SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2009 PROMOTION STEPPED UP
"Its awesome", said 2008 winner Kris Meeke

Five months ahead of the 20th running of its premier event, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) has stepped up its European promotion of Sol Rally Barbados 2009, coinciding with the broadcast this week of British production company Acceleration TV's coverage of the 2008 action on the popular Europe-wide satellite station Motors TV.
Following the distribution of more than 50 promotional DVDs to prospective competitors and the motor sport media at two major British rallies in September, today marks the publication of the first edition of the Club's Overseas Competitor Information document.
Now available as a pdf download from the recently-revamped event web site, www.rallybarbados.bb, the document provides details of the event entry and shipping package and lists the Club's Official Airline, Hotel, Shipping and Vehicle Rental Partners, and the deals each has on offer; it will be updated as further details are confirmed.
The document also includes background information on Sol Rally Barbados 2009 and the key events surrounding it, which will be of particular interest to potential first-time visitors; to get an even better feel for the event, they will also be able to download the short promotional DVD, which can be found on the web site's home page.
New for 2009 is an arrangement with Divi Southwinds Beach Resort in St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, which will become 'Rally Headquarters', as explained by BRC Chairman Mark Hamilton: "Following some favourable reports from experienced long-term visitors Kevin Procter and Martin Stockdale, who stayed there last year, the Club has entered into a partnership with the hotel. It will not just be somewhere for weary competitors to lay their heads at night, but will provide a 'one-stop shop' for all their needs . . . basically, it will be Rally Headquarters.
"A Rally Office will be open for the two weeks before Sol Rally Barbados and for a further week after; we are also making plans for the Briefing Meeting and Welcome Party to be staged there. The management have been very open to our suggestions, and we welcome their input, in terms of both generous concessions and organisational skills."
Sol Rally Barbados is scheduled for May 30/31, with Shell V-Power King of the Hill, which proved popular with competitors and spectators alike when introduced this year, to be staged on Saturday, May 23. As in 2008, this HillSprint will double as a points-scoring round for local drivers and a 'shakedown' for those from overseas.
From small beginnings in 1990 as a one-day rally for around 30 local competitors, Rally Barbados - it was renamed in 2003 - has grown into the Caribbean's biggest annual international motor sport event, attracting as many as 90 crews, one-third of them from overseas. It is one of the strongest sporting brand names in the region, particularly for visitors from Europe, and a major contributor to the island's tourism product and foreign exchange earnings.
Over the past eight years, 200 competitors have journeyed to Barbados, some of them many times over; these have included nearly 50 from Jamaica, St Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago and more than 150 from outside the Caribbean. Fourteen countries have been represented, including England - with 89 competitors, it boasts the strongest representation - Finland, New Zealand, Spain and Turkey.
In the event's 19-year history, overseas drivers have won only five times although, with two of those victories achieved in the past three years, it appears that the winds of change may be blowing. In 2008, Northern Ireland's Kris Meeke headed the first lock-out of the podium by overseas crews since his fellow-countryman Kenny McKinstry led home Jamaicans Jeffrey Panton and Doug Gore in 1996. This year, England's Paul Bird finished second, ahead of Jamaican Gary Gregg (the winner 2006), while European competitors won six of the event's 13 classifications.
Meeke, who has recently signed to contest the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with Peugeot UK/Kronos Racing, described his Barbados experience as: "the best 10 days of my life. Its awesome, very, very good. They do it properly out here, they create a proper atmosphere - just look at the thousands of spectators. It's so much fun and completely unique to anywhere else in the world."
This year, motor sport fans across Europe have been able to share Meeke's enjoyment with record coverage of more than 24 hours of terrestrial and satellite programming, including Motors TV and Sky Sports, which broadcast to more than 30 countries.

Sol Rally Barbados 2009 (May 30/31) and Shell V-Power King of the Hill (May 23) are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007; title sponsor is the Sol Group, the Caribbean's largest independent oil company, and both events are rounds of the Virgin Atlantic BRC RallySport Championship.

