ROGER Chilman was the top Herefordshire performer when a host of local crews made the relatively short journey to the small village of Resolven for the Zutec Neath Valley Stages.

Chilamn and co-driver Bryan Thomas came home a creditable fourth overall and third in class in only their second event in the Melvyn Evans Motorsport/Kuhmo Tyres Escort RS1800,after a trouble free run.

"It was a great event, fantastic stages and well organised," said Chilman. "This is only my second event in the car, but I need to find another second a mile to push the boys at the front."

Roger Matthews, who had Tom Marrott alongside for the first time in the RJ Matthews Transport RS1600, got off to a good start, swapping seconds with championship veteran Chris Browne for second in the category on the opening three tests as category leader David Stokes was well out in front.

But a puncture on stage four followed by brake problems on the following test saw them drop 30 seconds to the Kent-based builder, so they settled for 10th overall, third in category two and third in class on Matthews' best drive of the year so far.

Ross on Wye co-driver Paul Morris makes the trip to Belgium this weekend for the RV Staden Rallye to co-drive Martyn Jones in his Escort RS1800 in the historic section of the event.