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Eighteen crews were confirmed for Saturday’s (April 13) Chefette April Safari at a well-attended Briefing Meeting at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association Club House at Searles, Christ Church last evening. Seven combinations are making their first appearance of the season, bringing to more than 40 the number of Drivers and Navigators so far to line up for the 2013 Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship.
MudDogs Chairman Darnley Rayside said: “I must say that I was again impressed with amount of people that turned out last night. Among the 18 entries, as well as those returning for the first time this year, we have one completely new competitor in the Novice Class, who will be facing even more of a challenge, having been unfortunate enough to pull car 1, so will be the first to tackle the routes.
“Again, we are without last year’s Champions Chris Armstong and Wayne Clarke, who had already missed the March Safari after Chris injured his back. We all wish him well for a speedy recovery, and hope they will be out for ‘The June’. After all, since Leslie Alleyne equalled Wayne’s record of five wins last year, there’s really something to go for!”
During the evening, route-setter Jason Downey gave a brief talk about the event, highlighting a couple of changes to the timetable, bringing the event forward an hour. The first crew is now scheduled to leave Chefette Wildey, St Michael, at 2.00pm for route one before the Dinner Stop at Sand Dunes, St Andrew; crews then head back west towards the Finish at Chefette Warrens, St Michael, at approximately 11.00pm. There will be a Driver Challenge in each route, the first at Edgecombe at around 3.00pm, the second at Maynards at approximately 9.00pm.
The enthusiastic MudDogs crowd also heard news of the May Day MudFest (May 1). The event, being organised by Johnny Pinto and Mark Western, is already in the final stages of planning, with more details to be released shortly.
All the leading points-scorers in the 2013 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship are entered for this weekend’s event, with Leslie Alleyne and Chris O’Neal (Simpson Motors/Rimula Lubricants/Spirax Lubricants/Sol Isuzu D-Max) currently followed in the standings by Audley and Jeremy Croney (CC Motorsports Suzuki Vitara) and Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Kar Parts Store/GWS/Esso Barbarees Hill/Yardman Nissan Patrol).
The Novice Championship is led by Damien Johnson/Corey Williams (Western Union Suzuki Samurai) from Joshua Plaza/Rashid Nakhuda (Boston Jerk Pit/Auto Solutions Suzuki Samurai). Johnson is swapping seats this weekend, joining his closest rival Plaza as Navigator. Their competition will include Dave Gibson/Andy Williams (Suzuki Samurai), who finished fourth and third respectively in the Novice Driver and Navigator standings last year.
The Prizegiving for the Chefette April Safari will be held at the BCTSA Club House on Monday, April 15, once results are made final.
Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship
& Chefette MudDogs Safari Novice Championship
Round 2 - April 13 – Chefette April Safari
Novice Class
1 Simon Bayley/Andrew Croney (Isuzu D-Max)
2 Dean Springer/Steve Singh (Eastern Veterinary Clinic Suzuki Sidekick)
6 Jamal McCollin/Dermont King (K & G Service Suzuki Samurai)
12 Joshua Plaza/Damien Johnson (Boston Jerk Pit/Auto Solutions Suzuki Samurai)
17 Dave Gibson/Andy Williams (Suzuki Samurai)
Pro Class
3 John Pinto/Nicholas Branson (Amsoil/Structural Systems Suzuki Jimny)
4 Audley Croney/Jeremy Croney (CC Motorsports Suzuki Vitara)
5 Mark Western/Robin Hinds (Kar Parts Store/GWS/Esso Barbarees Hill/Yardman Nissan Patrol)
7 Noel Edwards/Darnley Rayside (Esso Barbarees Hill Nissan Patrol)
8 Wayne Manning/Willie Hinds (AMAT Trading/Zephrin’s Bakeries/Quality Tyre Suzuki Samurai)
9 Gregory Dickenson/Rorie McConney (Toyota Hilux)
10 George Mendes/Gary Mendes (G & G Sales & Service Mitsubishi L200 Sportero)
11 Dominic Straker/Ben Norris (Land Rover Discovery)
13 Leslie Alleyne/Chris O’Neal (Simpson Motors/Rimula Lubricants/Spirax Lubricants/Sol Isuzu D-Max)
14 Aswad Bannister/Renata Roett (Toyota Hilux)
15 Adrian Sinckler/Andre Murrell (Sunshine Optimists Suzuki Samurai)
16 Nicolas Lorde/Brett Barber (NL Engineering Consultants/Niccolls & Edghill Construction Land Rover Discovery)
18 Warrick Eastmond/Trina Griffith (Daihatsu Feroza)
Forthcoming events
Round 2 - April 13 – Chefette April Safari
May Day MudFest - May 1
Round 3 - June 29/30 – Sol Go Further June Safari
Round 4 - September 15 - BRC MudDogs September Safari
Round 5 - November 10 - Nassco November Safari
For media information only. No regulatory value.
For further media information, robin@bradfax.com
Web sites: www.barbadosrallyclub.com [2], www.muddogsbarbados.com
