Almost 300 cars competed in the 2009 Jim Clark Rally, making it the biggest event by number of entrants in the UK.  They were spread over six separate rallies run during the bank holiday weekend of 22nd to 24th May - an ambitious programme which proved to be a great success and another exciting spectacle for the thousands who flocked to Berwickshire for the occasion.  

New this year was a special stage set on the streets of Duns, the county town just a few miles from the family farm which Jim Clark worked on and loved.

The Duns stage was the final test for the main International rally on the Saturday, but had featured two runs for the International and National fields the previous night, with most cars sporting the unusual sight of light pods as, for the first time in several years, some night driving added spice to the event.
Duns also provided additional entertainment for the four thousand who had poured into the small town, with street stalls and other shows to keep family members happy, along with motorcycle stunt riding and drift car demonstrations.

Similar entertainment had been laid on for the large crowd which turned out at Edinburgh’s Fountain Park Leisure Centre to witness the ceremonial start of the International Rally on Friday.  
Barring some light rainfall late on Saturday, the event was blessed by fair weather, and indeed bright sunshine almost throughout, making for some very fast driving on the narrow and testing closed public roads of Berwickshire.  Over 130 miles per hour down Station Road in Duns is fast!

As expected, the powerful WRC cars of the Irish Tarmac Championship dominated the International Rally, with Eugene Donnelly, alongside Paddy Toner, repeating his 2007 win, taking the chequered flag in his Skoda Fabia ahead of countrymen Tim McNulty and David Moynihan in their Subaru Impreza.  In his Subaru, last year’s winner Eamonn Boland, alongside Michael Morrissey, just edged out another Irish crew, Gareth McHale and Brian Murphy in their Ford Focus, for third and fourth.

Top British Championship place went once again to former British Champion Mark Higgins, with Bryan Thomas on the notes.  They kept current Championship leader Keith Cronin and co-driver Greg Shinnors at bay for the crews to finish in sixth and seventh places overall.

Welsh driver Melvyn Evans, with Sean Mullally alongside, won the hotly contested National Rally in their Subaru, while local lads Mike Horne and Robbie Mitchell thrilled their Duns following to win the Challenge Rally in their venerable Mk 2 Escort.  As keenly fought out as any of the events, the LandRover Rally spoils went to Ewan Christie and James Dempsey.

Finishing on Sunday was the Historic Rally, which was taken by Steve Magson and Geoff Atkinson and in their Opel Ascona, and although local rally legend Andrew Cowan may have brought up the tail with John Mole, he did admit to having had great fun - at times hitting 110 miles per hour in his little Hillman Imp!
Finally the largest event, the popular Reivers Rally saw Scottish, and British Championship charger David Bogie, helped by Kevin Rae, just hold on to win from local stars Euan Thorburn and Claire Mole, who had recovered from an earlier crash to close to within 15 seconds.

Once again, the Jim Clark Rally organisers, led by manager Colin Pagan, are indebted to the people of Duns and Berwickshire for their patience, understanding and help in the staging of the 2009 rally weekend.
We hope that they, all the visitors from further afield, the competitors and their support, and all those who helped run the event, will be back for another weekend’s top rallying next year.