Tom Llewellin has maintained the family tradition in motor sport by becoming the British champion in Rally Cross, dominating the 14-17 age category in such style that he took the silverware with one series of races still to go.
 
That took place in Croft, South Yorkshire, and Tom made the long journey with his father David, a former rally champion, in support - but in the senior section so that he could gain a taste of what to expect next year against the cream of adult racers in a Suzuki Swift 1600cc car, as opposed to the Suzuki Swift 1300cc, which he has hired from Peter Gwynne Motor Sports – and won that too!.
 

Junior success after ‘double header’

 
He sealed  junior success in a 'double header' weekend at Pembrey on a track made up of tarmac and grit and where each lap demands total focus and high skill levels on both surfaces.
 
On the Saturday he looked in fine fettle during his three-lap practice run and managed to overcome the bad luck of being drawn at the back of the grid for the first of three heats as he weaved through the opposition to end in second place over the four laps.
 
This meant that Tom secured a place in the front two of the next heat and he drove superbly to win it, as he did later in the third heat to stay in pole position for the final, which he won comfortably.
 

Even won on ‘Joker’ section

 
Then it was on to Sunday when the draw for places in Heat One saw him at the back of the grid, but he drove brilliantly to win the race and the other two as an added bonus.
 
That set him up nicely for victory in the final, which included a 'joker lap' when all the drivers had to choose when to drive an extended part of the course on one lap - and although he was second after doing that he was still able to overtake the leader on the very next bend and pouch another precious 30 points.
 
This put Tom on 237 points as a result of winning at every race meeting except the one at Martello Park, in Northern Ireland, where he just missed out to his main rival in Ole Henri Steinsholt of Norway, but with Ole on 199 points it meant that Tom was already deserved winner of the title.
 
"I've had a wonderful season," Tom told us, "and I must thank all my family and sponsors for their support.
 

Cat set amongst the pigeons on the senior front!

 
Then came the long journey northwards to Croft and Tom literally set the cat amongst the pigeons as he came second in his first race against the cream of senior racers - and after qualifying for the final caused even more of a stir by beating the lot to win his first senior competition at the ripe old age of 17!
 
"It has meant a great deal of travel but has been a terrific experience and a pleasure to bring the trophy back to Pembrokeshire"
 

Thea‘s also following in the family footsteps!

 
Thea Llewellin's commitment to three-day eventing has been rewarded with terrific success as she was part of the Wales and The Borderers' regional team which recently won the British Regional Three-Day Eventing Championship, with her mother Helen in support, as usual.

Thea has been practising for ages in the three disciplines of dressage, cross country and show jumping, travelling to events across the UK gaining experience and the points necessary to make the team.
 

Only Welsh rider in team

 
In the final analysis Thea was deservedly selected and was the only Welsh member of the squad which took on all the other regions from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland at Frickley Park in South Yorkshire on her horse 'Lakestreet Curious', which is known to all at home as 'Kyra'.
 
"I was nervous because it was my first time in the squad but I was delighted at the way things turned out," admitted Thea.
 
"I had a good start with low penalty points in the dressage, where Kyra performed really well and in the cross country section over a challenging course we managed to go clear, although we picked up a few time faults as I made sure we didn't take any silly risks.
 

Battled through awful conditions

 
"Then it was on to the show jumping, which took place in horrendous conditions and I was a bit disappointed to knock two fences down but I had some consolation because so did a lot more experienced riders than me.
 
When all the points had been totalled and checked it was announced that Thea and Co had won the competition against very experienced teams from the other regions - and their reward was to receive the splendid trophy and their individual mementoes as reward for their considerable skill levels and absolute commitment!