the picturesque seaside town of Llandudno, in what will be a challenging start to the race. Stage two will see riders stay in Wales for a start and finish in Wrexham, which also featured in the 2022 Women’s Tour. The caravan then will cross the Welsh border to the north-west of England, where Warrington will host both the start and finish of stage three on Saturday. The race concludes in Greater Manchester. The race route has been designed and agreed in just 10 weeks, alongside the launch of a new vision for major cycling events in Britain. Jon Dutton OBE, chief executive of British Cycling, said: “Our primary focus has been to deliver a safe and competitive race in 2024. We remain every bit as determined to harness the race’s spotlight to make a real impact in the communities which it touches. We know that is a vision which resonates strongly in conversations with prospective commercial partners and hosts.” Rod Ellingworth, Tour of Britain race director, said: “The race will take in four competitive and challenging routes, some challenging climbing in Wales and what I’m sure will be brilliant crowds on the roadside throughout.” Lizzie Deignan, former road world champion and Olympic silver medallist, said: “It’s always special to race in Britain, and I’m so pleased to have two top level stage races to look forward to on home soil as I ramp up my preparations for a busy summer ahead. “There’s clearly so much support and fondness for the race, both at home and further afield. The four stage hosts deserve credit for their commitment to women’s racing and for helping to make the race happen, and I’m sure that together we can put on a brilliant show in June.” Welsh Government Economy Secretary, Jeremy Miles said: “Wales and cycling go hand in hand, with our spectacular scenery and routes providing elite and recreational cyclists alike with both challenge and enjoyment. “This is a welcome return to Wales for this fantastic event and provides an excellent opportunity to showcase Welshpool, Llandudno, Wrexham and the surrounding area to an ever-growing cycling audience. “We are very pleased to have been able to support the event and look forward to providing a warm ‘Croeso’ to all in June.” Powys County Council’s director of economic development and growth, Diane Reynolds, said: “We are delighted that this year’s Tour of Britain Women is going to start in Powys, from one of our many beautiful market towns, Welshpool. “It is a town that cycling enthusiasts will enjoy visiting and the area includes many places of interest, and lots of great places to eat or drink a coffee while taking in the race action and exceptional scenery.” Women demonstrating their split ply braiding skills. Newtown Textile Museum is reopening earlier than usual this year – on Tuesday, April 23 – to host The Braid Society’s 30th Annual Exhibition which runs until May 11. The earlier opening will also provide an opportunity for people attending the annual Wonderwool Wales 2024 event at the Royal Welsh Showground on April 27 and 28 to attend the exhibition. The museum will be open on Tuesday April 23 and the following Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12 noon to 4pm during the first week. Thereafter, it will open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week from 12 noon to 4pm during the summer season. As part of the exhibition, the museum, located in Commercial Street, Newtown, will also host demonstrations of braid making on April 29 and May 11 from 12 noon to 4pm and a “Try Braiding” workshop on May 5 from 10am to 4 pm. To book a place at the workshop and for more information about the exhibition and future events at the museum, visit: https://newtowntextilemuseum.co.uk/events/ . Housed in an original handloom weaving factory, built in the 1830s, the volunteer-run museum aims to bring to life Newtown’s industrial heritage, showing how people lived and worked in the building and the processes involved in turning fleece into flannel. In addition, industries linked to wool – tanning, clog making and drapers’ shops, including the Pryce Jones family who pioneered mail order – are also featured. Newtown was the centre for handloom weaving in the 1830s and the museum is the last of 82 such buildings remaining in anything like its original condition. This handloom weaving factory comprised six back to back cottages with each having one room each on the ground and first floors that could each house up to 10 people. The two floors above, which ran the whole length of the building, housed the looms. Feedback from visitors to the museum is overwhelmingly positive. “What a brilliant museum. One of the best I’ve ever been in!”, “Thank you so much for protecting and displaying our heritage so beautifully” and “Transported back in time and now want to try weaving,” are examples from last year. Newtown Textile Museum