By Floyd Christie
Ian Jackson cruised past the finish line unchallenged to become the new champion of the Roraima Bikers Club NAMILCO ‘Wheat Up’ 70-mile road race yesterday.
The event, which culminated in front of the Two Brothers gas station, Eccles yesterday morning, saw Jackson dethroning Warren Forty’ Mc Kay who was seeking another title repeat.
However, McKay was not a sore loser and speaking to Stabroek Sport after the race, he acknowledged that Jackson rode well and deserved to be the champion.
Spectators lined the East Bank public road while some looked out of their windows to get a glimpse of the race as Jackson powered to the finish line which he crossed in two hours, 42 minutes and 40 seconds.
The closely-knit pack followed spearheaded by second place finisher McKay, who sprinted across the finish line wheel-to-wheel with Chris Persaud who was a split second behind McKay in third place.
Jude Bentley ended in fourth position; Walter Grant-Stewart, fifth and Marlon Williams, who copped the sixth and final prize winning position in the senior category.
According to Mc Kay Jackson made his move just before Diamond when the lead pack slowed down as the cyclists were returning from Long Creek on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
Earlier McKay had broken away shortly after the race pedalled off but was quickly caught by Robin Persaud, Bentley and Williams.
Kurt Larose won the junior category with Paul DeNobrega and Neil Reece second and third respectively.
New faces from Berbice and Linden came out on top in the veterans’ category as Berbician Turhan Harris led the veterans across the finish line in fine style.
Linden’s Andy Spencer took second, leaving third place finisher and defending veterans’ champion, Lyndon Blackman in his trail.
The Lindeners shone brighter when the mining town’s Hazina Barratt and Golin Debideen finished one-three in the female category with Naomi Singh occupying second place.
Kester Croal dominated the upright category, finishing ahead of Ricky Kissoon and Ozia McAuley who placed second and third respectively.
The category winners were each presented with championship cycling shirts and other special prizes following the race meet at a presentation ceremony in the NAMILCO compound which was graced by Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, NAMILCO and Guyana Cycling Federation officials, along with president of the Roraima Bikers Club Brian Allen.
Bentley captured four prime prizes, while McKay, Jackson and Grant-Stewart bagged three, two and one respectively.
Roraima Bikers Club also presented special prizes to their top finishers which were McKay, Daniel Major and Spencer.