For further information:
e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web site - www.rallybarbados.bb

Sol-RB09-03a: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 22, 2008

PREVIOUS WINNERS
1990 to 2008

Rally Barbados
2008 Kris Meeke - NIR/Paul Nagle - NIR, Toyota Corolla WRC, 1h 00m 00.06s
2007 Paul Bourne/Stuart Maloney, Subaru Impreza WRC, 57m 34.36s
2006 Gary Gregg - JAM/Hugh Hutchinson - JAM, Ford Focus WRC, 51m 57.89s
2005 Roger Mayers/Max Ferri, Ford Focus WRC, 58m 46.99s
2004 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Ford Escort WRC, 1h 03m 04.48s
2003 Paul Bourne/Louis Venezia, Subaru Impreza WRC, 1h 21m 05.43s

International All-Stage Rally
2002 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Ford Escort WRC, 1h 16m 49.80s
2001 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Ford Escort Cosworth, 37m 53.21s
2000 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Ford Escort Cosworth, 43m 57s
1999 Trevor Manning/Michael Ward, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V, 1h 03m 14s
1998 Jeffrey Panton - JAM/John de Mercado - JAM, Toyota Celica GT4, 51m 15s
1997 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Peugeot 306 S16, 55m 55s
1996 Kenny McKinstry - NIR/Sean Gill, Ford Escort RS2000, 37m 02s
1995 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Peugeot 205GTi, 37m 04s
1994 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Peugeot 205GTi, 38m 55s
1993 Kenny McKinstry - NIR/Robbie Philpott - NIR, Subaru Legacy RS, 43m 24s
1992 Roger Skeete/Dave Crawford - ENG, Peugeot 205GTi, 24m 26s
1991 Roger Skeete/Roger Fields, Peugeot 205GTi, 15m 46s
1990 Roger Skeete/Charmaine Skeete, Peugeot 205GTi, 16m 08s

Key to nationalities (unless shown, competitor is from Barbados):
ENG - England; JAM - Jamaica; NIR - Northern Ireland

For further information:
e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web site - www.rallybarbados.bb

END OF STOCK CHRISTMAS SALE!

Call Natasha (822-1645 [c] sidewalksurferinc@gmail.co

m) to arrange purchaseing of any of the following items:

Item description Unit Value
FCS FINS / GEAR
H2 Medium Texalium Tri Fin Set 130.00
FG5 Red/White Fiberglass Retail Set 100.00
FG7 Black/White Fiberglass Retail Set 100.00
PC-5 Blue Tri Fin Set 100.00
S25 Simon Anderson PC M 100.00
S25 Simon Anderson PC L 100.00
DHD-2 PC Tri Fin Set 100.00
TC Redline PC Tri Fin Set 100.00
6'3" Day runner 60.00
FCS Tail Gate Pad 25.00
Mojo Tail Pad Black/White 50.00
Board Socks 35.00
FCS Test Drive Center 12 sets 500.00
BZ GEAR
Bodyboard Fins 50.00
Bodyboard Bags 75.00
FUTURE FINS
FJCI (460) Thruster Set 50.00
Vector Series II R2 (435) thruster 60.00
Vector Series II R1 (454) thruster 60.00
Vector Series II FJC1 (460) thruster 60.00
Future Funs Test Drive Center 12 sets 500.00
SURF DIVA CLOTHES
Surf Diva Tops 20.00
Surf Diva Towels 30.00
Surf Diva Skirts 20.00
Surf Diva Visor 20.00
Dahui Shorts 90.00
FOX CLOTHES
Fox Guys Board shorts 90.00
Fox Girls Board shorts 85.00
Fox Guys Slippers Rubber 35.00
Fox guys Slippers Leather 80.00
Fox Girls Slippers Rubber 30.00
Fox Wallets Girls 20.00
Fox Belts 25.00
FRISKYS SLIPPERS
Friskys Girls Slippers 15.50
Frisky's Wet shoes 20.00
ISLAND STYLE SLIPPERS
Island Style Girls Slippers 10.00
Island Style Guys Leather Slippers 75.00
Island Style Wallets 10.00
Caps (Mada) 45.00
BIKINIS
Sarau Bikinis 50.00
Sarau Bikini Bottoms 20.00
SKATEOARD GEAR
Skateboard Trucks 100.00
Skateboard Bushings 25.00
Skateboards Riders 7.50
Skateboard Tools 17.50
Skateboard Helmet 90.00
SURF WAX
Sex Wax & Sticky Bumps Wax Case 300.00

JAMAICANS CONFIRMED FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2009

JAMAICANS CONFIRMED FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2009
Panton and Marshall collect Rally Club awards

