Xtreme Degreez Sports Magazine

Close battles in Virgin Atlantic BRC Class Championship

After an eight-week break, competitors in the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) Virgin Atlantic Driver’s and Class Championships will return to action in the Karcher Summer Stages on Saturday, July 24. The event is set to be a big hit with fans, as half the scheduled 12 stages, alternating between the popular Pickerings and Turners Hall venues in the north of the island, will be run at night, increasingly rare in island motor sport.
The service area will be the Greenland Agricultural Station, where competitors must arrive no later than 12.30pm for Scrutineering, which starts at 12.00pm; the event is slated for a 2.00pm start, with three runs each downhill through Turners Hall, then northbound through Pickerings before the dinner halt at around 6.00pm.
The restart is scheduled for 7.00pm, with a further three runs through each stage, in the opposite direction, before the finish at approximately 11.00pm, back at Greenland Agricultural Station. As in previous years, when Pickerings was used for the BRC Summer Nights Tarmac Sprint, the area around the Plantation Yard will be floodlit.
Entries are open at Motorsport Services, Haggatt Hall, St Michael and the running order will be published at the Briefing Meeting at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association Club House, Searles, Christ Church, at 7.00pm next Thursday (July 22).
In the Driver’s Championship, based on overall results, Paul Bourne (Ford Focus WRC07) increased his advantage in May to 19 points over Roger Hill (Toyota Corolla WRC), while John Powell (Subaru Impreza WRC S12) has closed to within eight points of Hill; these are also the top three in the Class Championship in Modified 8-WRC.
In the Overall Class Championship, the contest is much tighter: Bourne is also top here, but only one point ahead of Production 4 leader Barry Gale (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX); third equal are Gale’s father Freddie (Toyota Corolla RunX) and Mark Hamilton (Ford Escort MkII), respectively the leaders of M7 and SuperModified 11 – they are tied on 98 points, 13 behind Gale Junior, with his P4 arch-rival Geoff Noel (Evo IX) fifth on 91.
While most class leaders have a comfortable advantage in the standings, a tremendous battle has developed in the merged M5 & M6. After Shell V-Power King of the Hill, Edward Corbin (Daihatsu Charmant) was 40 points ahead of M5 leader Sean Cox (Suzuki Swift), tied for second with Jamal Brathwaite (M6 Mitsubishi Mirage). Read the rest of this entry »

EIGHT FORMER WINNERS FOR SHELBURY JUNE SAFARI
Mud, mud and more mud!

Eight former winners are among the 30 entries for the Shelbury Construction June Safari this weekend (June 26/27), the 54th running of the oldest motor sport event in the Caribbean with a continuous history . . . and recent weather patterns, with heavy rain, have created ideal conditions for the year’s most prestigious Safari.
The third round of the Barbados Rally Club’s (BRC) Mud Dogs Safari Championship will start from Maynards Plantation, St Peter, at 3.01pm on Saturday; the dinner stop is slated for approximately 8.00pm at Andrews Factory, St Joseph, with a further rest stop in Maynards, St Peter at around 2.00am. The finish will be at roughly 7.00am on Sunday at Mahogany Ridge, Plum Tree Hill, St Thomas, where breakfast will be available.
Last year’s winners Darrin White and Robert Warren (Lucky Locks/Rockstar Nissan Frontier) – also the reigning Mud Dogs Champion Driver and Navigator – will face a tough challenge, with 17 Pro class crews among the entry; these are headed by the 2005 Champions, Neil Barnard and Barry Gale (Huzier/Mahindra Motorsports/redlinefuels.com Mahindra Pik-Up), who won ‘The June’ in 2008.
While White’s victory last year was his first, navigator Warren was claiming his second, having previously won with brother Ian in 2002. Barnard’s victory created an even more significant slice of island motor sport history, as he became the first third-generation winner, joining father David, and grandfather, Trevor Gale, on ‘The June’s’ roll of honour.
The most successful crew entered in terms of ‘The June’ is that of Chris Armstrong and Wayne Clarke (Toyota Hilux); as well as winning the event twice together (2000 & ‘01), Clarke had already claimed two earlier wins, as navigator to Don Hunte (1991 & ’93); Armstrong is also once again the sponsor of the June Safari.
The list of former winners is completed by Leslie Alleyne and John Sealy, who share the rare distinction – along with David Barnard, Derek Gill and Bill Mallalieu – of having won the event as both navigator and driver; Alleyne navigated for brother-in-law Geoff Noel in 1996, then drove to victory with wife Annalee in 2003 & ’06, while Sealy won as navigator in 1967 and driver in 1978. This year, Alleyne navigates with surprise entry Trevor Manning, while Sealy will have Melissa Hutchinson as navigator.
The Shelbury Construction June Safari has been set by Ryan Corbin and Dustin Edwards, joint leaders respectively of the Navigator and Driver standings in the Mud Dogs Championship, and Derek Edwards/Damien Brooker, who currently lie fourth . . . with some help from David Edwards, who won ‘The June’ three times in eight years between 1981 and ’88 as navigator to Roger Manning.
With the points so close at the top of the table, this weekend’s event could prove crucial in the 2010 Championship.
Read the rest of this entry »

