LEEMING Bar driver Kevin Procter and his co-driver Dave Bellerby from Great Langton scored a resounding victory on the Co-op Motor Group Robin Hood Stages Rally held in the Sherwood Forest area around Mansfield last weekend.

The pair had a relatively trouble-free run in their Procter's Coaches Ford Sierra Cosworth to emerge 21 seconds ahead at the end of the ten competitive stages.

Second on the event in 1998 and winner of the Premier Stages Rally in the same forests 18 months ago, Procter was hoping not to emulate his roll on the 1999 event.

He showed his intentions from the start by setting fourth fastest time on the opening stage in Watchwood before posting quickest time in Blidworth 1 to take the lead.

With rallycross ace Bellerby - on only his third ever event - shouting out the notes, the pair dropped a couple of seconds in Clipstone South. But they reclaimed the lead, which they had relinquished by a second, when two times winner Gary Kellam went out on the next test in Clipstone North.

Procter edged ten seconds ahead with a storming run through SS8 and maintained his lead despite losing half a dozen seconds in the short Thieves Wood stage (SS10), when the car lost power and started overheating.

With the problem rectified at service, but with a reduced lead going into the final three stages, the pair threw caution to the wind in a bid to claim their maiden rally win together.

They did so by setting joint fastest times on the two re-runs through the Clipstone complex and the jubilant crew had more than 20 seconds on their rivals at the finish.

Procter plans an outing next Sunday in the Lookout Stages Rally at Melbourne airfield, near York, with co-driver Chris Ramsay from Snape.

Bellerby is back in rallycross action in his recently acquired Nova at the opening round of the British Championship at Croft next Saturday.

l Middlesbrough starlet Paul Veazey kicked off his 2002 season in style with a hat-trick of wins at the Auto 66 Club road races at Elvington last weekend.

The 15-year-old has made the step up to the 125cc national championship this season and, after making his debut aboard his Easton Banks Racing RS125 Honda at Donington Park last October, continued the form which saw him take runner-up spot in last year's Aprilia RS125 Superteen series.

Despite taking two easy wins after leading from start to finish at the Yorkshire venue, the youngster endured problems in his two other races.

He said: "I was leading one of the races by five seconds on the last lap when I accidentally knocked the fuel pipe off and had to coast over the line to take second place.

"Then in another race, the strap holding the fuel tank on broke and I had to hold it in place with my knees, but I managed to hold on for the win".

l Local rally star Steve Petch aims to follow up his recent Kall Kwik Rally success as he heads for the Lake District this weekend to contest the Malcolm Wilson Rally in his Hyundai Accent WRC.

Already a three times winner of the event, Petch, from Scorton, and his Romanby co-driver John Richardson last tasted victory in Cumbria back in 2000.

A few niggling problems on last year's event - delayed from its usual March date to October because of foot-and-mouth - scuppered their bid.

The pair are seeded at number one, but will be expecting some stiff competition from a host of quality drivers on the event, which forms round two of the ultra-popular BTRDA championship.

Leading the field away from the Cockermouth start will be the Formula Two front-wheel drive cars, with round one victors Mark and Andy Constantine hoping to continue their good form in their WA Browne Vauxhall Nova.

The Richmond brothers ran as course car on last year's rally and know the stages well, so the pair will be scenting victory in the classic forests around Bassenthwaite and Coniston.

Another local pair aiming to follow up their good result on the Wyedean are the Stokesley crew of Jonny Brown and James Lester. They will be hoping for a trouble-free run in their Commercial Consultants Nova, as will Scorton's Stephen Petch and his co-driver Michael Wilkinson from Tow Law in their SGP Motorsport Ford Ka.

In the open class, Sacriston's David Henderson will be out in Mark Robson's MSR Mitsubishi. Along with new co-driver Scott Poxon, he will be hoping for a repeat of the last time he drove the car when he emerged victorious on the Christmas Stages.

Henderson's former co-driver Ian Windress from Northallerton teams up with Penrith driver Paul Bird, who will be aiming for better luck on his home event. The pair have retired on the opening stage of their last two events.

Shildon driver Barry Johnson and co-driver Peter Croft from Middleton Tyas retired early on during last year's rally.

But, after a number of strong performances on the Riponian, Kall Kwik and Snowman rallies, the duo will be a major threat in their Subaru Impreza.

Thirsk's Ian Rudd will be out in his Ford Sapphire Cosworth, while Birtley driver James Knox competes in a Talbot Sunbeam.

Leading entries: Steve Petch/John Richardson, Hyundai Accent WRC; John Perrott/Graham Hopewell, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3; Ian Joel/Graham Wood, Ford Escort Cosworth; John Thompson/Ian Oakey, Ford Escort Cosworth; Geoff Smith/Ryland James, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7; David Henderson/Scott Poxon, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4; Wayne Sisson/Neil Sisson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4; Dick Cormack/Michael Gibson, Subaru Impreza; David Shuttleworth/Stephen Pirie, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4; Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech, Toyota Corolla WRC; Paul Bird/Ian Windress, Subaru Impreza; Barry Johnson/Peter Croft, Subaru Impreza.

Spectator information: Start 9.01, Cockermouth town centre; SS1 9.13, Wythop Woods (northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake off A66); SS2 9.28, Thornthwaite (car parking signposted off B5292 Whinlatter Pass); SS3 9.48, Hospital Plantation (as above); SS4 11.15, Grizedale North (off Hawkshead to Satterthwaite road); SS5 11.42, Grizedale South (as above); SS6 1.37, Wythop Woods 2; SS7 1.52, Thornthwaite 2; SS8 2.12, Hospital Plantation 2; Finish 2.52, Cockermouth town centre. Awards 7.30, Sheep Centre, Cockermouth.