A full entry of 12 crews tackled the Easter Navigation Exercise, including a good showing of novices. On the heels of their Barum Rally success were Ben and Jason Byrom, and also Scott Jonas and Chris Perry, who travelled from Torbay to take part. After winning the last event, Neil Partridge and Karen Gerring were out to prove that they were still the couple to beat, whilst in the expert class Jon Tucker and Scott Cleverdon made a welcome return.

The first section of the route took the crews via Babeleigh and the impossible hairpin down to Hannaford, round Codden Hill to the A377. They then made their way to Control 2 at Bucks Mill, by which time there were only 3 crews with penalties. Here, the experts had mixed route instructions while the novices had tulips, but the plot-n-bash now began to produce some more penalties as they made their way around the many junctions in the Sherwood Green area before Control 3 near Langridgeford. From here, the final section went via Fishleigh Barton and Atherington to Umberleigh and then to the last Control near Clapworthy Cross.

At the finish, Tucker/Cleverdon were declared first experts, ahead of Gary and Mike Wood. In the novice section, joint first were Ben/Jason Byrom and Partridge/Gerring who both completed the route without penalty. Next came Russ/Gareth Drayton, who were just ahead of John Bartlett/G West and Jonas/Perry. A very good 7th place in the novices went to first timers Richard Burgess and Julian Roskilly, whilst a wrong approach cost Robert Cocker and Arthur Cole a sure 2nd place.

It was extremely encouraging to see that 10 of the 12 crews returned to the finish, and we hope to see many of you again on the next event - a 70-mile Friday-nighter - on June 7th.

Once again, thanks go to all those who marshalled, and to Stuart Ayre and Pauline Dixey who gave up their entry to allow another newcomer to take part, and the did a great job as course closing car.

Derek Drayton

Results:
Overall	Class
1st=	1st=	Neil Partridge / Karen Gerring
1st=	1st=	Ben Byrom / Jason Byrom
1st=	1st	Jon Tucker / Scott Cleverdon (Experts)
4th	3rd	Russ Drayton / Gareth Drayton
5th=	4th=	Scott Jonas / Chris Perry
5th=	4th=	John Bartlett / G West
5th=	4th=	Mike Lamburn / Jack Lamburn
5th=	2nd	Gary Wood / Mike Wood (Experts)
9th	7th	Richard Burgess / Julian Roskilly
10th	8th	Robert Cocker / Arthur Cole
DNF		Martin Moore / Steve Moore
DNF		Ben Dixey / Adam Coley