Robin Persaud sped off with the feature 30-lap Schoolboys and Novices race yesterday when national cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed and Banks DIH Limited staged an 11-race cycling meet at the National Park circuit, Thomas Lands.
This year marked the second year that Banks DIH Limited, under the Powerade and Sprite brands, has teamed up with Mohamed to sponsor the ‘Teach Them Young’ programme.
Persaud won the event in one hour and eight minutes.
Persaud led junior Paul DeNobrega, Raymond Newton, Kurt LaRose another junior Raul Leal and Michael Anthony respectively in the top six finishers.
Persaud, the national cycling captain, also earned three prime prizes while three also went to Newton and one each to Anthony and Leal.
Newton was the lone rider for the veterans’ under-50 years race and carted off the first place trophy and the prime prize.
In other races, Adrian Sharma won the BMX boys 12 to 14 two-lap race ahead of Christopher Griffith and Jhonnick La Rose respectively. La Rose however won the boys nine-to-12 years, three-lap race ahead of Deeraj Garbarran and Jubharu Ming respectively.
Julio Melville took top honours in the three-lap BMX boys open race ahead of Samuel Dick and Ricardo Sharma.
In the 12-to-14 year, boys and girls three-lap race, Naiomi Singh and Alfie Sonaram were the top two finishers respectively.
The prime prize went to Alfie Sonaram.
In the five-lap veterans’ over-50 race, Wilfred Thom was first and Harry Lall pedaled in second. Thom and Lall were the only two riders for that category.
Maurice Fagundes won the veterans’ over-60 years ahead of Anthony Farriah. Fagundes and Farriah were also the only two riders for that category
Anthony won the juveniles 10-lap race in a time of 22 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of Leal and Akeem Arthur. Anthony and Arthur also copped the two prime prizes that were up for grabs.
The upright cyclists’ race was won by Mario King with Hamza Eastman placing second and Kron Henry crossing the finish line in third.
The two-lap BMX boys’ six-to-nine years race was won by Stephon Smith with Tharron Garbarran placing second. Smith and Garbarran were the only two cyclists in the event.
At the prize giving ceremony, Mohammed thanked Banks DIH Limited for its sponsorship and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a successful one.
Presentations of prime prizes and trophies were made by Mortimer Stewart Outdoor Events Manager for Banks DIH.
In brief remarks, Stewart mentioned that his company is proud to be associated with the development of cyclists and sportsmen and women in Guyana. Stewart added that Banks DIH is a company of excellence and encouraged the cyclists to be excel on the track and in the classroom he further added that Banks will continue its annual support of Mohamed’s ‘Teach Them Young’ programme.
