EUROPEAN INTEREST HIGH IN SOL RALLY BARBADOS
On-line entry system refined in its second year
With more than three months to go before the official closing date of Friday, May 1, the organizer of Sol Rally Barbados 2009, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC), is receiving a steady flow of entries through its web site (www.rallybarbados.bb); the current count is just short of 30, with no fewer than 10 of those entered in the four-wheel-drive classes.
Interest from European competitors remains high, despite the challenging economic climate, with two former Group winners joining Steve Perez and Martin Stockdale on the list of returnees who have already entered on-line.
Kenny Hall, who only recently flew home to Scotland after a short New Year holiday in Barbados, is back for his seventh attack on the event, hoping to add a third win in Modified 5 to those he achieved in 2004 and 2007; on the second occasion, he and Dutch co-driver Fenny Wesselink finished 22nd overall, also claiming the award as highest-placed crew including a female.
The four-times Scottish Class Champion will return with his familiar Suzuki-powered Halltune Garage Opel Corsa, in which he and Wesselink retired last year, after rear axle failure; no longer a regular competitor in his National Championship, Hall only uses the car for occasional outings. Once such was last year’s Lion Stages, a 36-mile event in the Kielder Forest in the north of England, which is an event limited to 1400cc cars.
Hall says: "We had been intending to enter the Colin McRae Stages so, since I hadn't been rallying in the forests since 1999, Fenny and I did the Lion Stages. All the best in the class from the UK were entered, so it was going to be tough, and the conditions were really slippery, too."
Hall was fastest on three of the four stages and, although he lost out on the final stage, he was still three seconds ahead at the finish. He notes: "Well, we gave them a bit of a cuffing, but there was a scrutineering issue to do with exhaust noise and a delay which resulted in a 30-second penalty, so we ended up second. Still, I'd proved to Fenny that I could still keep it generally between the trees and we put an entry in for the McRae . . . but unfortunately didn't get one, as it was so heavily oversubscribed."
Also confirmed is Andrew Costin-Hurley, winner of Group B for the past two years in his self-built two-wheel-drive Ford Puma, which will be sponsored this year by True Colour Rallying, Aztec Composites and Earl's Performance. Costin-Hurley and wife Melissa - they became engaged on a catamaran trip in Barbados - are looking forward to the trip: "Attending Rally Barbados this year is an absolute essential for us, it's the motivation to get through the English winter, the challenge of grey skies compounded by an even greyer economy. We definitely need some Bajan optimism and blue sky!"
For his sixth Rally Barbados outing, he will be accompanied by his sixth different co-driver, although Shaun Mellett is not unfamiliar to Costin-Hurley, as they rallied together with some success in the early 1990s in the UK's Southern Tarmac Championship in a Ford Sierra Cosworth. Costin-Hurley remembers: "Unfortunately his time with me was plagued by a phase of unreliability, but we had some great moments, including lying in second and third overall places before mechanical failure intervened.
"Shaun and his wife have subsequently acted as my service crew and were in Barbados in 2003 and 2005. He's looking forward to making his navigational comeback this year, and he and Sonia are also using the Barbados trip to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary."
On-line entry system streamlined
The on-line entry system for Sol Rally Barbados has been refined since last year; each competitor now receives an automatic confirmation of receipt of the entry, while an alert is also sent automatically to members of the Sol RB09 Executive Committee, who can then follow up on any issues arising.
Chairman Barry Gale notes: "The system this year is much more streamlined, and the automatic alerts mean we can easily keep track of progress. We're only one away from 30 entries already, with a good mix of local, regional and Europeans; 10 of those already in are from the four-wheel-drive classes, so I remain optimistic about both the quality and quantity of entry that we'll have come May."
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. Associate sponsors include the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association.
Media enquiries: e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web site - www.rallybarbados.bb
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Barbados Surfing Ass schedules a full contest season.
