Pregnant pause halts Jim Clark Rallyposted in SRC01 | 06 | 2012

THERE WAS A PREGNANT pause on the opening stages of the Jim Clark International Rally in Duns town centre this evening when a spectator went into labour.

After nine months gestation, the new baby couldn't wait to get in on the action in the latest round of the British and Scottish Rally Championships.

Understandably, the stage was halted while an ambulance was called and whisked the Duns woman away to hospital.

After the expectant pause, Finland's Citroen ace Jarkko Nikara finished the penning two spectator special stages holding a slender 1.9sec lead over the Citroen DS3 of former British champ Keith Cronin.

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BRC leader Elfyn Evans could only manage 12th-fastest in his Ford Fiesta R2, 12.3secs off the pace.

Ayr's Ruary MacLeod from Ayr, co-driven by Marykirk’s Drew Sturrock in their Ford Fiesta R2, was top Scot, in 15th place, 15.4s behind Nikara.

The action continues tomorrow when the crews tackle two lops of four high-speed tarmac stages through the Borders.

Triple Scottish rally champ, and winner of the International event 12 months ago, David Bogie from Dumfries, will contest the Scottish round on Sunday in his Metro 6R4 (pictured).

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Jim McGill

Photo: LindsayPhotoSport