By Floyd Christie
After riding intensely for 35 laps under the scorching mid-day sun, Alonzo Greaves captured the winning trophy in the feature event of the 10th annual P&P Insurance Brothers, Consultancy and Travel Agency cycling programme held yesterday around the inner circuit of the National Park.
Greaves completed the 35-lap invitation race in a time of one hour, 21 minutes and 14 seconds, just bettering the time set by last year’s winner, Leer Nunes of one hour, 21 minutes and 35 seconds.
Greaves finished a few seconds ahead of long-time rival, Robin Persaud, who was second.
Greaves and Persaud stayed on each other’s rear wheel for the majority of the race and powered away from the rest of the pack.
When the bell sounded to signal the start of the final lap, it was either Greaves or Persaud for the win.
The duo rose from their seats, shifted into overdrive and went neck and neck around the final turn, before Greaves managed to pull ahead at the finish line.
Persaud came in split seconds behind.
Warren Mc Kay came in shortly afterwards for third place.
McKay was in fifth place during the final lap be the experienced campaigner had seemingly conserved enough energy throughout the race and, backed by the cheers of supporters he went into the reserve tank around the final turn before blowing past Turhan Harris and Enzo Matthews to snatch third.
Matthews finished in fourth position, Berbician Harris, fifth and Walter Grant-Stewart sixth.
In other results, Lindens Hazina Barratt and Kirkwood Kellman took the winning trophies for the girls’ 12-14 and veterans’ over 50 years (five-lap) category respectively.
The veteran under 50 years (five-lap) category was won by Davendra Ramnarine while Paul DeNobrega rode off with the winning trophy in the juniors (10-lap) category.
Making his first appearance in the National Park, Clyde Jacobs took first place in the upright category. Ashley Anthony was the lone participant in the girls’ BMX 6-12 years and carted off the winning trophy.
The boys BMX winners were Duneshwar Ragubeer (6-9 category), Adrian Sharma (9-12 category), Darius Ramsammy (12-14 category) and Kwesi Headley in the BMX Open category. Following the race meet which was organized by National Coach, Hassan Mohamed, prizes were presented to the successful participants by a representative of P&P Insurance, Varsha Panday.