WYE Valley Slot Car Club celebrated their ten year anniversary slot rally in style with a maximum 45 entrants from the UK.

Additionally, the race attracted a five strong team from the Isle of Man who came to challenge the father and son entrants from Jersey, and a strong force of local racers.

In keeping with the anniversary, the usual eight stages were increased to ten, to give competitors a gruelling day's competition.

Overall, one hundred and sixty eight cars were spread over six classes.

A new name appeared at the head of the Super 1600 class with Wye Valley members to the fore. Keith Clements pipped slot meister Phil Field by 1.32 seconds and Wye`s Russell Powell came in fourth missing out on a podium finish by 2.94 seconds.

In Modern class it was business as usual with Field romping away with the win by 25 seconds from Jersey's Ben Busnel, both using Ninco Subarus, Wye driver's Powell claiming fourth and Chris Binley seventh, both using Mitsubishi Evos.

It was the 80`s class that Field had to tie up to claim the championship crown, which he did by 2.96 seconds from West Midlands Bearwood driver and championship rival James Noake. Wye Valley founder member Andy Meredith on a rare slot rally outing managed sixth in class with a Ninco Porsche 911.

However Field slipped to second in Prostock being beaten by young Kane Tilley by just .57 of a second with an Avant Subaru but Field had done enough to win the championship class outright at the previous round at Farnham.

Jersey father and son duo Ben and Gary Buesnel claimed the first two places in Classic, Binley on only his third appearance took sixth with a Ninco Austin Healey while Barry languished down in tenth place after a pre rally set up with the Opel GT had gone horribly wrong.

Wolves Bill Charters had an eleven second victory in Modified over Barry`s Lancia Stratos with Wye Valley`s young hot shot Ben Clements sixteen seconds adrift with his Porsche 997 in fourth.

So with class awards done and dusted the array of highly collectable championship trophies were awarded. For the second year running Phil Field was again National Champion in Modern with Russell Powell a worthy runner up. Super 1600 was again won by Field with another Wye Vally member Keith Clements in second and Powell a commendable fourth.

That man Field headed Prostock by eight points from Northampton's Matt Tucker and the 80`s championship going down to the wire with Field again beating James Noake by six points. Classic championshipwent to Jersey flyer Ben Buesnel by just two points from Barry. Wolverhampton club seasoned campaigner Bill Charters won Modified by three points from Barry.

The Wye Valley Club would like to thank the Abergavenny Model Shop for sponsoring for the event and REIS National Asphalt Rally Champion Damian Cole who donated a signed canvas rally car print as one of numerous raffle prizes raising money for the Wales Air Ambulance. The new home for print is the club room of the Isle of Man Slot Car Club at Ronaldsway Airport.

On November 27 the club has been invited to host the Welsh Slotcar Grand Prix with the cream of the UK`s slot racers doing battle on the Aberstone circuit.

Wye Valley Slot car club race at Nevill Hall Sports and Social Club on alternate thursdays, new members are welcome, details canbe found at http://www.aberstone.webs.com">www.aberstone.webs.com.

Pictured are Bill Charters, Wayne Goble, Ben Buesnel, Phil Barry, Phil Field, Gareth Jex, Matt Tucker and John Underwood.