The first Gold Rush round took place at Aldershot on Sunday 6th April with bookings filling well in advance of the fixture with many keen to get some early points on the table. Most drivers opting for an Astra or Focus, with a few opting to go different with Fiestas becoming increasingly popular. 455 Micky Cornish had another Honda HR-V, whilst 522 Tim James brought along a basic prepped Ford Focus C-Max. The Dreamers opting for some modern Vauxhall variants with 94 Jack Anscombe bringing a fresh Mk6 Astra Estate, 334 Jamie Swanborough a hatch version and 359 Sean Swanborough having a smartly presented Vauxhall Zafira D. The rule change for the 2025 season allows the use of the Vauxhall Corsa D – 438 Jason Greener taking the opportunity to use one. Father and son duo 2 Harrison and 23 Barry Staples with some used motors – a Honda Civic Aerodeck and Mini Cooper Hatch respectively.
02 Riley O’Sullivan – Mk1 Ford Focus*
2 Harrison Staples – Honda Civic Aerodeck*
08 Finlay Damon – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
13 Lee Radford – Mk1 Ford Focus
18 James Friston – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
19 Callum Bryant – Mk1 Ford Focus
23 Barry Staples – Mini Hatch*
24 Freddie James – Mk1 Ford Focus
(2)27 Maddison Lewis – Mk1 Ford Focus*
44 Samuel Flood – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
(4)48 Alfie Critt – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra
50 Ben Alderton – Mk1 Ford Focus*
51 Alfie Alderton – Mk1 Ford Focus*
53 Cole Tropper – Mk7 Ford Fiesta*
59 Tom Greenstreet – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
60 Daniel Croskell – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
69 Ben Finnie – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
72(5) Simon Bye – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
73 Cray Ingram – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
81 Gary Emery – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra Estate
84 Jack Ansell – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
94 Jack Anscombe – Mk6 Vauxhall Astra Estate
98 Jimmy Stanley – Mk1 Ford Focus
104 Jake Streetley – Mk1 Ford Focus*
121 Ronnie Hawkins – Mk1 Ford Focus
122 Reece Humphries – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
127 Kieran Andrews – Mk1 Ford Focus
128 Daniel Allen – Mk1 Ford Focus
131 Harley McCarthy – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
143 Daniel Hansford – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
157 Reece Brown – Mk1 Ford Focus*
165 Charlie Barwell – Mk7 Ford Fiesta*
167 Dylan Ling – Mk6 Ford Fiesta*
171 Jamie Strange – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
172 Kenton Walker – Mk7 Ford Fiesta*
174 Tom Lindgren – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
189 Bailey Ramsey – Mk1 Ford Focus
194 Steve Anscombe – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
198 Thomas Gumbleton – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
206 Daniel Farmer – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
210 Harry Andrews – Mk1 Ford Focus*
216 George Baker – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
217 Harrison Devall – Volvo C30
227 Gavin Taylor – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
257 Harvey Barrow – Mk1 Ford Focus*
270 Brian Stanney – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
273 Brandon Hayward – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
292 Harry Airey – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
301 Jack Botfield – Volvo V50
304 Harry Botfield – Mk1 Ford Focus
305 Alfie Cornish – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra
306 Mitch Hawkins – Mk1 Ford Focus*
317 Tommy Devall – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
325 Adam Wickson – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra Estate*
330 Ben Key – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra Estate
333 Brad Wickson – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra
334 Jamie Swanborough – Mk6 Vauxhall Astra
345 Reece Keeping – Mk2 Ford Focus*
351 Adrian Martins – Mk1 Ford Focus*
354 Josh Vowden – Mk7 Ford Fiesta
359 Sean Swanborough – Vauxhall Zafira D
363 Billy Jarvis – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
385 Craig Thurlow – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
393 Alfie Hunt – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
399 Lewis Baldry – Mk1 Ford Focus*
406 Brooklyn Parker – Mk1 Ford Focus*
415 Scott Cornish – Mk1 Ford Focus
438 Jason Greener – Vauxhall Corsa D
441 Tyler Barnes – Mk1 Ford Focus*
442 Tyler Ivins – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
448 Luke Farrington – Mk6 Ford Fiesta*
450 Owen Pearce – Vauxhall Zafira C
452 Harry Eyles – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
455 Micky Cornish – Honda HR-V
521 Jack Coveney – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
