<News1.asp>

South West Dairy Show
8th February 2008

THE Dairy Show went ahead Wednesday, January 30, following the cancellation of the original date set in October. No cattle were present due to the current situation, but there were a record number of trade stands.

The specialist show, at the Bath and West showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, opened from 8.30am with bright sunshine and the crowds began to flood in. The show which is sponsored by NatWest and Dairy Crest, had 270 trade stands on site providing information on the dairy market.

This year the layout of the show was slightly different and made space for larger demonstration areas including JCB and John Deere who showed a new range of equipment.

UK Farm Finance had a stand headed up by Sales Director Martyn Lane and PR and Promotions Manager Kerry Neal. Martyn said “After the current situation with Blue Tongue and the Foot and Mouth we were anticipating a poor turn out, but we were actually pleasantly surprised by the amount of visitors. I also think the sunshine helped draw people in and made it into a very successful day for UK. We managed to give some information out on the types of finance we can propose, and discuss options available including information to those wanting to expand their farm and update their farming equipment.”

Kerry went on to explain “ It is always worth getting awareness at these types of events, making sure that people know who UK Farm Finance are and what lending is available to them. Some people don’t realise that we can lend from £35,000 even if they have a very poor credit history. It is also important to them that we can give a decision in principal within minutes helping to speed up the whole process. Most people need funds quickly and want to know immediately if they are eligible to borrow money from UK. The Dairy Show is a fantastic way to get in touch with Dairy Farmers alike and give free advice on the facilities UK can offer”.

Kynaston in control at Brean
28th January 2008

Weston Super Mare Motor Club Ltd

Last weekend’s UK Farm Finance sponsored Brean Stages Rally was won by David Kynaston and co-driver Andy Russell in their Audi A3 Quattro who scored a resounding victory by a margin of 1m 34s, ahead of Steve and Yvonne Furzeland in a Subaru WRC.

Based in the grounds of the Brean Leisure Park on the North Somerset coast, the 12th running of this highly popular two-day event featured six stages around the twisty asphalt roads of the holiday venue’s caravan and camping sites on Saturday and another six, in the opposite direction, on Sunday. The weekend’s good weather saw 1000s of spectators visit the park to enjoy two-days of fierce competition and spectacular driving from the event’s full entry of 85 crews.

Kynaston stamped his authority on proceedings right from the start by winning the opening stage and then never lost the lead. However, things were close on the first day, when five-times previous winner of the event, Karl Broad in a Metro 6R4, matched Kynaston’s times by all but a second on four of the stages.

Broad almost took the lead prior to the overnight halt when Kynaston collected a puncture on SS5 and then subsequently broke a driveshaft on SS6, the time lost seeing him just one second ahead of the Metro driver for the start of Sunday’s competition.

But Broad’s charge ended on the second stage of the second day, when a steering arm snapped – thankfully on a slow section of the course. With Furzeland driving a cautious event - his car refusing to start without a push - Broad’s demise left Kynaston with a comfortable lead - and even two broken anti-roll-bar couplings did little to break the Audi driver’s stride.

Another 6R4 driver and former winner of the event Duncan Holder also struck problems when, on Saturday’s last stage whilst holding fifth place, a sticking throttle linkage caused his car to run on three cylinders. Dropping to 12th place, he fought back on Sunday to finish in seventh. Ahead of Holder, James Harvey in a Subaru Impreza and David Jones in a Mitsubishi Evolution IX, both delivered solid performances to finish fifth and sixth respectively.

The battle for third and fourth was between the two Mk I Escorts of Dave Parnell and Kerry Michael. Parnell went into the final stage with a two-second advantage, but admitted to have been waving to the marshals and emerged on exactly the same time as Michael, therefore only securing the final place on the podium after the tie break rule of fastest on the first stage had been invoked.

Fourth place meant that Michael won the over two-litre category, whilst in the other classes Stuart Fossey won the up to two-litre class in his Escort Mk II and, when Andy Gwynne was delayed by two broken suspension joints, Mark Watkins stormed through to collect 1600 honours in his Escort Mk III.