Barbados Surfing Association
The Barbados Surfing Association annual general meet
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 January, 2009 : - - The Barbados Surfing Association held its annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 16th December and elected the following Executive Committee:
President, Mr. Carlos Wharton, Vice-President, Mr. Christopher Clarke, Secretary, Mrs. Margot Tuach and Treasurer, Mrs. Rachel Roett. The elected members in turn appointed the following four (4) additional committee members - Mr Peter Corbin. Mr. Elvis Carter, Mr. Barry Banfieldand Mr. David Hoad in keeping with the Constitution which was amended at an EGM convened on December 16, 2009.
This Executive Committee is committed to taking surfing to new heights and will develop a strategic plan which includes development programmes for coaching and judging as well as a full and action packed Calendar of events including Surfer Of The Year contests; the annual School Championships.
The annual International Surfing Classic at Soup Bowl and overseas contests including the ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships in Ecuador March 27th to April 5th , the ISA World Surfing Games to be held in Costa Rica in July and the Pan-American Surfing Games slated for Brazil November 7 - 15.
This Committee will be responsible for running the BSA's affairs but will elect subcommittees with specific duties as needed. We already have established a Finance/Fund-raising committee chaired by Rachel Roett and a November Pro Committee chaired by Peter Corbin.
The BSA's website bsasurf.net will once again be administered by Mr.Kenneth Tuach with the assistance of Mr. Jake Corbin and will be the main source of information for BSA members - mainly through the monthly newsletter which will be sent out electronically. BSA Membership Forms will be available at the first contest venue and should be completed in full.
The BSA will also be using text messaging to ensure that all members are informed of the location of contests given that there are optional venues to ensure that contests take place in the best conditions possible on the day.
The Annual Membership Fee of Bds$50 and is now due and may be submitted by cheque to the following address: The Barbados Surfing Association, c/o P. O.Box 24, Barbados Olympic Association, Olympic Centre, Garfield Sobers Complex, Wildey, St. Michael or it may be paid at the first contest. Please note that if you opt to pay for two (2) years, the Membership fee is $80.
The main goals of the new committee will be as stated in the BSA's Ammended Constitution i.e. "to promote the sport of surfing in all its forms in Barbados, to sponsor, hold and organize Surfing Competitions, to send selected members of the Association to Surfing Competitions wherever held, to raise monies by private or public functions"
"Otherwise for the purposes of the Association and to accept contributions from members of the public for the purposes of the BSA and accept contributions from the public for the purpose of meeting the BSA's objectives.". In addition, efforts will be made to increase in membership and to foster development programmes in the areas of judging, coaching, shaping and glassing.
The BSA's Event Schedule for 2009 is as follows:
EVENT DATE / VENUE / SURFER OF THE YEAR SERIES
SOTY 1 FEBRUARY 14-15 SOUTH COAST
Option 1:South Point;
Option 2: Brandons;
Option 3: Long Beach
SOTY 2 MARCH 14-15 SOUTH COAST
Option 1: Brandons;
Option 2: South Point;
Option 3: Long Beach
SOTY 3 AUGUST 29-30 EAST COAST
Option 1: Barclays Park;
Option 2:Sand Bank;
Option 3: Parlour
SOTY 4 SEPTEMBER 19-20 EAST COAST
Option 1: Parlour;
Option 2:Soup Bowl;
Option 3: Morgan Lewis Beach
SOTY 5 OCTOBER 17018 EAST COAST
Option 1: Soup Bowl;
Option 2: Parlour
SOTY 6 NOVEMBER 28-29 EAST COAST
Option 1: Soup Bowl;
Option 2: Parlour
EXTRA EVENTS 2009 EVENT DATE VENUE
SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS APRIL 25-26 SOUTH COAST
Option 1: Brandons;
Option 2: South Point
NATIONALS (SOTY points awarded) MAY 9-10 Brandons
Optional Venue; Soup Bowl
ISA WSG TRIALS FEBRUARY 28 Sand Bank
Optional Venue: Long Beach
NOVEMBER PRO NOVEMBER 20-22
Soup Bowl
SURF BARBADOS BIG WAVE CONTEST FEBRUARY-APRIL / SEPTEMBER -DECEMBER
Optiional overseas contest
ISA WORLD JUNIOR SURFING CHAMIPIONSHIPS MARCH 27 - APRIL 5
Salinas Ecuador
ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES JULY 31 - AUGUST 8
Costa Rica
PANAMERICAN SURFINGGAMES IV NOVEMBER 7-15
Brazil
ISA MASTERS SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS TBA
Open for Bidding
Contests will start at 8:00 a.m. Entries will close at 7:30 a.m. on the morning of the contest. Pre-entries by telephone will be accepted from paid up members. However, entry fees must be paid by 7:30 or the surfer risks losing his/her spot. There will be a late fee of $10.