Jamaican drivers Jeffrey Panton - a former winner in Barbados - and Bobby Marshall have each won free shipping and free entry to Sol Rally Barbados 2009 after finishing the recently-contested Rally Jamaica (December 5-7) as the highest-placed local crews in the four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive categories.
The awards were presented at the Rally Jamaica Prizegiving at the Hilton Hotel in Kingston by Jeanne Crawford, on behalf of the Barbados Rally Club's (BRC) Sol RB09 executive committee chairman Barry Gale. On her return to Barbados, Crawford noted: "The recipients were very pleased, as were the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club (JMMC) committee; offering these prizes helps to further strengthen the already close links between our two events."
Gale added: "Using Rally Jamaica to kick-start the regional promotion for next year's 20th running of our premier event was a great success. I have spoken by e-mail to Jeff Panton, who is already talking about his plans for Sol RB09, and I also know that Bobby Marshall intends to take advantage of his prize.
"With the other interest that was shown by a broad range of competitors while we were in Kingston, all in all, I expect 2009 to be a very good year for Jamaican representation in Sol Rally Barbados."
Victory in Rally Jamaica 2008 was Panton's sixth in the event's 18-year history, and the first in his recently-acquired Automotive Art/Bearings & Seals/Automoto/Jamaica Freight & Shipping Co/Seaboard/Castrol/Barcode/

Active Traders/Maxxis Tires ex-works Ford Focus WRC, in which Colin McRae won the Cyprus Rally in 2001 and the Acropolis in 2002; it was also the second for co-driver Mike Fennell Jnr, who won the inaugural event in 1991 with Clinton McGann in a Mazda 323.
Panton was the first Jamaican driver to finish on the podium in Barbados, claiming second place in his first Toyota Celica GT4 in 1994 (co-driven by Rene McDaniel) and again in 1996 (Rudi Meikle); his victory in 1998, by then with John de Mercado as co-driver, was the first for a regional driver. Jamaica had to wait until 2006 before winning again, thanks this time to Gary Gregg and Hugh Hutchinson in their ex-Carlos Sainz Focus, a sister car to Panton's.
Marshall finished 11th overall in Rally Jamaica 2008, winner of the JA3 category and highest-placed Jamaican two-wheel-drive finisher, co-driven by Carlington Brissett in the Motor Sales & Service Ltd/Ocean Spray/TGI Fridays/Singer/Auto Source/PPG/Budget Car Rentals/Deryck A Gibson Ltd/Tru-Juice Mitsubishi Mirage.
This was a repeat of their result in 2007, when Marshall was also the JMMC 2wd Driver's Champion and JA3 Driver's Champion; in Rally Jamaica the previous two years, with his former co-driver Thomas Hall, Marshall had finished 18th overall and second in JA3 (2006), then 13th overall, third in JA3 (2005).
Although 2009 will be Marshall's debut as a competitor in Barbados, it will not be his first experience outside Jamaica, as he has rallied in Trinidad; he finished 11th overall and second in Class 2-3 in Rally Trinidad in March this year, then third overall and Class 2-3 winner in Rally Trinidad Preysal in April.

Sol Rally Barbados 2009 (May 30/31) and Shell V-Power King of the Hill (May 23) are organised by the Barbados Rally Club, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2007; both events are rounds of the Virgin Atlantic BRC RallySport Championship.

