Emotional MudDogs win for Parravicino and Croney

Simon Parravicino and Andrew Croney won the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) April Safari on Sunday (April 13), round two of the 2025 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship. They claimed the Audley Croney Memorial Trophy, named for navigator Andrew’s father, a long-standing member of the BRC and an enthusiastic and skilful competitor in navigational events.
  Aboard the Realtors Ltd/Serenity Pest Control Jeep Wrangler, the reigning champions trailed first-round winners Leslie Alleyne and Chris O’Neal (POD Store/Maxxis/Lucky Locks/Flying Fish Sportswear Suzuki Jimny) after the morning route, but fought back in the afternoon to win by a margin of just 10 penalty points. Ben Norris and Kirk Watkins (Jeep Rubicon) were third, a further 493 points behind.
  Croney said: “This win really means a lot to me. To finally get my name on the Audley Croney Memorial Trophy feels amazing, especially this month. April marks eight years since my dad passed, so to come out on top now just makes it that much more special. I know he’d be proud. To be honest, neither Simon nor I were expecting to take this one. It was a tough event, and the competition was tight the whole way. In the end, it came down to just a three-minute penalty, which was enough to tip it in our favour. Wild how close it can get!”
  Tight finishes run in the family, though: Andrew’s father and brother Jeremy played a part in the closest-ever result in the MudDogs championship, when they lost the 2013 Chefette April Safari by just one point to Mark Western and Robin Hinds.
  Sunday’s challenging event was set by Gary Mendes and 2023 Class B Champions Stephen and Ben Moore with the start and finish at Inchcape Barbados, Warrens, St Michael. The wide-ranging 100-kilometre route visited St Peter, St Andrew, St Joseph, St James, St George and St Michael, with a lunchtime stopover at the Vaucluse Raceway in St Thomas. In a rare move, crews tackled five methods of navigation - tulip as you see it, 90-degree tulip, grid line, BRC and straight line - and set off at three-minute intervals, rather than the usual one-minute.
  After winning Class B for the first time last month, Alexander Gill and Chelsea Clarke (Isuzu D-Max) doubled up on Sunday, finishing fourth overall. Chelsea’s sister Rebecca, currently the only female MudDogs driver, and navigator Austin Barber finished second in their Mitsubishi Pajero iO as they did in the March Safari but cut the margin of victory from 900 to just over 500 penalties.
  Reigning class champions George Mendes and Leslie Evanson (G&G Sales and Service Vitara) finished third, ahead of Tyrone Chase and Sameisha Williams (Suzuki Vitara). Charles Clarke and mum Robyn were fifth in their Mitsubishi Pajero, with Chris and Deborah McFarlane sixth on the MudDogs debut of the Megapower Riddara RD6.
  Despite finishing last, McFarlane was delighted with the experience: “We entered this event to test the electric 4wd Riddara over roads, gullies and pathways no one will really ever drive on, but what we got in return was a taste of rally excellence, a most friendly family atmosphere, competitive cameraderie and the best marriage-bonding experience in years. We will be back and will bring friends.”
  Next up for the MudDogs is the Chefette June Safari, a two-day event (June 28/29) which marks the 68th Anniversary of the founding of the BRC. Croney says: “That’s definitely going to be the focus now. The June Rally has always been just out of reach for me. I’ve come close a few times but never managed to seal the deal. Feeling good, feeling ready, and this win’s given me a solid boost heading into it - we coming for it!”
  Parravicino added: “The rally was a challenging one, but well set, especially from the aspect of how much of the island was used, incorporating roads that have not been used in some time. The victory was very close and all teams involved were in the running which you want for every rally. Some more mud would have been welcomed but I am sure we will have our fair share of that in the upcoming June.”
  After Tuesday’s (April 15) Prizegiving at Savvy on the Bay, Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown, Croney added: “Big thanks to everyone who plays a part in making these events come off, from route setters, marshals and competitors.’

BRC MudDogs April Safari – April 13
Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship, round 2
Results
1st Simon Parravicino/Andrew Croney (Realtors Ltd/Serenity Pest Control Jeep Wrangler), 804 penalties
2nd Leslie Alleyne/Chris O’Neal (POD Store/Maxxis/Lucky Locks/Flying Fish Sportswear Suzuki Jimny), 816pens
3rd Ben Norris/Kirk Watkins (Jeep Rubicon), 1309pens
4th Alexander Gill/Chelsea Clarke (F) (Isuzu D-Max), 1426pens
5th Christopher King/Warrick Eastmond (Suzuki Jimny), 1901pens
6th Rebecca Clarke (F)/Austin Barber (Mitsubishi Pajero iO), 1951pens
7th George Mendes/Leslie Evanson (F) (G&G Sales and Service Suzuki Vitara), 2469pens
8th Tyrone Chase/Sameisha Williams (F) (Suzuki Vitara), 2857pens
9th Charles Clarke/Robyn Clarke (F) (Mitsubishi Pajero), 3352pens
10th Christopher McFarlane/Deborah McFarlane (F) (Megapower Ltd Riddara RD6), 5674pens
Route 1: 1st Alleyne/O’Neal, 346pens; 2nd Parravicino/Croney, 460pens; 3rd Norris/Watkins, 681pens; 4th Gill/C Clarke (F), 750pens; 5th King/Eastmond, 915pens; etc
Route 2: 1st Parravicino/Croney, 344pens; 2nd Alleyne/O’Neal, 470pens; 3rd Norris/Watkins, 628pens; 4th Gill/C Clarke (F), 676pens; 5th R Clarke (F)/Barber, 948pens; etc
Class B: 1st Gill/C Clarke (F), 1426pens; 2nd R Clarke (F)/Barber, 1951pens; 3rd Mendes/Evanson (F), 2469pens; 4th Chase/Williams (F), 2857pens; 5th C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 3352pens; etc
Route 1: 1st Gill/C Clarke (F), 750pens; 2nd R Clarke (F)/Barber, 1003pens; 3rd Mendes/Evanson (F), 1199pens; 4th Chase/Williams (F), 1285pens; 5th C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 1454pens; etc
Route 2: 1st Gill/C Clarke (F), 676pens; 2nd R Clarke (F)/Barber, 948pens; 3rd Mendes/Evanson (F), 1270pens; 4th Chase/Williams (F), 1572pens; 5th C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 1898pens; etc

Remaining events: Round 3 - Jun 28/29, Chefette MudDogs June Safari; Round 4 - Sep 14, Savvy on the Bay MudDogs September Safari; Round 5 – Nov 2, KG Enterprises MudDogs November Safari

For media information only. No regulatory value.

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