The Divisions to be contested this year are as follows:
Junior Boys - Under 16 and Under 20 (cannot turn 21 in year of contest)
Junior Girls - Under 18
Open Men
Open Women
Senior Men (28 - 35)
Senior Women (25 & over)
Open Long Board
Open Body Board
Masters (35 - 45 years)
Grand Masters (45 & over)
The Junior Boy Under 18 Division has been replaced by the Under-20 Division in order to provide greater exposure for our Juniors. Additional Divisions have been re-introduced to encourage more members to surf in contests. The Senior Women Division has been introduced as a pilot for SOTY 1 to encourage more women to compete.
The Under-12 and Menehune (under 11) Divisions have been taken out of the SOTY series since the conditions may prove to be too difficult for them. The idea is to introduce a series of contests especially for these young surfers. Discussions are on-going to finalize these arrangements.
Youngsters with the skill level are still encouraged to surf in the Junior Divisions of the SOTY series to help develop their surfing skill and performance in contests. Entrance fees are $25 for the first Division and $15 for each additional Division. For Non-members, the entrance fee is $35, but no SOTY points will be awarded to non-members.
Please note that for the time being, the Committee has decided to revert back to the traditional method of judging until there is a noticeable increase in the number of judges and the necessary technology made available. The intention is to re-intrduce the new judging scheme in 2010 after the necessary equipment has been procured.
Awards will be given for the Surfer of the Year Championships, Nationals, the School Championships and the Big Wave Contest. The Committee is actively seeking to raise funds to ensure the success of all these events, to send teams overseas and to secure prize money for the end-of-year SOTY Awards. Details regarding fund-raising events will be included in the next Newsletter.
Given the limited time-frame, the Team for the WJSC 2009 in Ecuador has been selected based on their performance in the 2008 SOTY series and their general performance in contests. The Team for the ISA WSG in Costa Rica will be picked based on performance in the TRIALS slated for February 28th.
In addition, team members will be required to undergo training as required, drug tests in keeping with the BSA's and ISA's zero tolerance policy and to abide by the BSA's Code of Conduct.
Before closing, the BSA Executive Committee would like to thank the out-going committee for their efforts in 2008 and the Members for their past support. Once again, we extend to you best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009 and look forward to working with you for the development of this beautiful sport that we all love!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Lewis St John and Ametza Nicholls are the new Barbadian National Champs
The Barbados Surfing Association held it’s Lazy Days/Sprite National Surf Competition at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba on November 22 and 23, 2008 where Ametza Nicholls and Lewis St John claimed the island's top National Surfer spots and prize money.
The Men's Open final was very competitive with Lewis St John eventually taking the top spot along with the prize purse of $800.00 from Jake Corbin, Bruce Mackie and Stefan Corbin. He also claimed the top spot in the Under-18 Boys' Division in front of Bruce Mackie and Jordan Heaselgrave.
Ametza Nicholls won the Women's Open final claiming the top prize purse of $400 followed by Chelsea Tuach, Chelsea Roett and Alyssa Fernandes. Meanwhile the tables were turned somewhat in the Under 18 girls where Chelsea Roett emerged victorious with Chelsea Tuach placing second and Ametza Nicholls and Alyssa Fernandes taking third and fourth respectively.
In the Boys' Under-16 final, Jordan Heaselgrave secured first place in front of Bruce Mackie second, and Lewis St John third.
