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Final five in second Bob Rutherford Historic Rally Scholarship ‘Shoot Out’ for Young Navigators at Bicester Heritage

*Miles Fieldhouse (16, Ambleside, Lake District) wins the 2025 Bob Rutherford Scholarship to scoop major prize

*Young navigator to receive full training, free entry into four HERO-ERA 2025 rallies to navigate a top driver, plus selected Motorsport UK Academy courses

Final five in second Bob Rutherford Historic Rally Scholarship ‘Shoot Out’ for Young Navigators at Bicester Heritage

Miles Fieldhouse (16) from Ambleside was selected from five scholarship finalists competing to win full training and funding to navigate expert drivers in four 2025 HERO-ERA rallies whilst also attending selected Motorsport UK Academy courses (the governing body of UK motorsport). The other finalists were, Matilda Windsor (15, Colemere, Shropshire), Jack Harvey (16, High Wycombe), Beatrice Valmarana (16, Banbury), and Dylan Griffiths (18, Holywel, North Wales), who all impressed the expert rally panel of Guy Woodcock, Stanka Obermajerova, James Phillips, Andy Pullan, Gethin Phillips and Tony Jardine after they were put through rigorous tests.

The finalists went through a full day of monitored training and tests designed to bring out the potential star navigator in each of them. Navigation of speed tests and average speed regularities were attempted whilst been driven in HERO-ERA Arrive & Drive rally cars. The finalists all then competed in a map plotting exercise after they had been through general navigation and media training which included a TV style interview.

Winner Miles Fieldhouse who also receives full rally navigational equipment commented;

“I can't put it quite into words, it's just an amazing opportunity. To be able to have come all this way, and enjoy the challenging day and walk away with it is amazing. I mean, everybody else was really good and it was very close. I had no idea really where it was going to go, so yes, it is a great opportunity. I'm really glad to be part of it.

“It will be about self-improvement amongst people that are so experienced in the sport. I think it's the opportunity to sit with people that are experts in this sport, and learning from them, that's what I'm looking forward to.”

HERO-ERA Competition Director Guy Woodcock explains why he found it tough to pick a winner; “It was a great day with some really talented young people to choose between, which made it more difficult especially as it was close at the end, but I think we've made the right selection. Miles will go on in leaps and bounds as he gains experience.

“It is great seeing the young talent coming through, this has been a second scholarship success in the name of my close friend Bob Rutherford and we will keep pushing to bring the youngsters into this sport as he was always trying to do.”

The Bob Rutherford Historic Rally Scholarship for Young Navigators finalists who made it all the way to the final ‘Shoot Out’ were:

Beatrice Valmarana (16, Banbury) – Started navigating with her father on the Novice Trial as she wanted to experience a rally in a classic car. She loves classic cars and their elegance and enjoys the challenge of map reading and time keeping which she sees as a puzzle to solve. Beatrice, who also enjoys Fencing and Karate, will look to advance her rally career, win or lose.

Matilda Windsor (15, Colemere, Shropshire) – Got to the finals with her passion for motorsport as she loves watching F1 and classic car racing. Tilly is currently completing her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and is a member of the school CCF where she develops her map reading skills on events. Tilly wants to pursue a career in motorsport.

Miles Fieldhouse (16, Ambleside) – Works when he can in the family ‘off road’ 4 x 4 corporate business in the Lake District helping guide people over rough terrain and has competed in a Targa Rally as a navigator. Miles has a category F tractor licence, he loves motor sport and its history. He has achieved a great set of GCSE results and is now studying Chemistry and Business at A level.

Jack Harvey (16, High Wycombe) – Jack has achieved great results at the Royal Grammar School and is now studying his A levels in Chemistry and Maths. He believes his maths really helps him make quick timing calculations whilst navigating, and although he has little rally experience, won the inaugural Rally for the Ages in 2023 with his father John driving. He loves historic motor sport. 

Dylan Griffiths (18, Holywel, North Wales) – Dylan has been nurtured in motor sport by his family who run the Rhyl District Motor Club and organise many rallies in North Wales, especially on the Night Road Rallying Scene. His first rally as a navigator was aged just 12 years. He has been a junior champion but now wants to learn about historic regularity rallying. Dylan is an apprentice engineer and loves his job.

Summary of benefits for the winner:

  • Individual mentoring to help evolve individual’s understanding and skill-set
  • Free entry into all navigation seminars/classes.
  • Selected training in parallel with MSUK co-driver academy.
  • Free entry and provision of Arrive & Drive car with experienced driver into the Novice Trial and 3 x HERO Challenges (events subject to change).
  • Travel and accommodation, subsistence costs paid by HERO-ERA
  • BRHRS branded bag containing all the navigational aids required supplied from the HERO Store, this would include a poti, stopwatch etc.

The runner-up will also receive a free entry onto A Novice Trial 2025 (07 - 09 March) in their own vehicle or discounted Arrive & Drive hire.

The Scholarship was set up by Guy Woodcock and Bob’s son, rally organiser Will Rutherford, in memory of the late, great Bob Rutherford, a man fondly remembered and familiar to many in the historic rallying world, who sadly lost his life in 2021. Bob enjoyed and embraced a great career in rallying, he was a font of rally knowledge who always had time to help those wanting to learn. With a limited number of younger people entering regularity rallying, and few schemes to assist them, it was decided to harness the late Bob Rutherford’s (he lost his life on HERO-ERA London Lisbon recce in 2021) enthusiasm, energy and passion for helping youngsters into the sport by developing a scheme in his name as part of his legacy. The scholarship invokes and celebrates his spirit.

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