The South Wales Autograss League started their racing season on Easter Monday at Castle Lloyd Farm, near Red Roses, with the first qualifying round for this year's Men's National Championships. There was a good turnout of cars (many of them newly-built for this season) from the host league, as well as cars from the neighbouring West Wales League, and also the Radford Club in Worcestershire, along with drivers from Mallow and Cork clubs in Southern Ireland, who were all welcome visitors. With the Castle Lloyd Circuit in superb condition thanks to the hard work out of season by chairman Gary Ray and his team, the large crowd of spectators were treated to some very fast, close spectacular racing. In Class 1, the Pembroke Haven and District Club drivers were in fine form in their 1,000cc minis, with father and son Paul and Lee Pearce again in good form, finishing first and third in the final, with St. Clears duo Barry Lewis and Meurig Davies in fourth and fifth, respectively. In Class 5, Bryan Neale (Cosheston) made a great start to the season in his Millforge Garage Vauxhall-powered Fiat, claiming a first and second in his heats and passing his old rival Malcolm Herbert on the last bend of the six-lap final to cap a good day. In Class 6, PHD drivers were very unlucky, with Neil Morgan in the thick of the action in his Kaglas Vauxhall Nova. After two good heat results, his day ended with the car on its roof in the final, but on this form will be one to watch this season. Damian Longatano (St. Davids) was again in amongst the front runners until dogged by mechanical problems in the final, but with Thomas Chapel racer John Hallett scraping into the eight- car final after a run-off, he finished with a fine third place. With some familiar faces missing in Class 7, there was still a fine array of machinery on show and some some fast exciting racing from the Super Saloons. Lally Buird's new single bike mini won the best turned out car in South Wales League award. And he soon showed it not only looked good, but with a little bit of sorting will be right on the pace. Another new car belonging to Derek Larney John also looked promising until a collision with PHD team-mate Chris Paines (Milford) put paid to both cars for the day. In Class 10, Gary Ray from the PHD club took a spectacular win, with his son Carl, an earlier casualty with the fence, after winning best turned out special. PHD Juniors (12 to 16-year-olds) were in fine form, with brothers Jamie and Josh Powell finishing first and third, respectively, in their 1,000cc minis, with Jake Roberts (New Hedges) carrying on his good form from last season to win the Junior Specials, with Jordan Carter (Lanteg) in third place. In Ladies' Class 11, Bobbie Neale (Cosheston) crowned a good day for the Neale family by winning the final against a large entry of cars, with the experienced Daphne Mousley in fourth. The South Wales League is back in action at the same venue on Sunday (April 6) and Sunday, April 20, for the next two national qualifiers, with an 11.30 am start. They host Round One of the British Autograss Series on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, an event not to be missed by all motor sport fans, as around 600 drivers are expected to be competing over two action-packed days. Anyone wishing to join any of the clubs in the South Wales League, can find contact details on http://www.southwalesautograss.co.uk">www.southwalesautograss.co.uk

Results

PHD (Pembroke Haven), CM (Carmarthen), TA (Teifi), S (Swansea), PAC (Pembroke), R (Radford), MA (Mallow).

Class 1: 1. PHD26 Lee Pearce; 2. PAC333 Gary Phillips; 3. PHD226 Paul Pearce. Class 2: 1. S2 Tony Hart Jones; 2. TA28 Arwyn Morris; 3. S6 Craig Evans. Class 3: 1. CM4 Viv Cole; 2. TA2 Kevin Phillips; 3. PAC77 Chris Jones. Class 4: 1. TA84 Rhydian Evans; 2. CM7 Huw Jones; 3. PAC3 Rob Corbett. Class 5: 1. PHD93 Bryan Neale; 2. CM40 Huw Jones; 3. TA11 Nigel Edwards. Class 6: 1. TA220 Barry Davies; 2. S7 Neil Crompton; 3. PHD707 John Hallett. Class 7: 1. S1 Craig Kampschulte; 2. TA22 Dylan Hughes; 3. TA6 Emyr Evans. Class 8: 1. MA7 Alan O'Keefe; 2. R1 Lee Waldron; 3. TA19 Alun Thomas. Class 9: 1. S50 Duncan Rae; 2. TA111 Kevin Jones. Class 10: 1. PHD10 Gary Ray; 2. TA49 Godfrey Thomas; 3. MA53 Patrick Sheahan. Class 11: 1. PHD73 Bobbie Neale; 2. TA18 Angharad Evans; 3. CM54 Rachel Linfoot. Class 12: 1. TA222 Heulwen Reed; 2. CM53 Elinor George. Class 13: 1. CM4 Donna Cole. Class 14: 1. R1 Clare Horner; 2. TA49 Louise Francis. Junior Saloon: 1. PHD90 Jamie Powell; 2. CM22 Mathew Scourfield; 3. PHD70 Josh Powell. Junior Special: 1. PHD72 Jake Roberts; 2. PAC39 Tomos Rees; 3. PHD42 Jordan Carter.