PART-TIME rally driver Ken Hall and his debutante co-driver Phil Veitch turned in an impressive performance to land second place overall in the Jack Frost Stages Rally, organised by Darlington and District Motor Club at Croft Circuit last weekend.

The Middlesbrough businessman, who also competes in rallycross in his clubman specification V-Tech Ford Escort Cosworth, was in with a chance of overall victory until a couple of spins late in the day ruined his chances.

Despite the event being his first competitive outing since last summer, Hall kept up the pressure throughout the day on eventual winners Dave Holland and John Calverley in their Ford Escort until the time-consuming offs meant he had to settle for a safe second place, 46 seconds down on the winners.

Evenwood's Mark Thompson also put in a good performance to end up sixth overall after the eight stages around variations of the racetrack. Thompson and co-driver Colin Proadfoot had their Peugeot 205 as high as fourth at half-distance, but a starter motor problem cost them time and relegated them down the order.

Another driver making a return to competition was Alun Pearson from Stokesley, who scored a fine eighth overall in his N-Sign Honda Integra R. Persuaded by co-driver Simon Brook to enter the event, Pearson, who last rallied back in June, gradually climbed the leaderboard after a slow start.

Darlington driver David Cox and his co-driver Terry Searle from Richmond had a traumatic day in their Rover Metro, but still managed to claim 12th overall and third in class at the finish. The crew hit a patch of ice on the opening stage and extensively damaged the front end of the car, before clouting a post on SS5 and ending the final stage without any brakes.

Barnard Castle's Alistair Hutchinson and St John Dykes brought their Williams Renault home in 22nd overall (eighth in class) on their first event for six months, while Dalton-on-Tees resident Brian Morris endured a day of trouble in his Triumph 2000 but managed to bring the 38-year-old car home in 32nd overall and third in class despite losing the use of two cylinders in the process.

A performance worth noting was that of local teenagers Steven Coates and Dan Grufferty, who were out in the CS Automotive Ford Escort and recorded a respectable 24th overall and ninth in class on their first event together.

Coates, a 19-year-old from Scorton who is a part-time racing instructor at Croft, and junior Autograss champion Grufferty, from Hawes, lost time on the very first stage with an electrical problem and were playing catch-up all day, their cause not helped by a puncture on SS5.

Formula Eurofirst champion in 2000, Coates is now hoping to expand on his circuit racing success and is set to contest a number of additional rallies in the car hired from Ian Cartwright's Darlington concern.

But it wasn't such good news for Middlesbrough driver Keith Davison and his co-driver Geoff Moffitt from Guisborough. The pair were hoping for a good result in their revamped Darrian T90, but teething problems and a serious misfire put paid to their efforts just after halfway.

Results. - 1 D Holland/J Calverley, Ford Escort RS, 24m 15s; 2 K Hall/P Veitch, Ford Escort Cosworth, 25:01; 3 J Fletcher/K Bills, Peugeot 205, 25:03; 4 J Lennie/A Brown, Sierra Cosworth, 25:15; 5 I Dixon/K Knox, Escort RS, 25:16; 6 M Thompson/C Proadfoot, Peugeot 205, 25:28; 7 B Cowe/S Robson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5, 25:34; 8 A Pearson/S Brook, Honda Integra, 25:49; 9 G Harkness/N Harkness, Vauxhall Corsa, 25:56; 10 P Gee/B Delf, Vauxhall Astra, 25:52.

l This year's Riponian Stages Rally is to be held on Sunday, February 4 and, in order to capitalise on last year's success, organisers Ripon Motor Sports Club are appealing for marshals to help out on the day.

The event, which comprises round three of the ANECCC Championship, will be based at Lightwater Valley and will include a number of tests in the forests around Thirsk and Helmsley.

Anyone who is interested in helping should call Mark Higgins on 01423 503820 or 07957 290008