With Christmas and the New Year break behind us all it's time to get on with the important things in life, rallying and for us accountants those tax returns! Roll on the end of January and the end of another tax return season.

Lorna and I have double checked this year's route just before Christmas finding the only Sunday the route was sheet ice - the route is quite interesting when it freezes even at well under regularity speed! I also hope that the ITC that was actually underwater dries out a little or it could be interesting for crews and the marshalling team - maybe a case of mooring along side rather than stopping astride.

However, this month is not all about tax returns. The team will be at Gaydon for the HRCR open day on Saturday 14th January where potential competitors will be able to discuss the structure of the event, collect regulations, watch last year's event on DVD and place an entry. If you cannot make it to Gaydon and want more details please Email or call me.

I am pleased to announce that thanks to the generous continued support of our headline supporters Howard Warren and the team at CES together with my firm Chartered Accountants Saffery Champness we have been able to hold the entry fee at the same level as the last three years. The £110 fee includes the usual high quality of competition with straightforward navigation, and of course the all important breaks for the crews to enjoy their coffee, lunch and a prize giving supper which refreshments are all included in the fee.

As in previous year's the event will be supporting the North West Air Ambulance.

Stephen Wild will be out and about filming you in order to make another of his excellent event DVDs. If you've not seen one of these from a past event I would strong recommend them.

The entry has been filling up remarkably quickly this year, the treasurer's happy, and it looks as if we will beat last year's record of when we will be full - possibly before the end of the month