The 2010 Quiksilver King of the Groms EC Qualifier belongs to Pat Schmidt! Check out the road to his victory and the groms who tried to stop him via the video below. Including Josh Burke form Barbados ripping it up.

JOSHUA BURKE RIPS THE TYPHOON

Orlando,Florida:
13 year old St Winifred School Student Josh Burke surfed exceptional on Wednesday night at the
Quiksilver King Of The Grom qualifying event held at The famous Walt Disney World ,Typhoon Lagoon water park,competing against 30 of the top junior surfers U-16 years old from across the United States and Puerto Rico,Burke was on par with the level of competition,placing 5th and winning The Most Progressive surfer of the event!
Burke recently signed a 2year deal with traction pad giant X-Trak & Magma surf wax and rides the ever faithful Burkie Boards that are shaped and produced by World class shaper Rich Price.

Patrick Schmidt from Manasquan New Jersey wore the crown of the King,the winning wave was a brilliant display of wave riding,taking off right against the pool wall coming off the bottom with a powerful off the top,a nice speed turn in the middle to set up for a huge fluent air reverse 360 on the closeout, literally cementing his place on the throne and a trip to France for the Grandfinal!
Who would think of going to landlock city of Orlando to surf?  Matt Kechele,team manager for Quiksilver and organizer of the 2010 KOTG thought of the idea “every year instead of getting an ulcer worrying over if mother nature is going to produce or not,why not have guaranteed waves” Kechele states, and a great idea it was!
The Typhoon Lagoon pushes out a 5ft wave every 90 seconds providing a fair playing field for the young future pro surfers and they did not disappoint,throwing adult type turns,and launching big air reverses on the closeout.
Coach for Joshua,Alan Burke says” This was a very unique event,very cool scene,watching the best juniors from the US rip in a pool”, “Josh adapted well ,the buoyancy had very little effect but he complained of the visibility of the wave due to the clarity of the water and the reflection from the lights,everyone had to deal with it so it was very fair” Burke states.
Joshua will be taking part in three international events over summer,Rip Curl gromsearch New Smyrna beach,East Coast Surfing Championships,Virginia Beach and The NKF in Cocoa Beach.

Quiksilver King of the Groms Surf Series

Typhoon Wave Pool, Orlando Florida
9 June 2010

KOTG Crowns Regional East Coast Winner Pat Schmidt at Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon

The Quiksilver King of the Groms east coast qualifying event  finished yesterday with a limited field of 28 grom competitors from all along the Eastern seaboard and the Caribbean. In the end, Pat Schmidt was awarded the prestigious title of 2010 East Coast King of the Groms.

Along with $1000 cash, Pat also clinched an all-expense paid trip to the Quiksilver Pro France to compete in the King of the Groms World Championships this September.

“I’ve never surfed at Typhoon Lagoon before and I didn’t think it would be that different surfing in freshwater, but it actually was,” says Pat Schmidt. “I’m stoked to get the trip to France in September, and since I’m heading to California for NSSA Nationals and the U.S.A. Championships next, winning the King Of The Groms is definitely a good way to get some momentum going!”

Last year Quiksilver moved their King of the Groms east coast qualifier from the Atlantic Ocean to the man-made wave pool at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon because of poor surf conditions – a first for this surf contest. The result was a competition that was as unique as it was successful, prompting Quiksilver to repeat the format for 2010.

This year, each grom – the sport’s nickname for surfers aged 16 and under – was once again treated to an unrivaled experience in the water.

“It’s great having a constant where every wave is the same and lets the groms show their stuff,” says contest organizer Matt Kechele. “Plus, it can be really difficult to get good waves this time of year, so the Disney Typhoon Wave Pool is the perfect solution.”

First round standouts were Tanner Strohmenger, Pat Schmidt and Noah Schweizer. Also putting in solid performances were Knox Harris, Mauro Diaz, Corey Howel, Cam Richards and Josh Burke. All of the competitors set the bar high, with each advancing through round one easily.

Round two saw Schweizer, the wave pool regular and expected front-runner, along with Strohmenger and Howel all looking strong. However, Schmidt stepped it up with a solid first turn and a clean rotation for an 8.61 mark, the highest post of the evening. This score proved to be unmatched, and Pat, a native of Manasquan New Jersey, brought the Crown home to the North East for the first time in the King of the Groms history.