522 Tim James – Ford Focus C-Max
524 Owen Hunt – Mk1 Ford Focus*
531 Brent Tropper – Mk2 Ford Focus Estate
536 Harry Barwell – Mk1 Ford Focus*
557 Lewis Sharman – Mk1 Ford Focus
561 Ben Payne – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra Estate*
579 Jack Bland – Mk1 Ford Focus*
591 Aaron Morris – Volvo C30*
608 Lenny Murkin – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra
614 Harrison Evans – Mk1 Ford Focus*
621 Gareth Parker – Mk1 Ford Focus*
622 Leon Weeks – Mk1 Ford Focus*
623 Ricky Hutton – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra
650 Danny Harvey
651 Jamie Brightman – Mk1 Ford Focus*
652 Harvey Eyles – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra*
711 Oliver Banks – Mk1 Ford Focus
716 Alfie Painter – Mk1 Ford Focus*
717 Harvey Devall Junior – Mk4 Vauxhall Astra*
724 Jamie Alexander – Mk1 Ford Focus
725 Joshua Evans – Mk6 Ford Fiesta
726 Sam Bye
732 Danny Stroud
733 Ricky Stroud – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra
772 Jack Farley – Mk1 Ford Focus*
816 Jack Weeks – Mk1 Ford Focus
817 Toby Hodgkinson – Mk6 Vauxhall Astra*
878 Joe Prior – Mk1 Ford Focus
881 Caitlin Emery – Mk5 Vauxhall Astra Estate
970 Ryan Hart – Mk1 Ford Focus
973 Tyler-Jay Hills – Mk1 Ford Focus
974 Joe Dobbs – Mk7 Ford Fiesta*
The heats were split into 1/3 cars format with the top 10 from each making their way into the Wildcard Final. The grid draw for Heat 1 seeing 18 James Friston head off the front row alongside 210 Harry Andrews. 81 Gary Emery didn’t manage to make it around turn 1 having made contact with the barrier, whilst 50 Ben Alderton had a rough ride, getting spun by 59 Tom Greenstreet and collect by 650 Danny Harvey which left the former perched on his errand OSF wheel. It was carnage down the home straight too. 351 Adrian Martins was spun in the way of the pack and was caught by 717 Harvey Devall Jnr who rolled, as 44 Sam Flood bounced off the marker tyres and several others fell fowl behind as the reds came out for Devall. Last year’s winner of the Aldershot Gold Rush, 521 Jack Coveney, found himself at the head of affairs on the restart with 217 Harrison Devall and 227 Gavin Taylor tucked in behind. 317 Tommy Devall spun 363 Billy Jarvis and 198 Thomas Gumbleton suffered the same fate courtesy of 557 Lewis Sharman. A push into turns 3/4 saw 974 Joe Dobbs fall along way down the order. 317 Dukes removed 51 Alfie Alderton. Behind that, 122 Reece Humphries and 128 Daniel Allen clashed seeing them crash to the fence. 623 Ricky Hutton was the next to show, dispatching of 189 Bailey Ramsey. Ramsey didn’t have long to recover, coming under fire from 217 Hen a lap later. By this point, 165 Charlie Barwell had worked his way in to the lead and was cruising out front. Some of the minor places swapped and changed in a relatively quiet last few laps, although 189 Ramsey found himself in the way once again getting the bumper treatment this time from 363 Jarvis. 165 Chaz raced to the win.
165, 306, 531, 18, 227, 623, 591, 172, 448, 59
The second heat saw debutant 393 Alfie Hunt off of the front alongside 73 Cray Ingram. It was those two that were the first to feature in the action, with Ingram turning Hunt fence-wards at the end of the home straight, before 725 Joshua Evans pulled up next to the armco on turn 1. 608 Lenny Murkin set the early pace but was soon passed by 23 Barry Staples in his Mini which looked to be very quick. 711 Olly Banks and another tangled at the end of the back straight. 522 Tim James put the bumper in on 53 Cole Tropper which sent the latter into a half spin. 579 Jack Bland was spun aside by 724 Jamie Alexander but was swiftly back into the fray. 415 Scott Cornish followed 522 Weevil into the lame 725 Evans car, getting tangled together in the process. The remaining laps remained quiet with 23 Staples taking the win.
23, 608, 73, 19, 716, 2, 579, 614, 622, 121
Heat 3 on paper was set to be the liveliest yet, with the Dreamers out against several of their rivals including members of the Rude Boys among others. 817 Toby Hodgkinson was the first to strike having a pop at 143 Daniel Hansford. 733 Ricky Stroud spun 94 Jack Anscombe down the home straight before 334 Jamie Swanborough buried 69 Ben Finnie through his passenger doors. 359 Sean Swanborough weighed in for a head on to 69 Finnie. 143 DH rallied back to dump 452 Harry Eyles into the marker tyres down the back straight. 536 Harry Barwell came under pressure from 970 Ryan Hart with 651 Jamie Brightman providing the assist to straighten the Baz out. It was change at the front of the field as 157 Reece Brown worked his way ahead of 524 Owen Hunt to take the lead. 973 Tyler-Jay Hills spun 69 Finnie allowing 817 Toby to deliver a front wheel shot – 194 Steve Anscombe adding further punishment steaming in on Finnie. 143 DH had a nibble at the slowing 194 Cecil. 157 Reece Brown taking the victory.
