Twenty-year-old Pembroke Autograss Club member Mathew Morris recently took top honours at this year's Men's National Autograss Championships held at Thornborough, near the Yorkshire Dales.

Mathew, along with the other 399 competitors, had to qualify for the championships with each autograss league holding national qualifying rounds, early on in the year.

Mathew started racing at the age of 14 competing in the junior section of autograss racing, moving into the senior men's section at the age of 16.

He races a 1,000cc Mini, having prepared the excellent shell himself, the engine was prepared by Neil Griffiths Race Engines (NGRE). The Mini is sponsored by Mike Bevans Building Contractor of Cosheston.

Mathew in his PAC5 Mini entered the 10 car class one final with 135 points which he accumulated with three second place heat results, 4th highest points on reaching the final.

The final had to be started twice, due to an incident on the first attempt. On the second attempt Mathew got an excellent start and was entering the first corner on the inside of ST99, Anthony Bateman from the Stunton and Stow Autograss Club.

Mathew kept cool and just held off ST99 for a few laps, until he could put a safe distance between himself and the car in second place.

Mathew drove superbly for all of the eight long laps and took first place in the class one final to become the 2005 national champion, and yet another champion for the Pembroke Autograss Club, PAC, who race at Lamphey locally.

On winning this class final, the PAC5 car was in the champion of champions race along with the other nine class champions. For the first six laps Mathew set a fast and confident pace but on coming out of the pits bend, he got a little excited and clipped the marker tyres and ended up on two wheels and nearly rolling the Mini. This lost Mathew a lot of time and he was passed by a few of the other class champions. Mathew crossed the line in 5th place.

Some of the other PAC members who just missed out on reaching their class finals was Nathan Rees PAC57, who was just 14 points short, again in class one, Ken Thomas PAC91 in class four was just five points short, and Gary Rees PAC24 with his twin biked super saloon class seven just two points short.

Other members who achieved good heat results were Dean Fellows PAC1 from Neyland and Jamie Smith PAC52 from Pembroke Dock racing in class two, Chris James PAC77 in his 'Mogi' and Mark Gadsby PAC25 in class three, with Chris from Burry Port and Mark from Cardiff.

Carl Brown represented the PAC club in class five, PAC42 from Pontyberrum and Robert Davies PAC82 again from Pontyberrum and Mark Jones PAC38 from Ammanford represented PAC in class six. The second car from the PAC club in class seven was Anthony Jones PAC222 from Carmarthen and in class eight Tony Rees PAC8 from Johnston. Moving onto class nine Raymond Rees PAC39 from Bancyfelin and Mark Evans PAC41 from Pontyberrum represented the PAC club.

Finally in class 10 was the highly experienced drivers of Derrick Brown PAC43 from Pontyberrum and Graham Davies PAC14 from Brecon.

It is fantastic to have another men's national champion for the PAC club with this years honours going to Mathew Morris PAC5.

The club has 14 junior and ladies going to their national championships, which will be held at Wybaston, in Bedfordshire, and hopefully more top honours will be achieved.

To get involved in the PAC autograss club visit their web-page or contact the chairman, Graham, on 01646 651006.