Finalists from each of the regional qualifying events held in Brazil, Tahiti, Europe, the U.S. and in other countries throughout the world will move on to compete at the prestigious global final held at the Quiksilver Pro France in late September. The next domestic King of the Groms stop is on June 21, 2010 in Huntington Beach CA.

RESULTS
1.Pat Schmidt $1000
2.Tanner Strohmenger $500
3.Corey Howel $250
4.Noah Schweizer $100

www.quiksilver.com/kotg2010

SOL RALLY BARBADOS 2010
Results

Full report to follow . . .
ENG – England; IRL – The Republic of Ireland; JAM – Jamaica; KEN – Kenya; NED – The Netherlands; NIR – Northern Ireland; NZ – New Zealand; SCO – Scotland; TDAD – Trinidad & Tobago; WAL – Wales

1st Roger Skeete/Louis Venezia (M8-WRC Da Costa Mannings Auto Centre/Michelin/Warrens Motors/Big John’s Subaru Impreza WRC S12), 1h 01m 07.57s
2nd Paul Bourne/Allan Kinch (M8-WRC Banks/Chefette/LIME/Virgin Atlantic Ford Focus WRC 07), 1h 01m 09.23s
3rd Paul Bird – ENG/Kirsty Riddick – SCO (M8-WRC supercasino.com/Vent-Axia Ford Focus WRC 08), 1h 01m 20.36s
4th John Powell – TDAD/Craig Thorley – ENG (M8-WRC Shell Helix Subaru Impreza WRC S12), 1h 02m 10.98s
5th Sean Gill/Michael Cummins (M8-WRC Simpson Motors/Shell V-Power/Automotive Art Mitsubishi WRC), 1m 02m 33.44s
6th Roger Hill/Graham Gittens (M8-WRC Esso/Nassco/MotorMac Toyota Corolla WRC), 1h 02m 48.72s
7th Jeffrey Panton – JAM/Mike Fennell Jnr – JAM (M8-WRC Rally Jamaica/Seaboard Marine Ford Focus WRC 00), 1h 04m 08.33s
8th Ian Warren/Robert Warren (SM10 Automotive Art/Shell V-Power/Simpson Motors Suzuki Swift), 1h 05m 15.06s
9th Rob Swann – ENG/Darren Garrod – WAL (P4 Automate CGI/Waves Hotel and Spa/Revolution Wheels/R A Swann Ltd Subaru Impreza N14), 1h 05m 20.54s
10th Geoffrey Noel/Kreigg Yearwood (P4 Globe Finance Inc/Mix 96.9/Sentry Insurance Brokers/Dewalt Tools/Automotive Art/Ezone Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX), 1h 05m 26.73s
11th Neil Armstrong/Barry Ward (SM9 Pit Bull Energy Drink/Hankook/Gunk/Electric Avenue Toyota Starlet), 1h 05m 41.61s Read the rest of this entry »

Local teenager to attend surf camp with Sofia Mulanovich in Peru

Proving that opportunities come to those who work for them, 14-year old Chelsea Tuach  from Barbados, who is the reigning Under 18 National Surf Champion and Caribbean Ladies’ Champion, will be traveling to Peru on May 26 to participate in Red Bull Girls Surfing Only camp with former surfing world champion, Sofia Mulanovich.

May 25, 2010. Barbados – With just 14 years, Chelsea Tuach already exhibits great surfing potential, reason why she was invited to Red Bull Girls Surfing Only, a surfing camp in Peru with the former world champion, Sofia Mulanovich, that will take place May 27-31.

“I am extremely happy and excited about surfing with Sofia and Sally, two of my greatest idols. I can’t wait to meet them and surf with them – to become the best you have to surf with the best.” Chelsea commented.

Chelsea has been surfing the waves for six years and competes in all local and regional (Caribbean Surf Network) contests. She has also competed in ALAS (Association of Latin American Surfers) events and contests in the USA to gain as much exposure and contest practice as possible. This year she was awarded the National Sports Council Award for Junior Female Outstanding Sportsperson for Barbados and has already won the Ladies division of the first Local Contest in February. She also won the Under 16 and Under 18 Girls’ Divisions of the School Surf Championships held in March and more recently won the Ladies’ Division of the Trinidad/Western Atlantic Pro International Surf Contest held in Sans Souci Trinidad.

The aim of Red Bull Girls Surfing Only is to provide young talents the opportunity to learn from and train with the world champion. The participants are carefully chosen among the best in Latin America and the Caribbean for their talent and commitment to the sport and they are expected to be the great surfing stars of the coming years.