2011 Gold Star Final

Event Report

 

Gold Star decided on a tie-break…

 

After twenty six steep dry hills at Petersfield John Fack and Roland Uglow had both dropped twenty seven points each. John and Maxine Fack became 2011 BTRDA GOLD STAR champions having climbed one more hill to a disappointed Roland and Laura. John was extremely relieved to win with a failing reduction gearbox making horrendous noises over the last few hills, while Roland was mortified to loose the title on a tie-break having got out of position on one hill as something was loose in the cockpit during the first round causing a slight loss in concentration.

 

At lunch Northern Ireland's Peter McKinney led by a single point from Roland and Ian Veale with John a couple of points behind, but an inspired final round of one point saw John take the lead when it matters and Thomas Bricknell also move upto fourth overall. Peter McKinney made two mistakes to drop back to fifth place. Ian Veale dropped five during the last round and slipped back to third place. With the top nine competitors covered by just eight points it was extremely close.

 

Early runners on some hills struggled with fresh garlic, but it was the steepness of the hills that was causing concern for many competitors especially after Ian Bell rolled putting passenger Russell in hospital overnight who aggrevated an old back injury (we await a full update from Ian on Russell's progress on Monday afternoon).

 

Thomas won the best southern competitor in fourth, Peter McKinnery best Northern Ireland in fifth, Andy Wilks best Midlands in tenth and Martin Grimwood best northern in sixteenth.

 

Mike Readings and Carole Greening won the Silver Star from Pat Henson with Carole's daughter Lindsey passengering by seven points with Nick Speed third.

 

Josh Veale won the best debutant in a disappointing twenty fourth overall, but struggled having had a puncture with running one Sprint and one T-Trac!!

 

John Fack was ecstatic to win having spent the last two years developing his new MSR car. "The win is my first win in the car and has made all the hardwork worthwhile and been the gold star makes it even more special having done the double in 2007 in my Crossle. As always Maxine's support and passengering has been the key to success to complete the winning package."