For further information, robin@bradfax.com

SKEETE FINISHES SECOND IN RALLY JAMAICA

SKEETE FINISHES SECOND IN RALLY JAMAICA
Bajan survivors all finish in top seven

Roger Skeete made a triumphant return to Petcom Rally Jamaica at the weekend (December 5-7), repeating the podium finish of his last visit in 2003. With co-driver Robert Simmons, he finished second in the Michelin/FB Batteries Subaru Impreza WRC S9, 1 minute and 50 seconds behind Jeffrey Panton, despite a challenging weekend.
The Jamaican's victory was his sixth in the event's history and his first in the ex-Colin McRae Ford Focus WRC01 which he acquired just a few months ago; after alternator problems resulted in an early 80-second penalty, he and co-driver Mike Fennell Jnr won nine of the 23 stages run and was outside the top two only twice.
Gary Gregg and Hugh Hutchinson won 13 stages in their similar ex-Carlos Sainz Focus, but their rally lead and their hopes of a fourth consecutive victory evaporated late on Sunday, with seven minutes lost on the final New Works stage. The results remain provisional in respect of third and fourth places overall, following a number of issues - the most recent published results show Gregg in provisional third place.
It was not all plain sailing for Skeete, who claimed one fastest stage time - the overnight replacement of his heated front windscreen for a normal one would have raised visibility issues, had the weather deteriorated on Sunday, while a failing third gear was another challenge on Sunday.
Currently listed fourth overall is Group N winner Doug Gore, who beat Skeete to the flag in 2003. With co-driver Mark Nelson in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, Gore was fastest in Group on 17 stages, challenged throughout by James Betts, who finished fourth in Group N last year, co-driven by Jeremy Gonsalves. Betts clocked three fastest times, finishing a creditable fifth overall and second in Group N.
On the same weekend that Sweden's Patrick Flodin claimed the first Production Car World Rally Championship win for Subaru's new-shape Impreza N14, finishing 11th overall in Wales Rally GB, former British Road Rally Champion Harold Morley clocked up his third Rally Jamaica top 10 finish in five years in his recently-acquired N14.
With experienced co-driver Geoffrey Goddard, he added seventh overall (fourth in Group N) to the fourth (2004) and eighth (2006) places achieved in his previous Impreza World Cars . . . an impressive result in a car he had not driven until it arrived in Jamaica. The N14 sustained damage to the bodywork, radiator and power steering when he hit a gate in Friday's SuperSpecial in the National Stadium but, once repaired, his pace on the stages drew many favourable comments.
Barbados had lost three of its crews by mid-morning Saturday: Paul Bourne and Stuart Maloney (Banks/Texaco/B-Mobile/

Pirelli/New-Tech Subaru Impreza WRC S9) retired with engine problems, as did Sean Gill and Michael Cummins (Simpson Motors/Automotive Art/Shell V-Power/Yokohama Suzuki Swift), but not before both of them had finished in the top five in the SuperSpecial.
Worse was to befall Jonathan Still, co-driven by Jamaica's David Anderson in his Hitachi Power Tools/Ocean Spray/Philips Lighting/Crane & Equipments/Castrol Oils BMW M3; they crashed at high speed and, while the car did not roll, it suffered significant body damage. Still reported some back pain, but a hospital check confirmed no serious injury, although he was unable to restart. Later in the day, Dean Serrao and Clint Gregory (Subaru Impreza N12) also retired.
Of the 41 entries, only 18 were classified as overall finishers, the other high-profile retirements including Mexico's Ricardo Trivino, with Spanish co-driver Checo Salom in their 2003 Peugeot 206 WRC; having quickly got to grips with the rough Jamaica stages - he was lying fourth overnight - Trivino reappeared for the stages in New Kingston.

Petcom Rally Jamaica 2008
Provisional results
1st Jeffrey Panton/Michael Fennell Jnr (JA9 Ford Focus WRC), 1h 23m 53.892s
2nd Roger Skeete/Robert Simmons (JA9 Subaru Impreza WRC S9), 1h 25m 42.164s
3rd Gary Gregg/Hugh Hutchinson (JA9 Ford Focus WRC), 1h 29m 18.249s
4th Doug Gore/Mark Nelson (JN8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X), 1h 29m 22.473s
5th James Betts/Jeremy Gonsalves (JN8 Subaru Impreza N9), 1h 31m 01.645s
6th David Lee/Colin Chambers (JN8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), 1h 32m 33.659s
7th Harold Morley/Geoff Goddard (JN8 Subaru Impreza N14), 1h 33m 32.103s
8th Natasha Chang/Guy Fraser (JN8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V), 1h 40m 40.877s
9th Salvador Solis/Nigel Lyn (JN8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II), 1h 42m 54.072s
10th Gordon Brandon/Marcell Brandon (JN8 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III), 1h 46m 43.162s
etc

For further information, robin@bradfax.com

Synopsis:
“Every day I push myself to redefine the limits of our sport” – Travis Pastrana, The Big Jump Known as one of the friendliest, most approachable guys in the Pro ranks, Pastrana’s accomplishments on both two and four wheels are legendary: World Freestyle champion at age 14, five-time U.S. Amateur Motocross champion, Pro National Outdoor champion, East Supercross Series champion, 3 time Rally America Series champion, most successful competitor in the history of X Games freestyle motocross and first athlete to complete a double backflip on a dirt bike.

