ARMAG MARCH SAFARI LAUNCHES 2011 SEASON

The Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Mud Dogs Safari Championship gets under way with the ARMAG March Safari on Saturday (March 5) - reigning Driver’s Champion Dustin Edwards starts the defence of his title on the event he won last year, although he begins the new season with a change of navigator, to Stephen Dear, who finished third in last year’s ARMAG March Safari with Dominic Brooker.

Following the start at 2.01pm at ARMAG Quarries, St Philip, the ARMAG March Safari will include a 6.00pm stopover at Chapel Plantation, St Philip, then finish at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association Club House at Searles, Christ Church, at roughly 11.00pm.

The season’s first route has been set by a quartet of regular Mud Dogs competitors, including reigning Novice Champion Driver Ben Norris and his navigator for most of last year, Darnley Rayside, who claimed their first overall victory on the 2010 Regional Fire & Security September Safari. The other two route-setters are Jeremy Croney, winner of the March Safari in 2005, and the experienced Audley Croney.

The Prizegiving for the ARMAG March Safari will be held at 6.30pm at the BCTSA Club House on Monday, March 7, once the results have been declared final.

The BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship will comprise seven events, five off-road navigational rallies run under the Safari title and two MudFests; trophies will be awarded at each event. As before, the Safaris will include separate Championships for Navigator and Driver, with additional special awards including highest-placed novice and female; for the MudFests, there will be one championship rewarding the highest-placed drivers.

Many members of the Mud Dogs community will join competitors from other motor sport disciplines at the funeral service for Timothy Wells, to be held on Friday (March 4) at the Abundant Life Assembly, Bank Hall, St Michael. Immediately following the service, which will start at 10.00 am, the cortege will proceed to the Westbury Cemetery for the interment. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Timothy Wells Trust Fund will be collected at the church.

Warren Gollop, the new Chairman of the BRC Navigational Sub-committee noted: “Tim was known to all as a man of excellent character, and to many as a good friend. He had, over the years, given willingly of his time to the Barbados Rally Club, and was recognised with a Long Standing Marshal award at our last Annual Prizegiving in November. Tim's positive outlook and zeal for life and a good party will be missed by all, and I know we will all be looking for Tim's DC/CP for a long time to come. On behalf of our fraternity, I wish his family and friends our deepest condolences. May he rest in eternal peace.”

ARMAG March Safari – March 5

Mud Dogs BRC Safari Championship, round 1

Running order - Pro class

1 Sean Mottley/Gary Mendes (First Caribbean International Bank Suzuki Vitara)

2 Edson Arthur/Renata Roett (Toyota Hilux)

6 Mark Western/Robin Hinds    (Yardman/Kar Parts Store/Gomez and Western Services Nissan Patrol)

7 Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Toyota Hilux)

8 Nicolas Lorde/Andre Murrell (Niccolls & Edghill Construction/COMFEET/WOW Camp/NLEC Inc Suzuki Vitara)

10 Dustin Edwards/Stephen Dear (Blockman/SDRR Hydraulics & Industrial Spares/Crane & Equipment/Mahogany Ridge/Corbin's Catering Toyota Hilux)

11 Sean Dowding/Kirk Watkins (Axis Inc/Aerotec Services Inc/Huzier Ltd/Mahindra Motorsports Mahindra Pik-Up)

12 Kerry Renee/Jason Downey (Suzuki Samurai)

17 Biddy Barber/Brett Barber (JE Security/Biddy's Visitor Information Mitsubishi Pajero)

18 Leslie Alleyne/Anna-Lee Alleyne (Autozone Inc/Valvoline Mitsubishi Pajero)

19 Gregory Dickenson/Peter Bradshaw (Toyota Hilux)

20 Michael Ward/Willie Hinds (Country Notions Maintenance Suzuki Samurai)

Novice class

3 Simon Parravicino/Christian Duncan (Sweet Temptations Toyota Hilux)

4 Anthony King/Dave Sealy (Qwik Liner/Lee's Tyre Shop/Dynamic Limousine Toyota Hilux)

5 Richard Hinkson/Rasheed Mapp (Suzuki Samurai)

9 Dominic Straker/Nicholas Pinto (Toyota Surf)

13 Dave Gibson/Andy Williams (Suzuki Samurai)

14 Derek Pinto/Jamal Brathwaite (Suzuki Samurai)

15 Sean Field/Jen Reader (Field Insurance Brokers/Ackee Tree/AM Realty Inc Mazda B2500)

16 Hadley Green/Dane McConney (Hunte Auto Spares/Automotive Art Toyota Hilux)

BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship

Qualifying rounds:

Mar 5 - ARMAG March Safari

Apr 16 - Mud Dogs April Safari

May 1 - Mud Dogs May Day MudFest

Jun 25/26 - Mud Dogs June Safari

Sep 11 - Mud Dogs September Safari

Oct 16 - Mud Dogs October Safari

Nov 6 - Mud Dogs MudFest