Overall and in the Classic category, experts Graham Walker and Sean Toohey (Lotus Elan, above) took the lead from the start and were chased by Mark Godfrey and Ryan Pickering (Ford Escort) all week. Their final winning margin was just two seconds. Congratulations to both crews on another fine contest - Graham and Sean now have three victories under their belt. Mark and Ryan had the consolation of placing first on Index after the winners, so won that award, while Dick and Harry Baines (Mini Cooper S) in sixth overall became Best Expert Crew.
The fight for third overall was equally close fought among two Intermediate crews, with David and Sally Ward (Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1600HF) topping even their 2024 top six showing by reaching the podium this time, coming third overall just eight seconds ahead of also-improving Peter and Louise Myles in their Porsche 911. A third intermediate crew, only just behind this battle, were David Coxon and Peter Hawkins, with David taking the Steering Wheel Trophy for setting the lowest total time on the tests. You don't need a modern car to do well on the Three Castles, as these winners from the sixties and seventies showed.
The hardest of the hard luck stories was surely that of Paul Crosby and Pete Johnson, who didn't get further than cone A of Test 1 before a broken diff stopped their Mini Cooper S. New pairing Mike Harrison and Peter Joy ran them close, retiring at RS 1.1 with engine failure. By the first timing point, poor Martin and Michelle Andrew had joined them with sheared flywheel bolts as a result of overrevving caused by an oil cap coming loose and jamming the throttle mechanism. Of all things. Commiserations to these and to all nine retirees - there is always next year.
The hardest of the hard luck stories was surely that of Paul Crosby and Pete Johnson, who didn't get further than cone A of Test 1 before a broken diff stopped their Mini Cooper S. New pairing Mike Harrison and Peter Joy ran them close, retiring at RS 1.1 with engine failure. By the first timing point, poor Martin and Michelle Andrew had joined them with sheared flywheel bolts as a result of overrevving caused by an oil cap coming loose and jamming the throttle mechanism. Of all things. Commiserations to these and to all nine retirees - there is always next year.
Meanwhile, new names emerged at the top of the Novice standings, as Robert Carr and his son Timothy in their pretty Sunbeam Imp Sport bested the newly acquired 911 of Julian Adams and Grant Edwards by over 30 seconds to scoop a Vintage Tyres £500 voucher.
Trina Harley and Ryan Pickering won the Nigel Raeburn Trophies as the navigators with the fewest penalties on the Regularities. Sue Shoosmith and David Coxon won the Steering Wheel Trophies for the drivers with the lowest times on the Tests. First-timers Simon and Vicki Fleet, in their Bentley Special, took home the Grande Luxe award and approval from all the marshals they met. Talking of the marshals, their own Marshals’ Choice trophy went to Bronwyn Burrell and Suzanne Barker in Bron's familiar and historic Maxi, Puff.
The cross-category Penderyn Team Award went to Team Harlech, and eight of the ten teams got five cars to the finish.
Over in the Concours d’Elegance, the Imperial Trophy for the winning car went to Jeremy D. Cooke for his beautiful Aston Martin DB4. At the same time, Michael Bailey took the Classic honours for his wonderful 1956 Ford Thunderbird. Malcolm Davies’ immaculate Alvis Speed 2 won the Heritage category. The Most Original car was a delighted Vincent Fairclough's MG TC, while the Judges' Choice of the car they would most like to take home was Stuart MacLeod’s splendid Porsche 911E.
On the Penderyn Prologue, the awards went to Mark Godfrey and Ryan Pickering (FIrst Overall), Sue Shoosmith and Trina Harley (First Heritage), David Coxon and Peter Hawkins (Best Intermediates) and David & Debbie Bundy (Best Novices).
Duncan Littler was our Official Competitor Photographer again this year and will be in contact with proofs of you in action and details of how to order. His email is dunclitz@hotmail.com, and his number is 07740 179619. As in previous years, I will put up a gallery on the website once all our own pictures are indexed and ready.
Full and detailed results here
Overall Results here
Top Six Overall
1. Graham Walker/Sean Toohey - Lotus Elan 34:07
2. Mark Godfrey/Ryan Pickering - Ford Escort 34.09
3. David Ward/Sally Ward - Lancia Fulvia HF 1600 36.03
6. Dick Baines/Harry Baines - Austin Mini Cooper S 36.50
2. Mark Godfrey/Ryan Pickering - Ford Escort 34.09
3. David Ward/Sally Ward - Lancia Fulvia HF 1600 36.03
4. Peter Myles/Louise Myles - Porsche 911 36.11
5. David Coxon/Peter Hawkins - Austin Healey 3000 36.416. Dick Baines/Harry Baines - Austin Mini Cooper S 36.50