GOING into the final round of the Kirkby Lonsdale Motor Club Series for 2000, everything still hung in the balance for the driver's title between Kendal's Paul Miller and Grange-based Trevor Smith.

The Grizedale Stages at the start of December had 17 registered Kirkby crews on the event, including Steve Head from Burton and Ian Joel from Carnforth.

Steve Petch had taken the dogfight for the 2000 Grizedale title to John Thompson, who had finished first or the last two years, but after Petch slid wide on the last stage and Thompson eased off, Team Penguin's Steve Head/Andrew Dugdale pipped them both and took their first event win.

In the Kirkby series, Kendal's Paul Miller finally got his desserts when Smith slid wide on the final stage and got tangled in the undergrowth dropping two minutes.

In his own backyard, Grizedale's David Shuttleworth didn't have a good day as he lost third gear in the morning and contemplated going home but stuck with it and finished fourth.

In the co-drivers section of the Kirkby series, justice was done as Smith's partner Anthony Desay easily took first place.

Steve Southall was second and Nathan Holmes and Helen Davies, who had both contested three events with Paul Miller, tied for third.

The prizes will be awarded at the annual dinner dance in Saturday, February 17 and tickets are now available from Bob Milloy at a cost of £17.50 per head.

The 2001 Championship is being put together now and regulations will be available at the end of the month.