is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia. The Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages boasts the biggest ever entry and the addition of the British Rally Championship. Image: BRC. Former Grand Prix racer Jos Verstappen, father of three-time Formula 1 world champion Max, is heading to Mid Wales this weekend to compete for the first time in a British rally. The flying Dutchman, who turned to rallying in 2022, will sensationally be running at 14th, having chosen the Llandrindod Wells-based Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages to make his UK debut. "We are very happy to come to Wales and the British Rally Championship," Verstappen said. "Renaud [Jamoul, co-driver] has done Wales Rally GB several times but, for me, these stages will be the first. "I only started rallying two years ago but only with tarmac events. After two test sessions in the wintertime in the south of France, we have decided to do our first proper gravel rally and, as Renaud has some really good memories in Wales, this rally was looking like the best one to start with. "There is no plan in terms of performance because it will be my first time on gravel but for sure the target is to improve and be as close as possible to the top guys. The entry field will be again really competitive, so we are looking forward [to it]." One of the most popular gravel rallies in the UK, the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages returns this Saturday, April 13, as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary. Sponsored by established racewear and accessory firm Rallynuts Motorsport for an eighth consecutive year, Midland Manor Motor Club has pulled out all the stops to create a truly world-class event which celebrates the past but embraces the future. Epic stages, such as Myherin and Sweet Lamb Hafren, remain, but the mileage has been upped from 45 to 62 without an increased entry fee - making this one of the longest single-day forest rallies in years. An entry of 180 cars, including world, European, American and multiple British rally champions, will tackle the event. Competitors from a staggering nine different championships will come together as the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages excitedly welcomes the Probite British Rally Championship for the very first time, bringing the best drivers in the country to Mid Wales. Their battle will be broadcast to millions of television screens in the weeks after the event with a one-hour highlights programme aired on ITV4 and streamed on ITVX. BRC crews will be joined by those from the Protyre BTRDA Rally Series, Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship, West Wales Rally Spares HRCR Stage Masters, T.C.S Plant Rally Challenge and Bowler Defender Challenge, while the Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship returns for the first time since 2017. Single-make series, the MG3 Challenge and Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup, complete the roster, providing spectators an impressive variety of cars to watch. European Rally champion and World Rally regular Chris Ingram will pull away from the Metropole Hotel on Saturday morning as the top seed, as he bids to win his second British championship rally in a row following success on last month's North West Stages. "We got off to the perfect start in the North West and we aim to continue like that on gravel for round two,” he said. “The Severn Valley features some of the world’s best rally stages in the heart of Wales and I just can't wait to get going. "We are already enjoying the BRC challenge so much, and gravel will probably be even more fun. It all clicks when I’m driving a trusty Polo with Alex [Kihurani] calling the notes, but anything can happen in rallying. We’ll aim to consistently drive at our pace and avoid mistakes." Ingram is the favourite to win, but the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 ace won't have it easy with competition coming from all corners. Reigning Junior World Rally champion William Creighton and local driver Osian Pryce both gave Ingram a hard time on the first round and start just behind the Englishman in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 this time around. Also Fiesta mounted, four-time British champion and current leader of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, Keith Cronin, will be out to prove his pace on gravel is just as strong as Tarmac. He starts ahead of M-Sport driver Garry Pearson, who enters the Rallynuts for the first time since he won both the BTRDA and Welsh championship titles in 2021. Victor that year, Eliot Payne, is the highest seeded of this year's BTRDA runners, just ahead of 2022 Rallynuts winner Matthew Hirst, who starts first of the Welsh championship contenders. James Williams starts at eight, ahead of the stunning new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 of Meirion Evans, while Callum