Alleyne and O’Neal extend June Safari victory run

Leslie Alleyne and Chris O’Neal won last weekend’s (June 28/29) Chefette June Safari, amassing 1175 penalties in their POD Store/Maxxis/Lucky Locks Suzuki Jimny and extending their record-breaking run to four consecutive victories. The 180-kilometre overnight route touched all 11 parishes, crews battling tough terrain in driving rain and poor visibility during the hours of darkness.

  ‘The June’, as it is fondly known, is the longest-established motor sport event in the region with a continuous history, interrupted only by the pandemic in 2021, and this year marked the 68th Anniversary of the Barbados Rally Club (BRC).

  Ben Norris and Kirk Watkins (Jeep Rubicon), who won The June in 2019, finished second, with 1844 penalties, less than 100 ahead of third-placed newlyweds Alexander and Chelsea Gill. Just a year after their navigational rallying debut on last year’s June Safari, they won Class B for the third time this season in their Isuzu DMax.

  Class B crews completed the top six: fourth overall and second in class were Chelsea’s brother and mother, Charles and Robyn Clarke (Mitsubishi Pajero), fifth Tyrone Chase and Sameisha Williams (Executive Auto Centre/E-Travel Services Suzuki Vitara), who also won the first route, and sixth Jared and Warrick Eastmond (Nissan Frontier).

  While delighted to extend his record to 13 wins on the event – navigator O’Neal now has nine – Alleyne was keen to highlight the achievements of others at the Prizegiving, where he said: “I really want to make this about the newer generation, Chelsea and Alexander, Sammy, Rebecca, this needs to be about you guys, not us. That is the important thing. I can see the potential. I can see growth coming.”

  Reigning MudDogs Champions Simon Parravicino and Andrew Croney, eager to add victory in the championship’s marquee event to their cv, were forced to withdraw before the start when a mechanical issue halted their Jeep Wrangler. And winner Alleyne also spent some time under his Jimny on Saturday morning, after it failed to engage four-wheel drive; his repair left it in permanent 4wd, which certainly suited the conditions.

  The three-part route, roughly clockwise around the island, was set by BRC MudDogs Chairman Ricky Holder and Bridget Garity, who also earned praise from Alleyne for “a real test of personal and vehicle endurance”. Some light rain before the 2.00pm start at Chefette Speightstown, St Peter grew steadily worse as crews headed for the first halt at Belleplaine Rubis in St Andrew.

  Early leaders, with just 70 penalties at the end of route 1, Chase and Williams led Norris and Watkins by just 30 points, with Charles and Robyn Clarke close behind on 136, 14 ahead of Alleyne and O’Neal.

  During the first break, there were two Driver Challenges, which Alleyne enjoyed: “Thanks to Brett Barber and his team for putting on two fabulous challenges in the pouring rain. It was great to see the spectators out in numbers again.”

  Route two, at six hours the longest of the three, took crews through the eastern parishes to the second halt at Sol Charnocks, Christ Church, alongside the Grantley Adams International Airport at half-past midnight. While Mr and Mrs Gill narrowly won the second route, with 652 penalties to the 660 of Alleyne and O’Neal, this was where the experienced crew edged into the overall lead. Alleyne said: “Route two was the toughest challenge, both mentally and physically, with visibility at an all-time low given the conditions. At times we were driving through fog!”

  The final route, which was won by Alleyne and O’Neal, looped through the southern parishes and finished shortly after sunrise at Savvy on the Bay, Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown, where the Prizegiving was also held on Tuesday evening (July 1).

Chefette MudDogs June Safari – June 28/29 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship, round 3 Results

1st Leslie Alleyne/Chris O’Neal (POD Store/Maxxis/Lucky Locks Suzuki Jimny), 1175 penalties 2nd Ben Norris/Kirk Watkins (Jeep Rubicon), 1844pens 3rd Alexander Gill/Chelsea Gill (F) (Isuzu DMax), 1930pens 4th Charles Clarke/Robyn Clarke (F) (Mitsubishi Pajero), 2730pens 5th Tyrone Chase/Sameisha Williams (F) (Executive Auto Centre/E-Travel Services Suzuki Vitara), 3246pens 6th Jaden Eastmond/Warrick Eastmond (Nissan Frontier), 4227pens 7th Mike Ward/Willie Hinds (Suzuki Vitara), 4411pens 8th Abdullah Patel/Bilal Patel (Patel’s Motoring Jeep Grand Cherokee), 4427pens 9th Rebecca Clarke (F)/Austin Barber (Mitsubishi Pajero iO), 4632pens 10th George Mendes/Johnathan King (G & G Sales and Service Suzuki Vitara), 4904pens Route 1: 1st Chase/Williams (F), 70pens; 2nd Norris/Watkins, 100pens; 3rd C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 136pens; 4th Alleyne/O’Neal, 150pens; 5th Ward/Hinds, 250pens; etc Route 2: 1st A Gill/C Gill (F), 652pens; 2nd Alleyne/O’Neal, 666pens; 3rd R Clarke (F)/Barber, 1284pens; 4th Norris/Watkins, 1292pens; 5th C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 1486pens; etc Route 3: 1st Alleyne/O’Neal, 359pens; 2nd Norris/Watkins, 452pens; 3rd A Gill/C Gill (F), 676pens; 4th Chase/Williams (F), 940pens; 5th Mendes/King, 1106pens; etc Class B 1st A Gill/C Gill (F); 2nd C Clarke/R Clarke (F); 3rd Chase/Williams (F); 4th J Eastmond/ Eastmond; 5th A Patel/B Patel; etc Route 1: 1st Chase/Williams (F), 70pens; 2nd C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 136pens; 3rd A Patel/B Patel, 342pens; 4th J Eastmond/W Eastmond, 356pens; 5th R Clarke (F)/Barber, 498pens; etc Route 2: 1st A Gill/C Gill (F), 652pens; 2nd R Clarke (F)/Barber, 1284pens; 3rd C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 1486pens; 4th Chase/Williams (F), 2236pens; 5th J Eastmond/W Eastmond, 2406pens; etc Route 3: 1st A Gill/C Gill (F), 676pens; 2nd Chase/Williams (F), 940pens; 3rd Mendes/King, 1106pens; 4th C Clarke/R Clarke (F), 1108pens; 5th J Eastmond/W Eastmond, 1465pens; etc

Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship – remaining rounds: Round 4 - Sep 14, Savvy on the Bay MudDogs September Safari; Round 5 – Nov 2, KG Enterprises MudDogs November Safari

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For further media information, robin@bradfax.com Web sites: www.barbadosrallyclub.com, www.muddogsbarbados.com