157, 524, 08, 973, 385, 442, 452, 817, 783, 273
363 Billy Jarvis and 02 Riley O’Sullivan found themselves off the front of the first Consolation race. It was carnage at the green. 557 Sharmo spun 354 Josh Vowden, whilst 128 Patrick took a visit to the tyres. 536 the Baz also spinning 974 Dodds before the reds came out for the stricken 354 Sherman. The front row sitters remained 1-2 on the restart with 333 Brad Wickson dropping in behind. 772 Jack Farley followed in 351 Adrian Martins. A sort out along the home straight saw 44 Flood and 438 Jason Greener among others spin to the infield. 651 Brightman and 24 Freddie James tangled along the back straight as 189 Ramsay ran into 772 Farley. 216 George Baker spun 536 the Baz, who was collected by 189 Ramsay. 881 Caitlin spun 325 Wiggles before catching 536 Baz’s car a lap later. The reds coming out. 333 Beachball lead them away from 363 Jarvis and 02 Riley’O, but appeared to have mechanical issues when the green dropped. 44 Samuel Flood spun 128 Patrick. 13 Radford turned 51 Alderton fence-wards as they went across the line before 301 Jack Botfield buried 44 Flood into the parked cars to finish the action. 02 Riley O’Sullivan took the win.
02, 73, 448, 363, 198, 51, 13, 711, 44, 330
The second Consolation placed 415 Corndog and 292 Harry Airey off the front row. 84 Peach earned himself a black flag before the green flag dropped for putting the brakes on 194 Cecil not allowing him to make the start. 817 Toby took 143 DH to the infield. 194 Cecil copped it from 84 Peach down the back straight, who had clearly ignored the earlier black flag. 725 Josh Evans followed in 227 Maddison Lewis. 450 Owen Pearce delivered a head on to 69 Finnie. 84 Peach and 94 Anscombe tangled along the back straight before 194 Cecil crashed out on the Aldershot turn with 128 Patrick and 970 Hart. 174 Tom Lindgren turned Cecil left at the end of the home straight as the red flags came out with 5 laps to go to deal with those that were ignoring their disqualifications. 304 Harry Botfield lead from 415 Corndog and 131 Harley McCarthy. The restart remained fairly smooth sailing – 304 Garfield taking the win. 334 Swanborough and 455 Micky Cornish tangling before the end.
304, 415, 333, 521, 131, 292, 717, 406, 621, 652
The first Wildcard Final of the year for the class saw 165 Chaz and 157 Gru claim the front row whilst 23 Staples had to start at the back. It was early chaos as 448 Helmet clipped a marker tyre exiting turn 4 at the drop of the green flying into the path of 172 KennyG copping a tbone and seeing many behind crash out including 415 Corndog, 621 Gruff and heat winner 23 Staples. The reds coming out on track with only a lap completed. The order seeing 579 Bland jump into second place ahead of 157 Gru. 273 Brandon Hayward ran in 716 Alfie Painter and then jacked him a lap later. A few quiet laps passed before 733 Stroudy turned 51 Alderton left at the end of the home straight with teammate 273 Hayward on course again with a big shot to the latter bringing another stoppage. The top 2 remained the same, with 579 Bland matching every move 165 Chaz made. 2023 World Champion 591 Aaron Morris now making it into third place. 608 Lenny Murkin set about 131 McCarthy, eventually spinning him on the back straight as 165 Charlie Barwell booked his ticket onto the World Final grid. 579 Bland taking second and 591 Morris third.
165, 579, 591, 18, 73, 157, 623, 452, 227, 531
The Dash rounded off the day. 304 Garfield got the run off of the front row and broke into a strong early lead. 717 Devall Jnr had a rough ride into turn 1 which saw him tangle with 536 the Baz and 557 Sharmo. 206 Farmer spun 881 Caitlin. 174 Lindgren had a pop at 194 Cecil. 23 Staples rolled down the back straight landing back on his wheels. 623 Tricky weighed in on 557 Sharmo. 304 Garfield lead from 172 KennyG and 24 Freddie. 614 Harrison Evans spun 351 Adrian Martins. 122 Humphries and 878 Joey Prior tangled, with Prior then doing the former on the nose. 623 Tricky jacked Humphries, with Prior again going in for a head on before the red flags came out for a second time. 304 Garfield still lead with 354 Sherman jumping into second and 172 KennyG slipping to third. 194 Cecil had a go at 174 Lindgren. A sort out between the minor places saw 442 Tyler Ivins collect the parked cars on the exit of turn 2 and 172 KennyG spin 206 Farmer. 304 Harry Botfield raced to his second win of the afternoon.
304, 354, 521, 172, 227, 452, 531, 2, 121, 363
A great start to the Gold Rush series – congratulations to 165 Charlie Barwell for securing his spot on the World Final grid. Round 2 takes place at Hednesford on Monday 6th May where 115 cars are already booked in; it’s set to be a corker!
Meeting Reports
Yarmouth – 10/4/25 – Back to Basics – Meeting Report + Gallery
