Positive reaction as MudDogs “level the playing field”

Multiple Champion Leslie Alleyne has applauded moves to update the methods of setting navigational rallies pioneered in last Sunday’s (October 8) Savvy on the Bay October Safari. With navigator Chris O’Neal, Alleyne overcame the opposition - and the weather - to claim their third win in the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) 2025 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship.

  The 110-kilometre event, postponed for three weeks after some crews were suffering with mechanical issues, passed through nine of the island’s parishes – only St Lucy and St Peter were missed - starting at Windsor, St George and finishing in Top Rock, Christ Church. Route-setters were fellow-competitors Ben Norris and Kirk Watkins, who have had three top three finishes this season in their Jeep Rubicon.

  In addition to the traditional methods of navigation, including basic map reading, which date back to the foundation of the Rally Club nearly 70 years ago, Norris and Watkins were the first route-setters to make use a Barbados tourist map and the on-line Barbados Building ID (BBID) system to create instructions for sections of the event.

  Alleyne said: “Thanks to Ben and Kirk, they did an amazing job. We covered a large section of the island and used some areas that we haven't been to in many years. The route layout and the new forms of navigation were very interesting as they embraced technology, along with google earth, in addition to providing a simple means of transiting different areas using the tourist map.

  “This needs to be commended as it is exactly the type of initiative required to level the playing field and encourage potential new enthusiasts. We must change how we do things and add elements that will be exciting to newcomers. This has to be priority number one!”

  Norris was delighted, despite some challenges during the day: “We are pleased with how the event came off - lots of positive feedback. Unfortunately, some crews were caught in a deluge of rain in Easy Hall Gully, which made conditions tricky, then there was accident on Highway 2A.

  “We had to redirect a section but, once we overcame those hurdles, everything ran smoothly. Traveling under the ABC Highway also seemed to be a highlight for many! The BBID and Tourist Map were well received and some remarked that it was nice to ‘level the playing field’ using something new.”

  Campaigning their regular Suzuki Jimny Sport, Alleyne and O’Neal led the first part of the route from Windsor to the Three Crosses in Bath, St John. With 158 penalties, they had a comfortable cushion over two crews battling for second place: Chris King and Warrick Eastmond (Jimny) had 229 penalties, just one ahead of Ben Moore and MudDogs first-timer Dane Coyle (Isuzu D-Max).

  Against the scenic backdrop of the east coast, Three Crosses hosted the day’s Driver Challenge, giving spectators a chance to enjoy the skill of these off-road competitors. Alleyne was not entirely comfortable – “It was a timed hill descent and climb and I had my heart in my mouth on a couple of occasions!” – and finished third behind the Isuzu D-Max crews of Alexander Gill/Gary Mendes and Stephen Moore/Leslie Evanson, who tied for victory.

  During the afternoon route, a heavy rainstorm made life tricky for some crews, but Alleyne and O’Neal finished second to Moore and Coyle to win the day by 60 penalties, with King and Eastmond slipping to third.

  George Mendes and Jonathan King (Suzuki Vitara) were fifth overall and Class B leaders during the morning, then extended what had been just a seven-point advantage to just over 450 by the day’s end. Rebecca Clarke (Mitsubishi Pajero iO), who produced another stirring drive to finish fourth in the Driver Challenge, was second in Class B with navigator Austin Barber, more than 1000 points ahead of Moore and Evanson.

Savvy on the Bay MudDogs October Safari – October 5 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship, round 4 Results

1st Leslie Alleyne/Chris O’Neal (POD Store/Maxxis/Lucky Locks/Flying Fish Sportswear Suzuki Jimny Sport), 320 penalties 2nd Ben Moore/Dane Coyle (Isuzu D-Max), 360pens 3rd Christopher King/Warrick Eastmond (Suzuki Jimny), 563pens 4th Alexander Gill/Gary Mendes (Isuzu D-Max), 1457pens 5th George Mendes/Johnathan King (G & G Sales and Service/Lunatics Inc Suzuki Vitara), 1875pens 6th Rebecca Clarke (F)/Austin Barber (Mitsubishi Pajero iO), 2332pens 7th Stephen Moore/Leslie Evanson (F) (Maxxis Tyres Isuzu D-Max), 3390pens 8th Abdullah Patel/Bilal Patel (Patel’s Motoring Jeep Grand Cherokee), 3780pens 9th Tyrone Chase/Sameisha Williams (F) (Executive Auto Centre/E-Travel Services Suzuki Vitara), 4093pens Route 1A: 1st Alleyne/O’Neal, 158pens; 2nd C King/Eastmond, 229pens; 3rd B Moore/Coyle, 230pens; 4th Gill/Mendes, 633pens; 5th Mendes/J King, 775pens; etc Route 1B: 1st B Moore/Coyle, 150pens; 2nd Alleyne/O’Neal, 162pens; 3rd C King/Eastmond, 334pens; 4th Gill/Mendes, 824pens; 5th Mendes/J King, 1100pens; etc

Class B

1st Mendes/J King, 1875pens; 2nd Clarke (F)/Barber, 2332pens; 3rd S Moore/Evanson (F), 3390pens; 4th A Patel/B Patel, 3780pens; 5th Chase/Williams (F), 4093pens Route 1A: 1st Mendes/J King, 775pens; 2nd Clarke (F)/Barber, 782pens; 3rd S Moore/Evanson (F), 1190pens; 4th A Patel/B Patel, 1880pens; 5th Chase/Williams (F), 1985pens Route 1B: 1st Mendes/J King, 1100pens; 2nd Clarke (F)/Barber, 1550pens; 3rd A Patel/B Patel, 1900pens; 4th Chase/Williams (F), 2108pens;  5th S Moore/Evanson (F), 2200pens

Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship – remaining round: Round 5 – Nov 2, KG Enterprises MudDogs November Safari

Photos courtesy Barbados Rally Club

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