199 Lives is the incredible story of action sports hero Travis Pastrana. From his first motorcycle ride at the age of 4, to building a backyard foam pit, to base jumping the Grand Canyon at 18, it's all here. Filled with rare footage from Travis' childhood, personal interviews with Pastrana and his family and all the stunts, crashes and hi-jinks he is famous for, 199 Lives delivers an inside perspective on what it takes to be living legend. (DVD Releases December 9th)
______________________________
Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqGr1nQh2cg
______________________________
Official Site:
http://www.199lives.com/

SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2009 PROMOTION UNDER WAY

SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2009 PROMOTION UNDER WAY
Strong Barbados team for Rally Jamaica

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is using Rally Jamaica this weekend (December 5-7) to launch its regional promotion for Sol Rally Barbados 2009. It has also confirmed next year's dates as Saturday and Sunday, May 30/31, with the Shell V-Power King of the Hill 'shakedown event', introduced for the first time in 2008, slated for the previous Saturday, May 23.
For the 20th running of its blue riband event, the Club is offering free shipping and free entry to the highest-placed Jamaican crews in both the four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive categories the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club's (JMMC) event. Chairman of the Sol RB09 executive committee, Barry Gale, twice a top 10 finisher in Jamaica himself, will be making the trip this year as a spectator.
He notes: "It will be an excellent marketing exercise for us and gives us an ideal opportunity to help foster the friendly rivalry between our two islands; our offer will have all of the Jamaican competitors talking about it and looking forward to it, and it will be fresh in their minds from December until May next year."
That rivalry dates back more than 40 years, to 1966, when the then-chairman of the BRC, Trevor Gale, was invited to compete in a navigational event in Jamaica, along with other Club members, including Bill Mallalieu and John Sealy. Since then, rally drivers and their cars have travelled north or south to engage in enthusiastic and friendly competition, and to try and take home some trophies.
Since the introduction in 1990 of what was originally called the International All-Stage Rally - it was renamed Rally Barbados in 2003 - a steady stream of Jamaican crews has challenged the best of Barbados for its premier trophy. Duncan Stewart was the first Jamaican to claim a top 10 result, sixth in 1992 in a four-wheel-drive Suzuki Swift with co-driver John de Mercado.
Soon after, Jamaicans were knocking much harder on the door - Jeffrey Panton finished second in his first Toyota Celica GT4 in 1994 (co-driven by Rene McDaniel) and 1996 (Rudi Meikle); David Summerbell finished in the runner-up spot in 1995, with Barbados co-driver Stewart Gill in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III.
The breakhrough finally came in 1998, Panton claiming victory, now with de Mercado as co-driver. In recent years, the Jamaican charge has been led by Gary Gregg and Hugh Hutchinson; they finished fourth in 2003 in an Evo VI, third in their first appearance in Barbados in Gregg's ex-Carlos Sainz Ford Focus WRC in 2005 (and again in 2008), and claimed a second win for Jamaica in 2006, also going on to become the first crew to win Rally Barbados and Rally Jamaica in the same year.
Of the two-wheel-drive contenders, Tarik Minott has been the most successful of late, winning SuperModified 11 in 2007, co-driven by the experienced Peter Clarke in the Suzuki Ignis formerly campaigned by Sean Gill and Michael Cummins.
Despite the best efforts of some of its leading drivers, Barbados has yet to lift the crown in Rally Jamaica, but is represented by its strongest team yet this year - seven crews are entered, all of whom are either top 10 finishers or Group winners in the event over the past five years.
Recently-crowned Overall Champion in the Virgin Atlantic BRC RallySport Championship, Roger Skeete has come closest to victory in Jamaica, having finished second to Doug Gore in 2003 - now driving the Subaru Impreza WRC S9 in which Trinidad-based Jamaican John Powell finished second to three-time winner Gregg in Jamaica last year, Skeete will be hoping his partnership with co-driver Robert Simmons will prove to be the winning combination.
The similar car of Paul Bourne and Stuart Maloney is another which local fans hope can prevail, Bourne seeking to add a Jamaican victory to those in Rally Barbados (2003, 2007) and Rally Trinidad (2008). Third last year and fourth in 2003, he also has useful knowledge of the stages.
Barbados is well-represented in Group N, with a trio of Subaru Imprezas. The newest of these, the latest N14, has recently been acquired by Barbados-based British ex-pat Harold Morley, who finished fourth in 2004, eighth in 2006 in his previous Impreza World Cars and was sixth overall and leading Group N before retirement last year; as usual, he will have the experienced Bajan Geoffrey Goddard co-driving.
Meanwhile, the crew which placed ninth overall last year, fourth in Group N, James Betts and Dean Serrao, will each drive an Impreza this year; Betts will be co-driven by Jeremy Gonsalves and Serrao by Clint Gregory.
On the two-wheel-drive front, Jonathan Still faces four local crews in JA4 in his BMW M3; with regular co-driver Heath Hazell unable to make the trip, Still is aiming to repeat their Group win of 2006, this time co-driven by Jamaica's David Anderson. Last, but certainly not least - especially in the eyes of Jamaican fans - Gill and Cummins are entered in their Suzuki Swift. While he twice won his Group in the previous Ignis, Gill has posted dnfs on both visits with the Swift, although his impressive fourth overall on last year's Friday night stages at the National Stadium will not be forgotten quickly. Jamaican rules require the Swift to add weight to run in the same Group as local cars, which Gill has decided against, saying: "I'm looking forward to see how far up the overall order we can get." With 18 four-wheel-drive cars among the 44 confirmed entries, he should certainly enjoy himself.

