TOM Llewellin has maintained a family tradition becoming British Rally Cross champion, dominating the 14-17 age category to take the silverware with a series of races still to go.

That took place in Croft, South Yorkshire, and Tom made the journey with father David, a former rally champion - but raced in the senior section to get a taste of what to expect next year in his Suzuki Swift 1600cc car, hired from Peter Gwynne Motor Sports, and won that too!

He had already sealed junior success in a’ double header’ at Pembrey on a track made up of tarmac and grit.

On the Saturday he looked in fine fettle during his threelap practice run and managed to overcome the bad luck of being drawn at the back of the grid for the first of three heats as he weaved through the opposition to finish second over four laps.

This meant he secured a place in the front two of the next heat and he drove superbly to win it, as he did later in the third heat to stay on pole position for the final, which he won comfortably.

On the Sunday, when the draw for places in Heat One saw him at the back of the grid, he drove brilliantly to win the race and the other two as an added bonus. That set him up for victory in the final, which included a ‘joker lap’ where the drivers had to choose when to drive an extended part of the course - and although he was second after doing that he overtook the leader to pouch a precious 30 points.

This put Tom on 237 points as a result of winning every race meeting except one at Martello Park, Northern Ireland, where he just missed out to rival in Ole Henri Steinsholt of Norway.

“I’ve had a wonderful season,” Tom told us, “and I must thank my family and sponsors for their support.”

Then came the long journey to Croft and Tom set the cat amongst the pigeons as he came second in his first race - and after qualifying for the final caused more of a stir winning his first senior competition at just 17!

“It has meant a great deal of travel but has been a terrific experience and a pleasure to bring the trophy back to Pembrokeshire”

Sister Thea makes it a double family celebration

Thea Llewellin’s commitment to three-day eventing has been rewarded as part of the Wales and The Borderers’ regional team which won the British Regional Three-Day Eventing Championship.

With mother Helen in support, Thea has been competing long term in dressage, cross country and show jumping, travelling across the UK to gain the points necessary to make the team.

Ultimately, Thea was deservedly selected as the only Welsh member of the squad which took on all other regions from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland at Frickley Park in South Yorkshire on her horse ‘Lakestreet Curious’, known to all at home as ‘Kyra’.

“I was nervous because it was my first time in the squad but I was delighted at the way things turned out,” admitted Thea.

“I had a good start with low penalty points in the dressage, where Kyra performed really well and in the cross country section over a challenging course we managed to go clear, although we had a few time faults as I made sure we took no risks.

“The show jumping took place in awful conditions and I was a disappointed to knock two fences down, but I had some consolation because so did more experienced riders than me.”

When the points were totalled it was announced Thea and Co had won - and they received a splendid trophy and individual mementoes as their reward.