Julian Wilkes posted another giant-killing performance by being the quickest 1400cc car by far and finished 11th overall in his Nova, but confessed to being a little disappointed not to have recorded a top-ten finish after lying eighth earlier in the day.

After recording his second Brean victory in as many years, a delighted David Kynaston said: “Although we won by a reasonable margin, it wasn’t as easy as it looked. It was a shame that Karl (Broad) was unable to continue as we were having a great battle on Saturday and I had to push hard from the start. Even without so much pressure on Sunday I had to maintain my pace to keep concentration and just in case I hit problems too. It’s always great to win events - and especially when its one as competitive as it is here at Brean.

Results
1 David Kynaston/Andy Russell (Audi A3 Quattro) 1h03m50s
2 Steve Furzeland/Yvonne Furzeland (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h05m24s
3 Dave Parnell/Pete Bold (Escort Mk I) 1h06m24s
4 Kerry Michael/Mark Phillips (Escort Mk 1) 1h06m24s
5 James Harvey/Paul Arberry (Subaru Impreza) 1h06m33s
6 David Jones/Paul Sanders (Mitsubishi Evo IX) 1h07m13s
7 Duncan Holder/Nick Reeves (Metro 6R4) 1h07m33
8 Steve Snook/Chris Snook (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h07m37s
9 Kev Carr/Bret Wookey (Ford Escort) 1h07m50s
10 Brian Lee/Neil Davies (Subaru Impreza) 1h07m52s

Class Winners
A (up to 1400cc) Julian Wilkes/Will Rutherford (Vauxhall Nova) 1h08m12s
B (up to 1600cc) Mark Watkins/Paul Drew (Escort Mk III) 1h11m39s
C (up to 2000cc) Stuart Fossey/Theresa Fossey (Escort Mk II) 1h08m51s
D (over 2000cc) Kerry Michael/Mark Phillips (Escort Mk 1) 1h06m24
E (over 2000cc 4wd) James Harvey/Paul Arberry (Subaru Impreza) 1h06m33s

UK Farm Finance offer bespoke facilities to suit almost everyone. Even if you have a poor credit history we can give you an answer within 48 hours. It really is that simple! Our regional advisors can offer advice over the telephone or they can arrange a FREE home visit to discuss what sort of facility would best suit your needs in more depth.

We have advisors located across the UK including an office in Highbridge, Somerset and Inverurie in Aberdeenshire.

To arrange a no obligation home, farm or business visit please call our freephone number today for more details: 0800 345 7201.

An exciting weekend is planned for car rally enthusiasts as UK Farm Finance Ltd will be sponsoring 'Brean Stages Rally' organised by Weston Super Mare Motor Club on Saturday January 26th and Sunday January 27th, 2008. Competitors are due to rev up their engines and take to the road in the tremendous two day event.

The rally, now in its 12th year is held at Brean Leisure Park near Burnham-On-Sea and is expected to draw in thousands of spectators. There will be eighty top entrants from all over the country competing in the annual car rally, with twelve stages being run over the two days, and a total of fifty miles of rallying.

Duncan Holder racing in his winning Rallly car

UK Farm Finance is thrilled to be the overall sponsor for this huge local event. Duncan Holder is Fleet and Project Director at UK Farm Finance, he said “I am really looking forward to the Rally because last year I could not take part due to mechanical problems with my car. I am ready to get back on the track, and this is always a compelling couple of days. This year will be a tough contest as there will be some very experienced drivers taking part.”

Duncan from Mark, Somerset won the Rally in 2005 in his Metro 6R4, and came 2nd in 2004 with his co-driver Nick Reeves from Ilminster. Duncan (pictured driving his winning car) was the first Weston Motor Club member to win a National A or B class rally in the country in the last 20 years.

Spectators are warmly invited to watch the action and can be admitted to the park by car parking only, which costs £15 per car and includes a rally programme.