Silver Fern Rally - Bristow Takes Historic Trophy

Silver Fern Rally - Bristow Takes Historic Trophy

Vince Bristow/Dean Mitchell of the United Kingdom have won the Historic
Trophy in the 2014 epay Silver Fern Rally which ended in Queenstown this
afternoon.

In doing so they created history as they became the first international
crew to win the event since it was instigated in 2006. The rally has
taken place every second year since that time. The pair drove a Bryce
Biggs supplied Ford Escort which was the car driven to victory in the
Challenge Section of the event two years ago.

Bristow and Mitchell had a brief stint in the lead earlier in the week
before Cantabrian Jeff Judd regained the position until Friday morning
when he blew an engine. From that point on Bristow had a comfortable lead
although he admitted to some nervous moments over the last day and a
half. This was Bristow's fourth attempt at the event. "I'm really
chuffed to bits. It's a great event, fantastic people and a lovely
country. This is the fourth time I have done the event and it is good to
finally get to the end at the front."

Bristow had a final margin over fellow Brit Simon Tysoe and his
co-driver Craig Dolman of 10 minutes 19 seconds with kiwi driver Shane
Murland and co-driver John Benton third. Tysoe was "more than happy and
over the moon" with second while Murland said it was "great to make the
finish."

Australians John Spencer/Tony Best (Nissan 240RS), David Hills/Paul
Bennett (Ford Escort) and Keith and Mary Anne Callinan in another Escort
rounded out the top six.

Meanwhile Dave Strong/Rob Scott of Auckland won the Challenge Section in
their Honda Civic R after leading for most of the week. As their rivals
struck trouble they extended their lead and finished with a buffer of
over 25 minutes over second placed Brodie Anderson/Rob McConachie of
Dunedin in a Ford Escort with Charlie Evans/Sue O'Neil of Hamilton third
in a Honda Integra.

Strong said it was a "relief" to finish. "It was unfinished business
after breaking an axle with 10 kilometres to go two years ago." Towards
the end he and Scott ignored the Challenge result and went all out to
seal the third fastest overall time for the entire event which they
achieved. Strong said, "we did not have the pace but we kept out of
trouble. We were not quite fast enough but others hit trouble, perhaps
because they were going too quick."

Deane Buist/Andrew Bulman of Christchurch won the Silver Frond section
which was run over the last three days of the event. Buist, the Historic
Trophy winner of the 2012 Silver Fern, had more than 15 minutes in hand
over second placed Ashton Wood/Fred Merkin (Upper Moutere) with Garry
Cliff/James Cowles of Christchurch third in a Datsun 160J.

Competitors in the Historic Trophy and Challenge Sections of the event
left Picton eight days ago and covered 1150 kilometres of Special Stages
in Marlborough, Nelson, the West Coast, Canterbury, South Canterbury,
Otago, Southland, Central Otago and the Southern Lakes District while
the Silver Frond competitors joined the event for the final three days.

Historic Trophy

1: Vince Bristow/Dean Mitchell (UK) Ford Escort
2: Simon Tysoe/Craig Dolman (UK) Ford Escort
3: Shane Murland/John Benton (Paraparaumu) Ford Escort
4: John Spencer/Tony Best (Australia) Nissan 240RS
5: David Hills/Paul Bennett (Australia) Ford Escort
6: Keith Callinan/Mary Anne Callinan (Australia) Ford Escort

Challenge Section

1: Dave Strong/Rob Scott (Auckland) Honda Civic R
2: Brodie Anderson/Rob McConachie (Dunedin) Ford Escort
3: Charlie Evans/Sue O'Neil (Hamilton) Honda Integra
4: Jacob Scannell/Chris Lancaster (UK) Suzuki Swift
5: Ed Mulligan/Catriona Kelly (Australia) BMW 325i
6: Bruce Herbert/Jim Hey (Palmerston North) Mitsubishi Lancer EX Turbo

Silver Frond

1: Deane Buist/Andrew Bulman (Christchurch) Ford Escort
2: Ashton Wood/Fred Merkin (Upper Moutere) Ford Escort
3: Garry Cliff/James Cowles (Christchurch) Datsun 160J
4: Kevin Lynch/Wayne Julian (Greymouth) Toyota Corolla AE86
5: Nigel Barclay/Mark Leonard (Christchurch) Ford Escort MKI
6: Deborah Kibble/Heather Johnston (Waimate) Mitsubishi Lancer EX Turbo

Lindsay Beer
2014 epay Silver Fern Rally
021 351 499

Photograph:
Winners are grinners (from left) Challenge winners Rob Scott/Dave
Strong, Historic Trophy Winners Vince Bristow/Dean Mitchell, Silver
Frond winners Andrew Bulman/Deane Buist celebrate at the finish of the
2014 epay Silver Fern Rally in Queenstown today - please credit Geoff Ridder

ENDS

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