Racing: Chager leads KNRC rally after Kilifi leg

Kabras racing team Onkar Rai in action with his VW Polo during the second day of the KCB KNRC rally at Mombasa competitive stage during the fourth round of KCB Kenya National Rally Championship in Kilifi County, August 18, 2019. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Reigning three-time African champions Manvir Baryan and Drew Sturrock won the KCB Kilifi rally championship to inch closer to their maiden Kenya National Rally Championship title this season.

The duo is convinced of Skoda’s potential after leading the Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) race.

Baryan, in his Skoda Fabia R5 better known as ‘the rat’, relegated his opponents including the much-fancied Onkar Rai’’s VW Polo, which made its debut on Kenyan soil.

Manvir’s British navigator Sturrock said MRT Racing are not relenting in their quest for KNRC points. 

“We have never won the KNRC title, so this year we want to achieve a big dream. Of course we want to achieve victory in every round and at the end of the season, take the main trophy,” said Sturrock. 

Manvir’s second victory in the Mombasa round saw him and his partner move to second position on the KNRC log. 

They dislodged the Top Fry team of Carl “Flash” Tundo and Tim Jessop from the second position on the log. 

Tundo and Jessop skipped Kilifi tour. After four rounds of brilliant displays, Baldev Chager became the first driver to rack up the three figure mark and like Manvir, promised to keep on pushing. 

Chager consolidated his lead on the log with 102 points, while Manvir has 73.

Chager said he is hoping to consolidate his lead when he tackles the KCB Nanyuki Rally.

“Like every rally, we want to do our best and gain maximum points. So in Nanyuki, that’s our plan. It was a very tough rally but with very enjoyable stages,” said Chager. 

“We tried to push and keep up with the Skoda, but he beat us again on CS4 with three seconds. In the long 46km stage at Bamba, we were pushing extra hard then went off and got stuck for several minutes.”

For Onkar, it was a race he would have wished to quickly forget.

“The Polo is running well, just that we ran out of fuel in the early morning,” said Onkar. [Ernest Ndunda]

triumphs in Nakuru

Golf: Nakuru Golf Club turns 90 this year

Nganga triumphs in Nakuru

124 golfers grace inaugural tournament in honour of past Men and Lady captains.

Mose Sammy

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Lawrence Nganga, who scored 38 stableford points, won the overall prize in the inaugural All Captains Prize golf tournament at the par 73 Nakuru Golf Club, over the weekend.

Nganga, a member of Thika Sports Club and playing off handicap 21, had a par-less outward nine with eight back-to-back bogeys on the par-4 first, second, par-3 fifth, par-4 sixth, seventh and eighth. he had one double bogey on the par-5 ninth.

On his inward nine, he started off on the wrong footing with a no-return on the par-4 10th but immediately bounced back with a bogey on the par-4 11th before sinking his only pars for the day on the par-4 12th and par-5 13th.

He, however, dropped shots on the subsequent holes; a par-4 14th and par-3 15th to chalk his only double-bogeys for the day.

He then bogeyed the next two holes, a long par-5 16th and a par-3 17th before inking his best score for the day on the par-5 18th where he sank a birdies to claim victory over a huge field of 124 golfers.

The All Captains Prize golf tournament was presented by Menengai Drilling company, Crater Automobile and past captains of the club and hosted by current captain Hillary Korir.

The tournament was to honour and appreciate both past men and lady captains of the club as it also had their 90th year anniversary.

“I started off easy despite being the last flight, a three-ball. No one thought it was going to turn-out this way. I mean, the win from our group.” said Nganga.

“We had to stop playing and seek shelter after it started raining, which actually changed the dynamics of play and condition.”

“The course was playing so well. In fact, I was shocked to find the Nakuru course still lush green, which enhanced my short-game as it gave me an easy time with my chipping unlike most of the other courses that are already drying up.” he added.

Meanwhile at the par 72 Machakos Sports Club, club chairman Sawarn Singh, playing off handicap 14, led by example winning Madison Golf day on a score of 39 stableford points.

Handicap 33 Nairamas ole-sein donned the Ladies gong on a score of 34 stableford points with MN Kinuthia winning the Guest prize.