Suffolk duo Dick Partridge and Keith Parker were today celebrating the Dakar Rally for a second time.

The pair reached the finishing line under the shadow of an Egyptian pyramid in Cairo to end a 17-day journey covering more than 9,000km.
Out  of 147 teams to start the race in Dakar, Senegal, back on January 9 Dick, from Akenham, and Keith, from Shotley, came home in 92^nd place.
Dick said: “We are just pleased to have finished as the only person we were trying to beat was the course builder
“There weren’t many more to cross the after us."
This year’s event contained some unexpected drama when competitors and their vehicles were airlifted across Niger by the French Air Force following the safety fears as political unrest brewed in the African country.
It was a huge operation which delayed the race by almost a week, but while the drivers had a short rest, Dick said it also threw him out of rhythm.
“For a while we didn’t really know where we were he said. “One minute we were in rallying mode, two days away from a rest day, then we were being air lifted to Libya.
“When we got there we had to wait around for another four days, it was all a bit strange but the operation was carried out superbly."
It was Dick’s sixth attempt at the rally  - his first was in 1988 with current Ipswich Witches skipper Chris Louis  - but only his second finish.
His first success came last time out in 1997 when he and Keith became the first British to complete the course for a decade.
This year the duo came through relatively unscathed, but they still had to overcome several mechanical problems including punctures, a smashed windscreen, broken exhaust system and leaky radiator.

Sweltering

They approached  the finish line on Sunday at little more than walking pace to protect their Isuzu Trooper after more than two weeks of driving in sweltering temperatures across all different kinds of terrain, including dust tracks, rocks, grass, and deserts.
“It still goes, but it would never last another rally said Dick aged 43, referring to his vehicle. “Mid you, I said that last time.
To celebrate, they went out for an Italian meal and a few drinks in Cairo, where they are spending a few days before returning to England on Thursday.
As for the next year, Dick hinted that he might try a different event, although it was too early to rule out a return to the Dakar.
“We just want to have a good rest first and we’ll see how things progress. he said.

By Bradley Ashton