CLARKE MAKES HISTORY IN SHELBURY JUNE SAFARI

Navigator Wayne Clarke made history in the Shelbury Construction June Safari last weekend (June 26/27), when he became the first competitor to win the region’s oldest motor sport event with a continuous history for a fifth time. His third success with driver Chris Armstrong – they also won in 2000 and ’01 – came nearly 20 years after the first of his two victories as navigator to Don Hunte, in 1991 and ‘93.
It was not all plain sailing, though; third after route one, which started from Maynards Plantation, St Peter, on Saturday afternoon, Clarke and Armstrong (Toyota Hilux) won route two, moving into the lead by the second stop in the early hours of Sunday morning. On route three, heading for breakfast at Plum Tree Hill, St Thomas, they lost four-wheel-drive – despite this, and having to be pulled out of difficulty on a couple of occasions, they won the route to seal victory with a total of 608 penalties.
Armstrong said: “It was challenging, with lots of tricks that have not been seen in a long time - you had to be alert all night to be successful.” Clarke added: “It was nerve-racking when we lost four-wheel-drive, knowing that we were doing well, but might not be able to complete, but Ben Norris and Darnley Rayside pulled us out and we were able to stay in.”
Clarke was among eight former winners to contest the 54th running of ‘The June’, round three of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Mud Dogs Safari Championship; recent heavy rain had created ideal conditions, although part of the route in the Scotland District had to be modified, so crews faced longer tarmac sections than expected.
Leslie Alleyne, one of only five competitors to have won the event as both navigator and driver, was sitting with Mud Dogs newcomer Trevor Manning in the Garbage Master/Autozone Ford Ranger; the leaders after route one, they finished sixth and third in the remaining routes to finish second overall with 878 penalties. During the night, Manning said: “I am not doing any rallying and the opportunity came up, so I took it. I am very much enjoying it, and it is very mentally-challenging.”
Manning’s brother Wayne finished third in the Black Bess Quarry Toyota Hilux with navigator Yosuf Patel; they had also started well, second on route one, maintaining a consistent challenge, eighth and third on the other routes for a total of 1058 penalties.
The recovery of the weekend came from Greg Cozier and Kirk Watkins in the Hyundai Trucks/Mahindra/Huzier Toyota Hilux; 17th after route one, they got their heads down for the rest of the night, finishing a comfortable second on route two, then equal third on route three to end up fourth overall, on 1312 penalties.
Their progress up the order was helped in part by dramas for other front-runners: 2008 winners Barry Gale and Neil Barnard retired with a mechanical failure on route two, Paul Marshall/Courtney Holder had mishaps with a couple of trees, but managed to finish with one of the front wheels about to drop off and the entire front bumper and crash guard in the tray of their L200, while Dominic Brooker/Stephen Dear retired with broken steering.
There was healthy competition in the Novice class, the early advantage taken by Derek Pinto and Jamal Brathwaite (Suzuki Samurai); when they fell by the wayside, Ben Norris and Darnley Rayside (Electric Avenue/Pitbull Energy Drink Land Rover Discovery) won the remaining routes, but a consistent run of three second places gave Bryan Collymore and Adrian Jackman victory in the Williams Tools & Equipment/Owlies Trucking Suzuki Samurai, equal sixth overall with Marshall and Holder. Last year’s winning novices, Adrian Sinckler and Andre Murrell (Suzuki Samurai), were second.
The Shelbury Construction June Safari was set by Damien Brooker, Ryan Corbin, Derek and Dustin Edwards and with some help from father David, who won ‘The June’ three times in eight years between 1981 and ’88 as navigator to Roger Manning.
Mud Dogs Chairman Leslie Alleyne said: “They all did a tremendous job and have set an even higher standard for future events - the effort put in was clear, down to the smallest of details. The BRC navigation in the first two routes brought back memories of ‘the old days’, while the tulip, straight-line and photographs kept you on your toes.
“The Prizegiving was quite befitting of the occasion, too. We had a great turn-out from competitors, marshals and friends. Special mention must be made of the older Club members, who over the years have played their part in helping this event reach its 54th running. At the start, and for part of the event, we saw the likes of Joe Bradshaw, Roger Manning and Harry Watkins, while David Edwards was instrumental with his assistance throughout and - like the rest of us - had no sleep, while Tommy Bentley and John Corbin worked tirelessly as marshals throughout the night. It really was special to see these gentlemen supporting our efforts to keep the legacy of ‘The June’ alive, and many indicated that they would like to come out in the future.
“Finally, I must again thank our sponsor, Shelbury Construction, which also provided the breakfast at Mahogany Ridge, a beautiful venue where Ryan Corbin and family put on a marvellous spread, also Chefette, for providing dinner at Andrews Factory.”
In addition to awards for the top three overall and Novice crews, plus the overall route winners, Monday’s (June 28) Prizegiving also featured the award for the Top Female Competitor, won for the third time this season by Renata Roett, navigator for Edson Arthur in his Suzuki Samurai – they finished 10th overall.
As well as donating the Top Female Competitor Award, Biddy Barber made a special presentation to Gary Mendes, who stuck with her and Tiffany Marshall to ensure the event’s only all-female crew didn’t get left behind, after the differential on the Auto Airtronics/Biddy's Visitor’s Information Daihatsu Feroza had been destroyed during the first Driver Challenge – thanks to Mendes and Luke Gittens, Barber and Marshall finished, even though the Feroza had to be towed across some more difficult sections.
The hundreds of spectators who turned out for the two Driver Challenges, shortly after the start at Maynards, and later at Hannay’s Swamp, St Lucy, were treated to some thrilling action, as even the most experienced competitors – among them eventual winner Chris Armstrong - found the terrain extremely tough to traverse.