Other divisions contested were Longboard where Christian Boos took the first place trophy, with Jay Garrett second, Wayne Roett third and Jade Niccolls fourth.
In the Masters division, Stewart Stoute held on to the first place, with Brian Gooding, Andrew Rapson, and Sebastian Bradshaw taking the second, third and fourth places respectively. The first place trophy in the Bodyboard division was claimed by Paul Larrier, with Jonathan Rodriguez second, Kwame Griffith third, and Bernard Boyce fourth.
New Executive Committee of the Barbados Surfing Association
The Barbados Surfing Association held its Annual General meeting on October 16, 2008 and as is normal tradition a new Executive Committee was elected to manage the affairs of the Association for the period January 2009- December 2010. The following individuals were selected to serve on the Executive Committee: President Mr. Carlos Wharton, Vice-President Mr. Christopher Clarke, Secretary Mrs. Margot Tuach and Treasurer Mrs. Rachel Roett.
The Barbados Surfing Association held it’s Lazy Days/Sprite National Surf Competition at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba on November 22 and 23, 2008 where Ametza Nicholls and Lewis St John claimed the island's top National Surfer spots and prize money.
The Men's Open final was very competitive with Lewis St John eventually taking the top spot along with the prize purse of $800.00 from Jake Corbin, Bruce Mackie and Stefan Corbin. He also claimed the top spot in the Under-18 Boys' Division in front of Bruce Mackie and Jordan Heaselgrave.
Ametza Nicholls won the Women's Open final claiming the top prize purse of $400 followed by Chelsea Tuach, Chelsea Roett and Alyssa Fernandes. Meanwhile the tables were turned somewhat in the Under 18 girls where Chelsea Roett emerged victorious with Chelsea Tuach placing second and Ametza Nicholls and Alyssa Fernandes taking third and fourth respectively.
In the Boys' Under-16 final, Jordan Heaselgrave secured first place in front of Bruce Mackie second, and Lewis St John third.
Other divisions contested were Longboard where Christian Boos took the first place trophy, with Jay Garrett second, Wayne Roett third and Jade Niccolls fourth.
In the Masters division, Stewart Stoute held on to the first place, with Brian Gooding, Andrew Rapson, and Sebastian Bradshaw taking the second, third and fourth places respectively. The first place trophy in the Bodyboard division was claimed by Paul Larrier, with Jonathan Rodriguez second, Kwame Griffith third, and Bernard Boyce fourth.
New Executive Committee of the Barbados Surfing Association
The Barbados Surfing Association held its Annual General meeting on October 16, 2008 and as is normal tradition a new Executive Committee was elected to manage the affairs of the Association for the period January 2009- December 2010. The following individuals were selected to serve on the Executive Committee: President Mr. Carlos Wharton, Vice-President Mr. Christopher Clarke, Secretary Mrs. Margot Tuach and Treasurer Mrs. Rachel Roett.
This Executive Committee is committed to taking surfing to new heights and will develop a strategic plan which includes development programs for coaching and judging as well as a full and action-packed calendar of events including Surfer of the Year contests;
the annual School Championships, the annual International Surfing Classic at Soup Bowl and overseas contests including the ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championship in Ecuador March 27th to April 5th , the ISA World Surfing Games to be held in Costa Rica in July and the Pan-American Surfing Games slated for Guadeloupe later in the year.
The surfing calendar will take off with the first event in The Surfer of the Year Series scheduled to take place in February (venue to be announced shortly).
Submitted by
Margot A. Tuach
Secretary
BSA
Monday, January 19, 2009
That's right people, visit caribbeanwaterman.com for official updates on the Grenada Fishing Tournament that starts Today. These crucial points will determine who starts the year leading the CW Challenge. We should have the scores at the end of each day, so stay tuned!
Over 40 boats are registered and will be slacking lines early in the A.M. tommorow!
