CHARITY was able to win again at a Gwynedd rally.

Last month saw the third running of Bala and District Motor Club’s Quarry Explorer Rali Cwm Cynfal Targa Rally.

The rally started and finished in Blaenau Ffestiniog, with a halfway halt in Bala.

The event ran 14 tests, including the well known WRC test in Mynydd Llechi, Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The Ranges Motorsport Centre test was in Trawsfynydd and several private farm tracks in the Trawsfynydd and Bala area.

As ever, the sole purpose of organising the event was to raise money for the North Wales Air Ambulance and once more, a substantial sum of £1,000 was raised for this worthwhile cause.

A total of 56 crews took to the start of the event, with crews having travelled from as far afield as Yorkshire to compete.

After a day of close competition, the event was won by Mold’s Howard Price, partnered by Baz Green from Abergele, in a Subaru Impreza.

They were followed home by local crew Telor Pugh and Cartin Price, who also took the expert class in their Seat Ibiza.

In third overall were Rheinallt Davies and Will Taylor in a BMW Compact, who in turn also took the semi-expert class.

Rounding off the top-three in the expert class were Denbigh’s Brynli Thomas and Daniel Lea in second, with Iwan Bont Roberts and Steve Griffith third.

In the semi-expert class, second was taken by the Llyn Peninsula crew of Gwynfor Jones and Dafydd Evans, with the local crew of Arwyn Williams / Dylan Williams taking third.

Meanwhile, in the novice class, the top podium step was taken by another local crew – Dyfan Williams and Keith Morris, with the runners-up being Llanrhaeadr's Rob Bryn Jones and partner Lauren Hewitt.

Gwynant Jones and Aaron Roberts were third.

The mixed crew award was taken by the husband and wife team of Stephen and Helen Kerr, with the spirit of the rally award being won by another local crew - Dewi Jones and Ceri Hicks.

A club spokesman said: “We are extremely grateful to our sponsor Michael Bewick, of the Quarry Explorer, all land owners, and the officials and marshals who helped us on the day.

"Without a combination of these it would not have been possible to raise a significant amount on money for such an important charity in our rural communities.”