Jo Polley is the ladies' ministox champion of Arlington. The Heathfield driver came from a long way back to snatch a thrilling win on the last lap.

Jo, a former ministox racer, beat Jan Wood and Julie Eaton in a real family affair.

She is the sister of regular top ministox driver David Polley, while Jan and Julie are the mothers of regular racers Billy Wood and Ross Eaton, as well as being married to superstox stars Dean and Mark respectively.

Some of the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for 61-year-old Muriel Farrell.

Although her grandchildren, Sophie and Christian Bunoz, are regulars in the stock rods, Muriel had never raced before but went out and mixed it with the best of the ladies.

Her car looked a wreck at the end of the night, but she had certainly enjoyed herself and made a big impression on the crowd.

The programme also featured a special series of rookie banger races for the ladies, the championship here going to hot favourite Christine Foster, from Woking.

She was given a run for the title by Rotherfield's Heather Pierce and did not get in front until a few laps from the end.

Another local driver, Helen Newark, from Hailsham, was rewarded for some spirited racing with victory in one of the other races.

The young ministox drivers contested round three of their track championship, and there was a shock when David Polley, who led the championship by over 20 points at the start of the night, had to pull out with mechanical problems.

He had to watch as Murray Jones took advantage with two wins and a second place to overtake Polley at the top of the points table.

Most of Polley's other main rivals failed to capitalise to the same extent, with Mark Almeida and Michael Stone only getting modest scores.

The final produced something of an upset when young Tyrone Poulter took his first win.

The men's rookie bangers championship went to newcomer Mark Richards, with Barry Blackman and Neil Osborne having a battle all the way to the flag for second place which ended with Blackman spinning Osborne across the line.

RESULTS Ministox: Heat 1: 1 Murray Jones (Carshalton); 2 Michael Stone (Robertsbridge); 3 Matt Kemp (Aylesbury). Heat 2: 1 Jones; 2 Tyrone Poulter (Brighton); 3 Billy Wood (Farnham). Final: 1 Poulter; 2 Jones; 3 Aaron Morris (Bracknell).

Ladies: 1 Jo Polley (Hailsham); 2 Jan Wood (Farnham); 3 Julie Eaton (Alton).

Rookie Bangers: Heat 1: 1 Andy Marlow (Aldershot); 2 Mark Richards (Seaford); 3 Lee Simmons (Brighton). Heat 2: 1 Marlow; 2 Barry Blackman (Burgess Hill); 3 Richards. Sussex Championship: 1 Richards; 2 Blackman; 3 Neil Osborne (Peacehaven).

Ladies: Heat 1: 1 Christine Foster (Woking); 2 Heather Pierce (Rotherfield); 3 Claire Luff (Clacton). Heat 2: 1 Helen Newark (Hailsham); 2 Kelly Dodge (Guildford); 3 Louise Bunoz (Pevensey). Sussex Championship: 1 Foster; 2 Dodge; 3 Sandra Angell (Petworth).