History was made at the Annual Awards Dinner held by Stonehaven & District Motor Club last week, when their youngest ever Club Champion was crowned.
Lathan Gauld, of Catterline, age 14, competed in more events than any other competitor, and came top on points, winning the Dunnett Trophy as Club Champion and also the Groundwater Lift Trucks Cup as Junior Champion.
Although not yet old enough to hold a driving licence, Lathan was competing off road in Autotests, manouvering around cones on a tight circuit, and Car Trials, driving as far as possible up a steep grass track. He also was co-driver in navigational rallies.
Lathan could not take part in SDMC’s major event, the Grampian Forest Rally, part of both the British and Scottish Championships, held at Milton of Crathes, Banchory, last August, but was still involved with the organizing team.
In winning the Club Championship, Lathan was following in the footsteps of his mother, Anona Gauld, who was Champion in 2024 , and in fact retained the Ladies Championship in 2025.
He was also supported by his grandfather, Gordon Ritchie, also of Catterline, who has been competing for over 45 years and is now not only Honorary President of the Club , but still active in forest rallying. Gordon is heading off to Glasgow on 31 January to pick up trophy for a Class win in the Scottish Rally Championship, competing with John Brownie of Kintore in an Opel Kadett. And Gordon and John have just entered the Snowman Rally based in Muir of Ord on 14 February, the first round of the Scottish Rally Championship 2026.
Lathan competed mainly in his grandfather’s classic Hillman Imp, and hopes to continue competing in motorsport in the years to come.
Feature image – Lathan Gauld competing in Autotest at Tullos May 2025