LUCKLESS Herefordshire driver Lance Bowen came to grief in the Class 10 final of the National Autoglass Championship at Thinghill Court in Withington last weekend.

Bowen, from the West Midland Autograss League, took the role of chairman of the two-day competition, the largest autograss event in the country, and was bidding to better his runners-up position in last year’s Class 10 contest.

He again won his way through the heats to reach Sunday’s final but got off to a poor start and was trailing down the field.

However the Eardisland racer showed great spirit to battle his way back into the running and was in second place and on the verge of taking the lead when he spun his twin Yamaha R1-engined special out of contention.

As Bowen was left to lick his wounds, Neil Rawlinson from Middlesbrough went on to win the Class 10 title.

The ten classes all comprised of 40 entrants so there were a total of 400 competitors taking part, as well as a large crowd watching the proceedings.

Other local successes saw Mike Jones from Hereford finish a creditable third in Class 4.

Jabez Smith, from Ludlow, also retained his Class 5 title.

But some of the other winners have still to be confirmed after scrutiny checks disqualified a number of competitors.