Over 40 boats are registered and will be slacking lines early in the A.M. tommorow!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
PEREZ CONFIRMED FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2009
BHTA supports Rally Club's "awesome event"
Steve Perez is the first confirmed European entry for Sol Rally Barbados 2009 . . . and the 2004 UK National Rally Champion is a man on a mission. After missing a top-three slot for the third year in a row in 2008, he said: "We'll just have to come back and by-pass the podium - I'm going all out to win!"
Although his first visit ended in disaster when his ex-Hannu Mikkola Audi Quattro Sport suffered accident damage in Rally Barbados 2004, Perez soon developed a fondness for Barbados and its people. Like many introduced to the island through rallying, he is now a regular visitor and returned home on Saturday after his annual New Year holiday, enjoyed with a large family group in an exclusive West Coast location.
Before he left, he confirmed that he will be back with his Kick Energy Ford Focus WRC, co-driven for the first time in Barbados by Welshman Paul Spooner, with whom he finished 19th in the final round of the 2008 World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB, in December. Of that result, he noted: "To just get to the finish was a major achievement, given it was one of the toughest rallies I have ever done. The ice, snow and fog made the going treacherous, so I was doubly delighted to achieve a top 20 finish on a World Championship event with very few top-name retirements."
Since 2006, a hat-trick of fourth places in Rally Barbados - highest-placed European finisher twice - means he has unfinished business: "I'm certainly not coming to defend fourth place, but I think the job's going to be even harder this year. There's the two Focus WRCs from Jamaica with Gary Gregg and Jeff Panton, and the Imprezas of Paul Bourne and Roger Skeete - they've all won the rally before, so I've got my work cut out.
"And then my old mate Paul Bird - he said he was retiring after Barbados last year . . . no such luck; the last time I spoke to him, he said he's coming back. Even if I don't win, I've still got to make sure I finish in front of 'Birdy' this time . . . and I won't be lending him any of my scrubbed-in tyres this year, either, he can bring his own!"
And the information on Bird's return from retirement is right on the money; he drove his Vent-Axia/Kick Energy Subaru Impreza WRC S9 for the first time since May two weeks ago in the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally, a British single-venue tarmac event at the Croft motor racing circuit in North Yorkshire; after a few early dramas - he said "I'd forgotten what half the switches did" - he set some good times in the afternoon, finishing second to another crew popular with Bajan fans, Kevin Procter and Dave Bellerby in the Procters Coaches Impreza S7.
BHTA confirmed as Sol RB09 Associate Sponsor
The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association has been confirmed as an Associate Sponsor of Sol Rally Barbados 2009, its increased commitment a further recognition of the event's value as an integral part of the island's sports-tourism product.
Having assisted in recent years through the provision of accommodation, particularly for overseas media, the BHTA has stepped up its involvement with a significant cash injection. BHTA Executive Vice-President Sue Springer said: "Why would the BHTA not support such an awesome event? It is a win-win situation and we look forward to 2009 with bated breath to see who will take the crown.
"Over the past eight years, 200 overseas competitors have competed in the Barbados Rally Club's event, many of whom have become repeat visitors at other times of the year. In 2008, the 30 overseas crews clocked up around 4000 bed nights during May, which is known to be one of our slower months in the industry. This event also gives us some amazing international media coverage, the like of which we could never begin to pay for - with reports broadcast to 16 million homes in 40 countries across Europe in 2008, what can match that in exposure for Barbados?
"The financial benefits are also significant: the spend from overseas visitors last year was around Bds $1.5m just from hotels, flights and restaurants, without particular requirements like their specialised fuel, while thousands of local fans bring revenue to vendors, mini-marts and rum shops, all of whom benefit from this National Event."
BRC Chairman Mark Hamilton added: "The BHTA's additional commitment to Sol Rally Barbados this year signals once again an acknowledgement of the contribution that the event is making to our sports-tourism product and the local economy as a whole at a time when the world economic situation will place additional pressure on small island states. The Barbados Rally Club is very conscious of the need to make our event more attractive than ever to international participants under these circumstances and this additional support will be used exclusively for that purpose."
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.