For further information, robin@bradfax.com

The International Surfing Association will give 40 scholarships in 2009

December 1, 2008: The International Surfing Association (ISA), the World Governing Body for Surfing recognized by the International Olympic Committee, is proud to announce that it is extending the 2009 Individual Scholarship Program to 40 recipients, an increase of 20 grants from 2008. The ISA is accepting applications until December 12, 2008.

Thanks to the generous donations from Billabong, Quiksilver Foundation and Reef Redemption, the fund for next year’s grants is in excess of $20,000. The scholarship funds will be given to Under 18 Junior surfers from every corner of the world.

The ISA Scholarship Program was created in 2007 and has exhibited astounding success since. The first year included the distribution of five scholarships to recipients from Peru, Ecuador, Jamaica, South Africa and Chile. The program continued to grow, increasing by 400% in 2008 with the distribution of 20 scholarships. The ISA will once again double its numbers in 2009 by awarding 40 grants.

The Scholarship Program aims at achieving one of the ISA main goals, “A better surfing future.” It offers junior surfers an opportunity to improve their surfing equipment while maintaining their studies. Winning recipients must be inspiring characters in their community; they must show a passion for surfing while maintaining good grades. Each applicant must prove they are good students, in financial need and explain why they will be a great ISA ambassador in their community.

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said about the 2009 Individual Scholarship Program: “The ISA Scholarship Program is a really important part of our responsibilities as an International Federation, for the building of a better world. There are many junior surfers in the world who are good students trying to achieve their dreams as surfers. The ones who actually receive the Scholarship are only a small portion of those who are in need of support. We know the scholarships are a great help to each one of the recipients.”

All countries may apply for the scholarship, even if they are not recognized by the ISA. For those countries that are recognized by the ISA, applications must be submitted through the Federation.

Details to apply for the scholarship may be found on the ISA website at www.isasurf.org. The deadline to submit applications is December 12, 2008. Results will be announced in February.

STRONG BARBADOS TEAM FOR RALLY JAMAICA

STRONG BARBADOS TEAM FOR RALLY JAMAICA
Sol Rally Barbados 2009 promotion starts in Kingston

Barbados will be represented by its strongest team yet when the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club's (JMMC) Rally Jamaica gets under way on Friday evening (December 5). Seven crews are entered, all of whom are either top 10 finishers or Group winners in Rally Jamaica over the past five years.
After Friday's 'Parc Expose' and start at the National Stadium in Kingston, Rally Jamaica heads inland for Saturday's stages through the abandoned Bauxite mines in Lydford and Reynolds, then Sunday's runs through orange groves of Bog Walk, before returning to the capital Sunday evening.
While its members are competing, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) is using the opportunity to launch the promotion of its premier event by offering free shipping and free entry to Sol Rally Barbados 2009 to the highest-placed Jamaican crews in both the four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive categories.
Chairman of the Sol Rally Barbados executive committee, Barry Gale, twice a top 10 finisher in Jamaica himself, will be making the trip this year as a spectator. He notes: "It will be an excellent marketing exercise for us and gives us an ideal opportunity to help foster the friendly rivalry between our two islands; our offer will have all of the Jamaican competitors talking about it and looking forward to it, and it will be fresh in their minds from December until May next year."
Recently-crowned Overall Champion in the Virgin Atlantic BRC RallySport Championship Roger Skeete has come closest to victory in Jamaica, having finished second to Doug Gore in 2003 - driving the Michelin/FB Batteries Subaru Impreza WRC S9 in which Trinidad-based Jamaican John Powell finished second in Jamaica last year, Skeete will be hoping his partnership with co-driver Robert Simmons will prove to be the winning combination.
The similar Banks/Texaco/B-Mobile/Pirelli/

