Competitors from all corners of the country had taken up the challenge, to find the best all-round driver and vehicle, in a two day event that would test the entrants in both the technical trials discipline and the fast thinking, fast reacting, speed sections.

From Cornwall, Brian Retallack (Qt Land Rover 3.9) set an incredible standard in the day one trial. Clear after clear, he drove each section without error. The only driver to match him was fellow Land Rover driver (88 prototype 3.5) Dave Tomley, also clear all the way. Indeed, Land Rovers led the way on the trials sections, taking the top seven lowest scores and the top four places after class handicaps. Tiny errors by Philip Hayes (Land Rover 80 3.5) and Roger Jones (Land Rover Qt 884.6) notched up one and two points respectively.

Day two and it was on to the fast track. Overnight leader Brian Retallack found his points advantage under heavy attack from some of the fastest men on the off-road circuit. Driving for Bearmach, the undoubted talents of Richard Hopkins were very apparent. With a brace of Discoverys under the Bearmach flag, he and Kieran Jones were just two of a strong contingent of Welsh drivers; both were also competing in the modified production class. A class win for Hopkins by the end of Day two will have delighted his Bearmach sponsors.

Although the modified production class boasted some top talent, there was a slight disappoint for the organisers who had hoped to see a little more interest in the standard production class too. Only three competitors entered the standard vehicle class; Steve Booler (Discovery), Peter Codd (Suzuki) and Nik Ward (Suzuki). Although the Suzuki of Peter Codd looked nifty on the trials sections, just seven points total, Booler pushed the Discovery hard on the speed sections eventually gaining enough ground to take the standard production class win.

Andrew Newall (Bowler Wildcat 100 2.5) was expected to be quick and didn't disappoint, but on the first stage only two drivers broke the three minute barrier, Dave Billings (Bowler Tomcat 2.5) and Alex Lofthouse (Independent buggy 3.9). The Land Rover-based vehicles were still taking up the majority of the top places, but could they hold the lead?

Fastest run went to Trevor Milner with his hot-off-the-ramps, simply gorgeous, Lexus powered Race Truck, but it wasn't quite enough to hold the experienced NORC driver, Alex Lofthouse, at bay. Fastest out of the blocks, and on a real mission, he took the win by a single second.

The short fire speed sections hadn't done Brian Retallack any favours; he lost too much time to hold the overall lead. However the onslaught by Lofthouse, added to a respectably low score of 10 points in the trial, was enough for the NORC driver to move in and secure the win.

With terrific prizes for all class winners as well as the overall positions, including full sets of Goodyear's MTIR tyres, Tog 24 clothing, Millers Oils and Land Rover goodies, this pilot event had, for most, been well worth entering.

Next year the competition aims to go out to around five other countries, with one final round being played out in one of the host countries. But as always, the best things start here in Britain.