BRITISH Rally Championship contender Matt Cotton finished on the podium once again last weekend when he contested the second round of the world renowned series, The Bulldog International Rally of North Wales.

Matt, 32 from St Teath, piloted his AVS Motorsport run Ford Fiesta ST to a worthy eighteenth overall and second in class, ensuring he remains in the championship title hunt for the remaining rounds of the season.

International competitors from all corners of the globe assembled in the market town of Welshpool in Powys to tackle 90 competitive stage miles in the classic Welsh forests of Dyfi and Gartheiniog.

With 15 of those miles to be contested in the dark on Friday night, the event was already shaping up to be a classic battle for all the British Rally Championship crews.

Matt and co-driver Glyn Thomas from Hutton in North Somerset had spent the four weeks since the first round of the series preparing for this event, which would be their first taste of night stages together.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.