John price went out in Stage One after a simple problem - the pin hinging his throttle pedal broke, and he and co-driver Caroline Price were unable to replace it on the stage.

It's ten years since the very same problem last hit him, with Price thinking his modifications in 1990 had solved the problem once and for all. Not so....

Melvyn Evans failed to show for first service, with the reason for that still unknown.

Top non-starters included Michael Barrable, Bob Fowden, Ray Breen and Gary Midwinter.

Breen crashed out of the Manx International and declared himself unfit to participate in the 2000 Wexford.

Of course, Eamonn Boland has also had his problems recently. Boland's Subaru suffered major damage in a recent event, meaning he has had to take swift custody of a spare Subaru WRC - and it doesn't seem to be doing him much harm so far!!!

Leaders after Stage 3
   
 1 (001) Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey   Subaru WRC      17:41
 2 (009) Jon Mercer/Lyn Jenkins           Metro 6R4       18:35
 3 (016) Steve Fleck/Tim Neal             Subaru          18:37
 4 (008) David Armstrong/Herbie Blackburn Escort          18:50
 5 (155) Steve Hendy/Vanessa Cann         Escort Cosworth 18:56
 6 (015) Lyndon Barton/Aled Loveluck      Metro 6R4       19:04
 7 (011) Johnny O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman    Escort WRC      19:06
 8 (012) Phil Henderson/Aled Davies       Metro 6R4       19:10
 9 (018) Jimmy Lambert/James Coleman      Escort          19:16
10 (062) Jon Stangle/Paul Nagle           Darrian         19:20
11 (102) Trevor Culbert/James Glynn       Escort          19:21
12 (010) Derek Smith/Darragh Cafferty     Escort          19:22