Rallye Sunseeker

The Rallye Sunseeker – the Bournemouth based opening round of the eight round ANCRO National Rally Championship is a regular annual event – that currently takes place at the end of February. In 2001 the weather was – for once – unusually kind, making the forest and Bournemouth promenade stages a mass spectator event.

There are several forest stages held throughout the day, the pictures shown in the upper row are from part of the Uddens forest (SU055015) stage, a few km to the north of Bournemouth. Gravel tracks normally frequented by a handful of horse riders and cyclists at this time of year were packed on the day, with everyone listening out intently for the marshal's whistles – signalling the need to jump for cover off the tracks and onto the adjoining banks.

The final stage of the day was a sprint along Bournemouth sea front, returning finally to Bournemouth Square for the awards ceremony and celebrations.