A new web site dedicated to the activities of the Mud Dogs was launched at Monday’s Prizegiving: for all future Mud Dogs news, along with photographs, videos and downloads, simply go to www.muddogsbarbados.com.

Shelbury Construction June Safari – June 26/27
Mud Dogs BRC Safari Championship, round 3
Results
1st Chris Armstrong/Wayne Clarke (Toyota Hilux), 608 penalties
2nd Trevor Manning/Leslie Alleyne (Garbage Master/Autozone Ford Ranger), 878pens
3rd Wayne Manning/Yosuf Patel (Black Bess Quarry Toyota Hilux), 1058pens
4th Greg Cozier/Kirk Watkins (Hyundai Trucks/Mahindra/Huzier Toyota Hilux), 1312pens
5th Simon Parravicino/Jeremy Croney (Toyota Hilux), 1475pens
6th equal Paul Marshall/Courtney Holder (Mitsubishi L200) & Bryan Collymore/Adrian Jackman (Williams Tools & Equipment/Owlies Trucking Suzuki Samurai), 1542pens
8th Darrin White/Robert Warren (Lucky Locks/Rockstar Nissan Frontier), 1548pens
9th Matthew Ward/Warrick Eastmond (High Gear Maintenance Suzuki Samurai), 1627pens
10th Edson Arthur/Renata Roett (Toyota Hilux), 1776pens
etc
Route 1 – 1st Manning/Alleyne, 379pens; 2nd Manning/Patel, 421pens; 3rd Armstrong/Clarke, 444pens; etc
Route 2 – 1st Armstrong/Clarke, 54pens; 2nd Cozier/Watkins, 78pens; 3rd Marshall/Holder, 246pens; etc
Route 3 – 1st Armstrong/Clarke, 110pens; 2nd Parravicino/Croney, 190pens; 3rd equal Manning/Alleyne & Cozier/Watkins, 200pens; etc

Novice class
1st Collymore/Jackman, 1542pens – equal 6th overall
2nd Adrian Sinckler/Andre Murrell (Suzuki Samurai), 1987pens – 11th o/a
3rd Ben Norris/Darnley Rayside (Electric Avenue/Pitbull Energy Drink Land Rover Discovery), 2135pens – 12th o/a
4th David Brewster/Winston Drakes (Marks Auto Spares/Champion Auto Wrecker Service Suzuki Samurai), 2915pens – 15th o/a
5th Luke Gittens/Gary Mendes (G & G Sales and Service/LG Trading/Lunatics Inc/Barbados Muffler Centre Mitsubishi Pajero iO), 3566pens – 17th o/a
6th Anthony King/Dave Sealy (Lee’s Tyre Services/Dynamic Limousine Toyota Hilux), 4312pens – 20th o/a
etc
Route 1 – 1st Derek Pinto/Jamal Brathwaite (Suzuki Samurai), 589pens – 4th o/a; 2nd Collymore/Jackman, 754pens; 3rd Brewster/Drakes, 829pens; etc
Route 2 – 1st Norris/Rayside, 366pens – 7th o/a; 2nd Collymore/Jackman, 458pens; 3rd Sinkler/Murrell, 622pens; etc
Route 3 – 1st Norris/Rayside, 270pens – 6th o/a; 2nd Collymore/Jackman, 330pens; 3rd Brewster/Drakes, 378pens; etc

BRC Mud Dogs Safari Championship
Remaining rounds:
Aug 15 - Mud Dogs August MudFest
Sep 5 - Regional Fire & Security September Safari
Oct 17 - Nassco October Safari

For further media information, robin@bradfax.com