Great Escape gets around difficult odds

MUMBAI, July 14: Over 250 participants in 70 odd vehicles took part in the Mahindra Great Escape rally in the backwoods of Silvassa on Sunda...

MUMBAI, July 14: Over 250 participants in 70 odd vehicles took part in the Mahindra Great Escape rally in the backwoods of Silvassa on Sunday. The off-beat drive, organised by Sportscraft and co-sponsored by Bharat Shell and Hotel Ras Resort provided a unique opportunity to get out in the open and have a taste of adventure.

For rally driver Farhad Bathena and sister Navaz, who had made the past escapades at Lonavala and Mahableshwar, the outing was just another opportunity to test their skills at the wheel in conditions unconducive for driving. But for the first timers, it turned out to be a memorable, breathtaking experience as they negotiated the boulder-laden gradients and slushy tracts.

As the vehicles moved in a convoy, they came up against a bog pit alongside a rivulet which proved the toughest challenge of the 100 kms stretch. Heavy rains during the last fortnight had rendered the farmlands rather slushy. It required clever use of clutch and accelerator for the experienced drivers as the machinedchugged along. However there weer many who had to be winched out by the service team. Also among the participants were former Test cricketer Sandeep Patil and cricketer-turned-actor Salil Ankola.

Kanga get-together

The Dr HD Kanga Memorial Cricket League get together will be held at 6.15 p.m. on July 21 at F and G Block of the Wankhede Stadium. Participating players and MCA umpires are requested to attend where problems concerning the League will be discussed.

Merchant shines

Fine breaks of 44, 34 and 33 by Yasin Merchant saw Khar Gymkhana A beat BP Radio Club B 3-0 home and 3-2 away in the fourth week of the Mumbai Snooker league 1998.

RESULTS LEAGUE:

Section A: Matarpacady Club vs Islam Gym B 3-1, 1-3; Khar Gym C vs Tata Sports Club C 2-3, 0-3; Bombay Gym B vs Mysore Association 3-0, 3-1, Garware Club House C vs MBPT Reynolds B 3-1, 3-1

Section B: PJ Hindu Gym A vs Tata Sports Club B 2-3, 3-2; Santa Cruz Gym B vs dadar Club B 3-1, 3-2; KharGym A vs BP Radio Club B 3-0, 3-2, Juhu Vile Parle Club B vs WIAA Ltd 3-0, 3-2 BPCL held Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited held Bharat Petroleum BPCL to a 1-1 draw in a third Division MDFA football match organsied at the St Xavier8217;s Ground, Parel today.

Story continues below this ad

Y Pawar scored for BPCL in the 46th minute with a header. Shaikh Pinto equalised for MTNL from a corner which curled in and gave no chance to Sultan Qazi, BPCL custodianIn another Third Division match, Naigaum Police defeated Wenden Institute by a solitary goal. Uday Gade scored the all-important goal in the 51st minute.