Castle Douglas driver Jock Armstrong takes success on Snowman Rally

Jock Armstrong kicked off his KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship campaign with victory in the season opener.

The Castle Douglas driver took victory on the AM Phillip Trucktech Snowman Rally by just nine seconds in his Subaru Impreza, co-driven by Hannah McKillop.

There was also success for Dumfries and Galloway competitors in some of the classes on the Inverness-based event.

Victory had looked to be heading to Scott Macbeth and Dan Forsyth, only for them to roll their Ford Fiesta R5 out of the event on stage four.

That put Armstrong and McKillop into the lead and they took a five second advantage into the final stage, a fastest time securing victory for the two-time Scottish champ.

Fifth place went to the Mitsubishi Evo of Angus Lawrie of Castle Douglas and Paul Gribben of Annan in their Mitsubishi Evo.

Finishing a fine 12th was John McIlwraith of Canonbie and Heather Grisedale were a tremendous 12th in their Impreza, giving them success in both the Albyn Garage Challengers and Groundwater Lift Trucks Subaru Cup. The Proton Satria of Dumfries’ Mark McCulloch was one place behind in 12th.

Reigning two-wheel drive champions Peter Stewart and Harry Marchbank from Dumfries started their year with another two-wheel drive win in their new Peugeot 208 Rally4.

Jim Robertson from Penpont and Mike Curry from Lockerbie took the Haddo Energy Super Seniors category in their Ford Escort Mk2 by more than a minute from Richard Stewart of Dumfries in his Peugeot 208.

Scott Peacock of Castle Douglas and Craig Wallace of Westmuir were 17th in their Evo 8 with Iain Wilson of Dalbeattie 31st in his Ford Fiesta Rally2

Bridge of Dee’s Donald Peacock and Dumfries Mairi Riddick were second in the H2 class in their