The British Championships had ended the previous weekend at Laughton, but more spoils were up for grabs at the Bat and Ball Pub on the outskirts of Wisborough Green.

The rain had bucketed down during the week but as the weekend got underway we were very lucky to miss the worst, with only the odd shower to spice up the action.

Saturday produced some slippery races as all the Championship contenders built up their points, every point counting.

There were however some notable absences, Andy Stemp and Colin Fox. It wasn’t easy for the other Group three challengers as Ron Gray proved that two lawnbugs could fit through the hedge gap side by side!! It wasn’t easy in Group Two either with Mike Cresswell the defending champion being given a real run for his money by virtually everyone including Pete Austin and Steve Hodgson.

It was also the first World Championship for the bonneted class with Marcus Burton and Mike Wallington going for that historic first Championship title.

Simon Chennell showed us all that he has other talents apart from racing as he provided the evening entertainment with his band in the Bat and Ball.

Sunday dawned with the sun shining and throughout the day it was to last. The track sped up and there was some superb racing with Pete Longley showing that you can’t always get two lawnbugs through the hedge as he attempted to widen the gap ripping of his right front wheel and for Barry Stemp to go careering into his now stranded mower.

Pete Austin discovered bales can be moved has he attempted his own version of Combine racing on numerous occasions. Steve Hodgson and Mike Cresswell spent most of the day side by side giving some spectacular manoeuvres with Bob Wilson waiting to pick up the pieces. Steve Bush also discovered that hedges don’t move as he misjudged the hole, well, missed the hole, and bundled into the hedge, to a rather sudden halt.

Sean Jonas racing on the limit thought it would be a laugh to barrel roll down the straight after trying to avoid Simon Chennell stuffing his Allen into the bales.

The Lawn Tractors were having some very close battles with Marcus Burton finding a new challenger in Rupert Underwood on a Toro. Steve Titcomb was putting in some very steady results to keep himself in touch with the leading pair of Marcus and Mike Wallington.

In amongst the heats there was the relay race with a group two and a group three pairing battling for the Toowomba Trophy. This was won by Ian Tanswell and Paul Hills.

There was a Grand Prix with the Group threes and Lawn Tractors racing together, but Ian Tanswell made a mistake in the closing stages handing overall victory to Ron Gray. The Group Two race also had drama in the closing stages as Steve Hodgson had a sizeable lead over Mike Cresswell only for Steve’s cut out coming loose and stopping in the hedge gap, with Mike bearing down Steve just got away but was unable to hold of Mike as he took the lead and won the race.

After such a chaotic but superb weekend the racing ended. After the points had been added up the winners were announced Mike Cresswell took the World Championship for Group Two with Carol Smith Gp2 Ladies Champion. In Group three the Champion was Ian Tanswell with Marcus Burton becoming the first ever Gp3 Bonneted World Champion and Teresa Gill the Ladies Gp3 Champion.

A special trophy was awarded to Roger Hunt and his family for their support and kind donation of a venue for the World Championships.