Black completes the top-10 seeds in his Fiesta. The British Historic contingent is led away by the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 of George Lepley and Dale Bowen, with the likes of Nick Elliott's FIAT 131, Matt Robinson's Ford Escort MKII and Seb Perez's Porsche 911 chasing him down. Smaller-engine cars and the older historic category vehicles will be first onto the stages, with three spectacular viewing locations available to spectators. Each test is run twice, with Bonhams Cars Sarnau, just outside of Abbeycwmhir. starting proceedings at 8:39am and again at 2:11pm. Myherin is accessed from `The Arch` off Devil’s Bridge and runs at 9:53am and 3:03pm, with CiderOnline.com Hafren Sweet Lamb taking place at 10:59am and finally at 4:16pm, the last stage of the rally. There are plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with the stars as well as see the cars, with the introduction of a free of charge autograph session on Friday evening at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells from 6:30pm. Spectators are also welcome at Saturday morning's event start and the finish, both at the Metropole Hotel, where the winners will be crowned. For more information on ticket prices, locations and timings, please visit www.rallynutsrally.co.uk/spectators. Follow the event’s social media feeds for all the latest news: www.facebook.com/RallynutsStagesRally and www.twitter.com/rallynutsstages . Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear in their Ford Fiesta R5. Image: Paul Mitchell Photography. Defending Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh rally champions Matthew Hirst and Declan Dear will be aiming for a third straight win on the 50th Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages which starts and finishes in Llandrindod Wells on Saturday, April 13. The series leaders will contest the event in their Delta Salvage/Witham Motorsport Ford Fiesta R5 facing stiff competition from the likes of Perry Gardener and Jack Bowen, who return to the series in their TNT AGRI Fiesta R5, and Dan O'Brien and Mark Glennerster, who finished second on round one in their O’Brien Group Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Hirst started his title defence in style with a commanding victory on the recent Get Jerky Rally North Wales, but there is a long way between now and what the Doncaster ace hopes will be a record-breaking fourth Pirelli Welsh title. Gardener is always quick in the Welsh forests and took home third-placed Pirelli Welsh points the last time he did the Rallynuts in 2022. Jack Bowen meanwhile will be aiming to extend his lead at the top of the OnThePaceNote / Restruct Welsh Junior co-drivers’ standings, having navigated for Simon Rogers on the opening round. Former Welsh Junior frontrunner O'Brien had a very close battle for position with James Giddings and Aled Davies (Fordpad/Enva/Sar Metals Mitsubishi Evo 9) last time out and the pair will be duelling for the top spot once again. Russ Thompson and Stephen Link scored maximum Pirelli Welsh points on last year’s Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally and return in their rapid Dunnow Plant Mitsubishi Evo 9. The 2019 championship runners up will be able to use the top end speed of their car to good effect on the fast and flowing stages and will be out for a win. David Tomlin would have taken third-placed points on Rally North Wales had he not got his Axon Ford Fiesta R5 stuck in the mud for three minutes. As his regular co-driver Keith Ashley is on Rallynuts Clerk of the Course duties, the Worcester driver will be partnered this time by Ian Beamond. The 2023 Welsh Challenge champions Martyn Andrews and Steve Greenhill return in their unmissable Opie Oils Subaru Impreza STi N12 and will be challenging for a top spot, as will Daniel Moss and Sam Davies in their Hurst Haylage Mitsubishi Evo 10. Rob Wilson won the Pirelli Welsh Junior, Challenge and class W13 titles in 2022 and finished runner up in the overall drivers’ standings. The Herefordshire youngster is back in his trusty Mitsubishi Evo 7, do-driven by Martin Haggett, and knows how to get the most out of the not-so-young car. The rally contains seven stages, totalling 62.31 stage miles. It starts from the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells at 8am on Saturday and has four stages -Sarnau, Tarennig, Myherin and Sweet Lamb - before service in Dolgellau. In the afternoon, there is the repeat of Sarnau, Myherin Main, which at 15.82 miles is the longest of the event, and Hafren Main, before the finish back in Llandrindod Wells at 5.35pm The rally will be live streamed on the Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship’s and Special Stage TV’s Facebook pages during the event. For details about the championship and how to register visit: https://wnrc.wamc.org.uk/ |
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