New-Tech-sponsored car of Paul Bourne and Stuart Maloney is another which local fans hope can prevail, Bourne seeking to add a Jamaican victory to those in Rally Barbados (2003, 2007) and Rally Trinidad (2008). Third last year and fourth in 2003, he also has useful knowledge of the stages.
Bourne and Skeete run in JA9, the JMMC equivalent of the BRC's M8-WRC category, and will have their work cut out for Group and Overall victory; Jamaica's Gary Gregg - winner in Jamaica for the past three years in his ex-Carlos Sainz 2001 Ford Focus WRC, will be a major threat, as will five-time winner Jeffrey Panton, who now has an ex-works Focus of the same vintage, formerly campaigned by Colin McRae.
Also in the mix is Mexico's Ricardo Trivino, with Spanish co-driver Checo Salom in their 2003 Peugeot 206 WRC; although it is the crew's first visit to Jamaica, their previous experience in World Championship events - Trivino lost a creditable eighth place on Corona Rally Mexico this year to disqualification for wearing the wrong safety gear - will stand them in good stead.
Barbados is well-represented in Group N, or JN8 as it is known in Jamaica, with a trio of Subaru Imprezas. The newest of these, the latest N14, has recently been acquired by Harold Morley, who finished fourth in 2004, eighth in 2006 in his previous Impreza World Cars and was sixth overall and leading Group N before retirement last year; as usual, he will have the experienced Geoffrey Goddard co-driving.
Meanwhile, the crew which placed ninth overall last year, fourth in JN4, James Betts and Dean Serrao, will each drive an Impreza this year; Betts will be co-driven by Jeremy Gonsalves and Serrao by Clint Gregory.
On the two-wheel-drive front, Jonathan Still faces four local crews in JA4 in his Hitachi Power Tools/Ocean Spray/Philips Lighting/Crane & Equipments/Castrol Oils BMW M3; with regular co-driver Heath Hazell unable to make the trip, Still is aiming to repeat their Group win of 2006, this time co-driven by Jamaica's David Anderson.
Last, but certainly not least - especially in the eyes of Jamaican fans - Sean Gill and Michael Cummins are entered in the Simpson Motors/Automotive Art/Shell V-Power/Yokohama Suzuki Swift. While he twice won his Group in the previous Ignis, Gill has posted dnfs on both visits with the Swift, although his impressive fourth overall on last year's Friday night stages at the National Stadium will not be forgotten quickly. Jamaican rules require the Swift to add weight to run in the same Group as local cars, which Gill has decided against, saying: "I'm looking forward to see how far up the overall order we can get." With 18 four-wheel-drive cars among the 44 confirmed entries, he should certainly enjoy himself.

Rally Jamaica 2008
Team Barbados
Paul Bourne/Stuart Maloney (JA9 Banks/Texaco/B-Mobile/Pirelli/New-Tech Subaru Impreza WRC S9)
Roger Skeete/Robert Simmons (JA9 Michelin/FB Batteries Subaru Impreza WRC S9)
James Betts/Jeremy Gonsalves (JN8 Subaru Impreza N9)
Harold Morley/Geoff Goddard (JN8 Subaru Impreza N14)
Dean Serrao/Clint Gregory (JN8 Subaru Impreza N12)
Sean Gill/Michael Cummins (JC1 Simpson Motors/Automotive Art/Shell V-Power/Yokohama Suzuki Swift)
Jonathan Still/David Anderson - JAM (JA4 Hitachi Power Tools/Ocean Spray/Philips Lighting/Crane & Equipments/Castrol Oils BMW M3)

For further information, robin@bradfax.com