Media enquiries: e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web site - www.rallybarbados.bb
BHTA supports Rally Club's "awesome event"
Steve Perez is the first confirmed European entry for Sol Rally Barbados 2009 . . . and the 2004 UK National Rally Champion is a man on a mission. After missing a top-three slot for the third year in a row in 2008, he said: "We'll just have to come back and by-pass the podium - I'm going all out to win!"
Although his first visit ended in disaster when his ex-Hannu Mikkola Audi Quattro Sport suffered accident damage in Rally Barbados 2004, Perez soon developed a fondness for Barbados and its people. Like many introduced to the island through rallying, he is now a regular visitor and returned home on Saturday after his annual New Year holiday, enjoyed with a large family group in an exclusive West Coast location.
Before he left, he confirmed that he will be back with his Kick Energy Ford Focus WRC, co-driven for the first time in Barbados by Welshman Paul Spooner, with whom he finished 19th in the final round of the 2008 World Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB, in December. Of that result, he noted: "To just get to the finish was a major achievement, given it was one of the toughest rallies I have ever done. The ice, snow and fog made the going treacherous, so I was doubly delighted to achieve a top 20 finish on a World Championship event with very few top-name retirements."
Since 2006, a hat-trick of fourth places in Rally Barbados - highest-placed European finisher twice - means he has unfinished business: "I'm certainly not coming to defend fourth place, but I think the job's going to be even harder this year. There's the two Focus WRCs from Jamaica with Gary Gregg and Jeff Panton, and the Imprezas of Paul Bourne and Roger Skeete - they've all won the rally before, so I've got my work cut out.
"And then my old mate Paul Bird - he said he was retiring after Barbados last year . . . no such luck; the last time I spoke to him, he said he's coming back. Even if I don't win, I've still got to make sure I finish in front of 'Birdy' this time . . . and I won't be lending him any of my scrubbed-in tyres this year, either, he can bring his own!"
And the information on Bird's return from retirement is right on the money; he drove his Vent-Axia/Kick Energy Subaru Impreza WRC S9 for the first time since May two weeks ago in the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally, a British single-venue tarmac event at the Croft motor racing circuit in North Yorkshire; after a few early dramas - he said "I'd forgotten what half the switches did" - he set some good times in the afternoon, finishing second to another crew popular with Bajan fans, Kevin Procter and Dave Bellerby in the Procters Coaches Impreza S7.
BHTA confirmed as Sol RB09 Associate Sponsor
The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association has been confirmed as an Associate Sponsor of Sol Rally Barbados 2009, its increased commitment a further recognition of the event's value as an integral part of the island's sports-tourism product.
Having assisted in recent years through the provision of accommodation, particularly for overseas media, the BHTA has stepped up its involvement with a significant cash injection. BHTA Executive Vice-President Sue Springer said: "Why would the BHTA not support such an awesome event? It is a win-win situation and we look forward to 2009 with bated breath to see who will take the crown.
"Over the past eight years, 200 overseas competitors have competed in the Barbados Rally Club's event, many of whom have become repeat visitors at other times of the year. In 2008, the 30 overseas crews clocked up around 4000 bed nights during May, which is known to be one of our slower months in the industry. This event also gives us some amazing international media coverage, the like of which we could never begin to pay for - with reports broadcast to 16 million homes in 40 countries across Europe in 2008, what can match that in exposure for Barbados?
"The financial benefits are also significant: the spend from overseas visitors last year was around Bds $1.5m just from hotels, flights and restaurants, without particular requirements like their specialised fuel, while thousands of local fans bring revenue to vendors, mini-marts and rum shops, all of whom benefit from this National Event."
BRC Chairman Mark Hamilton added: "The BHTA's additional commitment to Sol Rally Barbados this year signals once again an acknowledgement of the contribution that the event is making to our sports-tourism product and the local economy as a whole at a time when the world economic situation will place additional pressure on small island states. The Barbados Rally Club is very conscious of the need to make our event more attractive than ever to international participants under these circumstances and this additional support will be used exclusively for that purpose."
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.
