If the battle for brand supremacy in the DIY shops of the UK is in any way reflected by the ferocity of competition in the 19th Annual Hardware Trades Karting Challenge, then our industry is in rude health.

Forget Monte Carlo, picture Warrington! Tyres squealing, drivers gesticulating, tempers fraying, and that’s just the reps driving into the car park for the recent event in aid of The

Rainy Day Trust. And just as Monte Carlo bore little resemblance to Warrington, so too did the glorious sunshine bear any resemblance to a Trust for Rainy Days!

Amidst nearly 20 teams, Stax and Decco had both made wholesale changes for this year’s race, and for Crown, Dulux and Leyland the finishes were so close, there was hardly a second coat between them!

The event, organised by David Hibbert, Joint Managing Director of Stax Trade Centres, once again raised over £3,000 for the Rainy Day Trust charity.

With new drivers and new teams competing it was good to see some fresh names on the winners podium. Team winners were the PPG team (pictured), The Leyland Darts (last year’s runners up), with the Stax Supermen coming a credible second and the Pagoda team picking up third place.

In the individual event Ben Lloyd from carrier’s A K Worthington lifted the trophy for first place with Matt Harmer, who previously worked for Pro Team in second place and Darryl Brady, from Stax Trade Centres, in third position.

The fastest lap trophy was awarded to Kurtis Bray from Decco with Trisha Seenen, representing Crown, the fastest lady on the day. The dubious honour of collecting the Bent Axle Award for the most black flags was given to Plastikote’s Nat who amongst other things was penalised for crashing at high speed into one of the other drivers.