There were 49 Interclub cars at the start of the 2026 Ilkley Jubilee Historic Rally based in Otley. The format was similar to last year, but with the passing of Ian Mitchell this year new CoC Joe Mallinson took over the route planning. This was the final round of the HRCR Clubmans Road Rallying Championship and with Martin Payton declared driver’s Champion after the penultimate round, there was the navigator’s title up for grabs as well as class awards.

There were three regularities planned for the Saturday evening before an offroad TC section at Bramham Park, stage venue for the 1972 & 1982 RAC. With Storm Boelo approaching, the second storm in as many days, the rally was in danger of being curtailed but the marshals braved the weather and from 18.01 the cars left Otley Market Square.

Regularity 1/1 started North of Farnley & turned on to a white within the first two miles. Nine different speeds within eight miles made this a busy evening for the navigators. It was Nick & Andy Pullan in the Peugeot 205 GT that led after the first, dropping just 2 seconds. For context, only nine crews completed the two timing points with less than 30s, tough.

Reg 1/2 saw the crews heading East from Bramhope to Harewood a double triangle in GS2842 saw 7 crew miss a SC & again only nine crews with less than 30s, the continuous rain and dark conditions taking their toll, Martin Payton & Miles Fieldhouse best on this reg. Two of the top ten even spotted in a housing estate!!

Martin Payton and Miles Fieldhouse (Volvo PV544) were best on the second reg of the evening.  10th overall.  Photo by Phill Andrews.

The final regularity of the evening section was no easier. Les Andrew & Mark Dunkerley were the best here in the Peugeot 104. A tough LWR slot at Brandon Lodge then several triangles and NAMs made navigation tricky but not impossible. Leading after the first three regs were Martin & Miles.

The TC section included three different loops on a marked map. All offroad, it was a test of accurate map reading and teamwork at the dozen PCs. Bev Blacker & Sam Spencer were the only crew clean through here, with Nick Bloxham & Oli Waldock also in a MK1 Escort dropping just 12s at the final control, and at 15s per minute it was a 3s penalty. Oli was later confident it would have been clean had they not got the Escort briefly stuck.  So, at the overnight halt the lead was Nick & Oli with just 30s covering the top 4.

Nick Bloxham and Oli Waldock (Ford Escort) leading the rally overnight.  Photo by Phill Andrews.

Sunday saw an extra hour in bed as the clocks changed before the restart at Wetherby services. The plan was a test back in Bramham followed by a private land regularity section. In the end the overnight storm saw trees downed, leading to the cancelation of these parts. Crews headed to Reg 2/2 with plenty of time to plot. Nick & Andy Pullan dropping just 1s at the 2 controls were the best. Several crews overshooting the slot left near Askham Richard triangle which looks just like a field entrance. Reg 2/3 was the simplest so far, but the three zeros by Martin & Miles in the PV544 was still not easily replicated and an impressive performance.

The first round of three tests were at the former RAF Dishforth and repeated after lunch. Nick Bloxham fastest on all of these except the third. The final group of cones catching out many crews and sending them on a several hundred metre diversion. After lunch these tests were repeated, and Nick & Oli had a 27 second lead heading back out for regularities.

Reg 2/4 was descriptive instructions which couldn’t be plotted. There was a small error or two in the instructions, as well as the ideal times being shown on a previous regularity, the results were amended and didn’t change the order significantly.

Reg2/5 saw nineteen crew miss the second control, including three of the top four seeds. The third control was located on the old bridge near Grantley Hall catching out another nine crews. The cars headed over Dallow Moor & down to Pateley Bridge.

There was a test at the showground where the two Yorkshire John/Jons Haygarth & Dunning set the joint fastest times. Mick Valentine would have been 3s quicker but there is a 10s penalty for a cone fault. Onwards to Coldstones Quarry for a repeated test downhill saw Andy Beaumont set the fastest time in the slippery testing conditions by 2s. On the second sitting it was Jon Dunning from Nick Bloxham, and as the final test was left behind Nick Bloxham had set fastest on the tests all day by 20s.

The final regularity was a plot and bash herringbone, which is a level up from the usual HRCR instructions. But for Lynsey Procter driven by Ali it was no problem, cleaning that section as well as dropping just 8s over the final 8 controls. Again impressive stuff. From here it was as short run back to Otley Golf Club for a carvery meal and results.

The 1st Novice crew and 23^rd OA were Colin Tombs & Guy Wickham in an MGB. 1^st Expert & 15^th OA were Andrew Parr & Bob Duck. Overall Winners were first time pairing Nick Bloxham & Oli Waldock in the MK1 Escort. They won by 1m 46s from Jon Dunning & Iain Tullie and lead the rally from Bramham to Otley, congratulations.

First Experts were Andrew Parr and Bob Duck (Austin Mini Cooper S). Photo by Phill Andrews.

 

On a separate note Colin Jebson and Keith Storer (Volvo 122s) didn’t have a great rally as they broke a wishbone which ruptured a fuel line that caused a small fire.  Their faith in humanity was restored however when firstly Lee and Yvonne Matthews (Ford Consul Capri GT) were great in offering help when they saw the flames and would not leave until they were sure we were OK.  Then, when they managed to get back to the trailer park Peter Humphrey and John Tubman (Volvo PV 544) helped them get the wounded Volvo onto the trailer.  Well done to all those that helped. 

 

Photos in the gallery kindly supplied by Gary Pilmer

On a final note, many thanks to Ryan for this piece and many congratulations in securing the HRCR Clubmans Navigators Championship 2026 for the fourth time of asking.

Ryan Pickering picking up his Class award at the Ilkley Jubilee that was enough to secure him the HRCR Clubmans Interclub series Navigator award 2026.  Photo by Henry Kitchen