Media enquiries: e-mail - robin@bradfax.com
web site - www.rallybarbados.bb
Monday, January 5, 2009
POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS
POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR SOL RALLY BARBADOS
International and regional internet forums praise local organisers
During the Christmas and New Year break, word of Sol Rally Barbados 2009 has been spreading far and wide . . . and the Barbados Rally Club's (BRC) promotion of the 20th running of its premier event has been earning plaudits on motor sport internet forums in the region and further afield. This upsurge in interest is timely, as the on-line entry form went 'live' on Friday (January 2), opening entries for local and overseas competitors earlier than ever before.
The Club's seven-minute promotional DVD, created by local firm Merville Lynch Productions, became available as a download from the event web site (www.rallybarbados.bb) a few days before Christmas; already distributed to more than 50 prospective competitors and the motor sport media at two major British rallies in September, it is now available to a far wider audience through YouTube.
In the wake of last month's Petcom Rally Jamaica, where the highest-placed local crews in the four- and two-wheel-drive categories were awarded free entry and shipping for Sol Rally Barbados 2009, Jamaica's Dean Corrodus, a multiple champion as both competitor and event organiser, described the BRC's DVD as "simply top class" on the popular Wheels Jamaica internet forum.
Chris McFarlane, creator of the Jamspeed Adrenalin Rush reality TV programme which has featured Rally Barbados for the past two years, went even further: "What a really wonderful event, and the great thing is that it starts from now! Rally Jamaica, we need to pay the best tribute to the Barbados Rally Club and copy their lead, starting this kind of promotion for our event straight after Rally Barbados. I'll be there again in 2009, this time with more preparation and my regular co-driver. Well done, guys."
In rally-mad Ireland, the 2008 Sol Rally Barbados win by Ulster crew Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle has further fuelled interest in the event. The promotional DVD even gained its own 'thread' on the Irish Rallying forum, started by a member who posts under the pseudonym 'Tartanic', who wrote: "I know there is a link to this in the Rally Barbados thread, but I think the video is worthy of discussion in its own right. Looks like the Rally Barbados organisers are pretty good at promoting their event."
Among the responses was this from co-driver James Sharkey: "Excellent promo video, something a lot of clubs could take on board, also from a PR and tourism perspective. I wish Rally Barbados all the best and hope they don't become a victim of their own success, and keep the classes and modified stuff they have to allow everyone - whatever the budget - to compete."
Photographer Paul McIlroy added: "Irish and British Rally organisers, please watch the promotional video on the Sol Rally Barbados home page and note - this is how to promote an event! Well done to all in Barbados and continued success."
In a separate thread on the same forum, there were more enthusiastic comments. 'gdmotorsport models' wrote: "If you've never been to Barbados, you don't know what you're missing. Awesome place, wonderful people and wall-to-wall sunshine . . . oh, and the rallying's OK, too!"
British Rally Forum, the premier internet chat room in UK rallying with more than 17,000 members, also carries a thread devoted to Sol Rally Barbados, in which Paul Rees, a senior figure in British rally marshalling, commented: "The event itself is simply awesome, as a competitor, official or spectator. I've been in 2002 and 2007 as a spectator, 2003 as a driver and 2004, 2005 and 2006 driving a course safety car for the organisers. I missed 2008 due to lack of holidays, but will be back in 2009."
British production company Acceleration TV's coverage of the 2008 action has also been attracting comment; a 90-minute programme broadcast in four languages on Motors TV across Europe during the week before Christmas, it included footage of island life, including road tennis, rum shop dominos and the Oistins Fish Fry, alongside the event report. Sol Rally Barbados 2008 Group N winner Ryan Champion wrote: "Thought the coverage was great! It gave a real feel for the unique atmosphere. Hope to be back again next year." Photographer Ryan Wainwright remarked: "Watched it this evening on Motors TV. Does look really good, with an amazing atmosphere".
Sol Rally Barbados Chairman Barry Gale said: "To have competitors and rally fans overseas making remarks like that about our promotion is really encouraging, and to see someone say that clubs in Europe could learn from us makes me very proud. The electronic media is becoming more and more important when promoting events, and we know that we are hitting our target market head-on."
