LeJog 2025 Leg Four Gretna Green to Fort William
*Just nine crews left in medals table before 10-hour push to John O’Groats and the finish
* Drama as King and Cochrane retire from Silver Medals as Lotus throws a con rod in Glen Orchy
*Wet weather continues to disrupt as 45 crews left face final endurance trial through night with possible storm for final day
*Concern for seven-time Gold medallists Lane and Tullie as they cope with dodgy earth lead
“We are determined not to lose any more regularities” said the LeJog Clerk of the Course and HERO-ERA Competition Director, Guy Woodcock. Halfway through Leg Four of LeJog at Castlecary as he took stock of the flooded road to the start of regularity four, Loch Coulter, which was closed. Guy and his team re-routed the rally, bypassing the flood to start in a similar position and not lose any mileage or the regularity!
The weather continues to disrupt, as the medal list is now down to nine. There are six Gold and just three Silver medallists left in contention, there are no Blue Riband or Bronze competitors left on the list! The biggest drama was to hit Silver medal men John King and Mike Cochrane right after they left the Time Control at Tyndrum into the dark of Glen Orchy as a con rod let go in the engine. This is a sad end to the efforts of the Lotus Elan Plus 2 crew, who even survived an engine drowning in a ford in Wales, the question has been asked as to whether damage was done then, but either way their LeJog trial is over.
Henry Carr and Swiss Hampi Durer dropped out of the Gold positions in their Volvo 121 after fuel pump failure, and sadly so did Dominik Lingg and Kaspar Wittwer after they missed two timing points in their Fiat 124 Sport. Christopher Winter, a previous Gold medal winner and Duncan Stonier were the most recent retirements in their Volvo 144. However, the great news is that Andrew Duerden and Michael Rodel entered the Gold category in their 1974 Mercedes Benz W115 230.4 and they are hoping to hang on to the coveted Gold by the time they finish in John O’ Groats at approximately 11.00 am on Tuesday.
Although it has largely stayed under the LeJog radar, there is also a battle going on for the Golden Roamer Award, for the winning navigator of the HERO-ERA season long championship. Harry Baines, who is not entered on LeJog, but which also counts for points towards the ‘Navigator of the Year’ award is leading, but Pete Johnson could just pip him to the finish line by one point if…. Pete Johnson explains. “I would need 60 points off of this rally to beat Harry by half a point, so it is very unlikely. This rally is split into five individual Legs, we'd have to be second on them all or higher in class, which, I may add, is very difficult when you've got Andy Lane and Iain Tullie in your class!” However, Pete is still hanging in there driven by John Lomas in his VW Golf GTi.
There are many just hoping to cross the finish line in John O’ Groats, and some praying to keep their medal places, but it will be a tough night and early morning – right through.
As weary crews arrived at Fort William for a bite to eat and to snatch some brief sleep on the floors or chairs of the Ben Nevis Hotel before the big final push, Guy Woodcock explained what is in store for the Joggers!
