An accident on the opening loop has held up proceedings, but the first batch of cars have made it back to Fethard for service, with quite a number of hair-raising stories bein relayed by crews.

Top seed David James of Gorey, in the number 1 car, is the early pace-setter, with a ten second lead over Kilkenny's John Treacy. Both cars have had their share of incidents on the stage, which is heavy with mud in places.

James has had a spin, with Treacy suffering a mis-fire in his Escort.

In third place is Down's Martin Taggart, also in an Escort, who despite two huge spins, is just two seconds behind Treacy.

most of the top ten are also reporting fun and games out on the course. The local cars are doing well apart from leader David James, with Tomás O'Rourke just inside the top ten in his Astra.

TOP TEN - PROVISIONAL

 1   1 David James     Gorey       Escort G3   10:06
 2   2 John Treacy     Kilkenny    Escort      10:16 
 3   3 Martin Taggart  Down        Escort      10:18 
 3  11 Jimmy Lambert   Clonmel     Escort      10:18
 5  10 Eamonn Murphy   Waterford   Escort      10:25
 6 144 Godfrey Kirby   Midleton    Escort      10:28
 7  29 Gary McGiveney  Monaghan    Escort      10:48
 8   5 Clive Williams  Wales       Escort      10:58
 9  12 Sean McEvoy     Laois       Escort      11:00
10   6 Tomás O'Rourke  Wexford     Astra       11:04