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
International and regional internet forums praise local organisers
During the Christmas and New Year break, word of Sol Rally Barbados 2009 has been spreading far and wide . . . and the Barbados Rally Club's (BRC) promotion of the 20th running of its premier event has been earning plaudits on motor sport internet forums in the region and further afield. This upsurge in interest is timely, as the on-line entry form went 'live' on Friday (January 2), opening entries for local and overseas competitors earlier than ever before.
The Club's seven-minute promotional DVD, created by local firm Merville Lynch Productions, became available as a download from the event web site (www.rallybarbados.bb) a few days before Christmas; already distributed to more than 50 prospective competitors and the motor sport media at two major British rallies in September, it is now available to a far wider audience through YouTube.
In the wake of last month's Petcom Rally Jamaica, where the highest-placed local crews in the four- and two-wheel-drive categories were awarded free entry and shipping for Sol Rally Barbados 2009, Jamaica's Dean Corrodus, a multiple champion as both competitor and event organiser, described the BRC's DVD as "simply top class" on the popular Wheels Jamaica internet forum.
Chris McFarlane, creator of the Jamspeed Adrenalin Rush reality TV programme which has featured Rally Barbados for the past two years, went even further: "What a really wonderful event, and the great thing is that it starts from now! Rally Jamaica, we need to pay the best tribute to the Barbados Rally Club and copy their lead, starting this kind of promotion for our event straight after Rally Barbados. I'll be there again in 2009, this time with more preparation and my regular co-driver. Well done, guys."
In rally-mad Ireland, the 2008 Sol Rally Barbados win by Ulster crew Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle has further fuelled interest in the event. The promotional DVD even gained its own 'thread' on the Irish Rallying forum, started by a member who posts under the pseudonym 'Tartanic', who wrote: "I know there is a link to this in the Rally Barbados thread, but I think the video is worthy of discussion in its own right. Looks like the Rally Barbados organisers are pretty good at promoting their event."
Among the responses was this from co-driver James Sharkey: "Excellent promo video, something a lot of clubs could take on board, also from a PR and tourism perspective. I wish Rally Barbados all the best and hope they don't become a victim of their own success, and keep the classes and modified stuff they have to allow everyone - whatever the budget - to compete."
Photographer Paul McIlroy added: "Irish and British Rally organisers, please watch the promotional video on the Sol Rally Barbados home page and note - this is how to promote an event! Well done to all in Barbados and continued success."
In a separate thread on the same forum, there were more enthusiastic comments. 'gdmotorsport models' wrote: "If you've never been to Barbados, you don't know what you're missing. Awesome place, wonderful people and wall-to-wall sunshine . . . oh, and the rallying's OK, too!"
British Rally Forum, the premier internet chat room in UK rallying with more than 17,000 members, also carries a thread devoted to Sol Rally Barbados, in which Paul Rees, a senior figure in British rally marshalling, commented: "The event itself is simply awesome, as a competitor, official or spectator. I've been in 2002 and 2007 as a spectator, 2003 as a driver and 2004, 2005 and 2006 driving a course safety car for the organisers. I missed 2008 due to lack of holidays, but will be back in 2009."
British production company Acceleration TV's coverage of the 2008 action has also been attracting comment; a 90-minute programme broadcast in four languages on Motors TV across Europe during the week before Christmas, it included footage of island life, including road tennis, rum shop dominos and the Oistins Fish Fry, alongside the event report. Sol Rally Barbados 2008 Group N winner Ryan Champion wrote: "Thought the coverage was great! It gave a real feel for the unique atmosphere. Hope to be back again next year." Photographer Ryan Wainwright remarked: "Watched it this evening on Motors TV. Does look really good, with an amazing atmosphere".
Sol Rally Barbados Chairman Barry Gale said: "To have competitors and rally fans overseas making remarks like that about our promotion is really encouraging, and to see someone say that clubs in Europe could learn from us makes me very proud. The electronic media is becoming more and more important when promoting events, and we know that we are hitting our target market head-on."
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
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