Slaithwaite rally driver James Crosland has enjoyed an impressive run in competition and is looking forward to another productive season in 2014.

The 23-year-old has swapped his brand of horse power, having previously been successful on horseback on Thornwick Ring of Kerry, but is now putting his energies into rallying.

An engineer working for Thomas Broadbents, Crosland last year teamed up with Michael Pickles, from Bramhope, and the pair have been representing both the David Brown Motor Sports Club, of which Crosland is chairman, and the Huddersfield Motor Club

In the 2013 Championship the pair competed in nine of the 12 rounds in the year and managed to pick up 10 trophies along the way between them.

Racing at such venues as Cadwell Park, York’s Barkston Heath airbase, Fulbeck airfield at Sleaford, Blyton in Scunthorpe and the Premier Nottingham Forest circuit, the pair used four cards – a Ford Escort, Subaru Imprezza, Proton Satria and a Peugeot 205 GTI.

At the annual 2013 awards held at the Bentley Hotel, Lincolnshire, the pair collected their silverware which included winning the 1600cc Forest Munlti-venue stage rally championship, being second overall in the Sealed Surface Multi-use stage rally championship and the Overall Multi-use stage rally championship.

Overall Champion Navigator of the Year 25 years and under was won by Crosland and the pair won the

Mixed Surface Multi-use stage rally championship for two and four-wheel drive cars – as well as a host of club awards.

The team have enjoyed strong backing from Pickles Tree Service and Den Motorsport – and from their service crew of James’ dad David and Richard Booler.

Their 2014 campaign gets under way this month and their ambition this year is to win the overall championship this time round.

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