By Emmerson Campbell
After finishing a disappointing eighth overall in the three-stage cycling road race event last month, seasoned cyclist Robin Persaud returned to form yesterday powering away with the featured 35-lap event of the 11-race cycling meet which was sponsored by Powerade.
The meet, which was held at National Park circuit, was in memory of the late Ulric Pollydore, former president of the Guyana Cycle Federation and Kaieteur Cycle Club, as well as a personal friend of the event’s organizer Hassan Mohamed.
Persaud won the race in one hour, 17 minutes and 56 seconds, from Albert Philander, Alonzo Greaves and juniors Raul Leal, Michael Anthony and Raynauth Jeffrey home respectively. Jeffrey placed seventh overall in the three-stage event.
Persaud and Philander also earned a prime prize each, while two went to Greaves and four to Orville Hinds.
The event, which attracted 34 riders, started off at a fair pace. However, Greaves and Hinds separated themselves from the rest of the field and maintained a lead until the 22nd lap. At this point, Jeffrey, Jude Bentley, Persaud and Philander who were in hot pursuit of the duo connected with Hinds and Greaves.
These five riders with Leal and Anthony on their wheels would journey together for six laps until Persaud staged a mini breakaway.
Persaud was caught trying to stage a one man breakaway but on his second try, with just two laps to go, he never relinquished the lead. Persaud upped the ante with a slim lead that opened even further in the last lap. Riding alone, Persaud easily crossed the finish line with his arms raised in victory.
A fierce sprint for second ensued but Philander pipped his Roraima Bikers Club mate to take the first runner-up position.
Jason Jordan won the BMX boys’ 12-to-14 years, three-lap race ahead of Adrian Sharma and Christopher Griffith respectively while Kapel Dev Bhisham took top honours in the BMX boys’ nine-to-12 years, two-lap race ahead of Jamal Arthur and Thuran Gharbarran respectively.
Junior Niles rode off with the veteran’s under-50, five–lap, first place trophy and the prime prize beating Shameer Baksh and Kennard Lovell who were second and third respectively.
Makel Diaz took top honours in the three-lap BMX boys Open race ahead of Julio Melville and Cleveland King.
In the 12-to-14-years, boys and girls’ three-lap race, Hazina Barrett took home the winner’s trophy and the prime prize. Naomi Singh and Alfie Sonaram were second and third respectively.
In the five-lap veteran’s over-50 race, Virgil Jones was first followed by Wilfred Thom and Javier Leon, respectively.
After completing a half marathon earlier in the day, Maurice Fagundes donned his riding gear and won the veterans over-60 years’ race ahead of Harry Lall. Fagundes and Lall were the only two riders in that category.
Mario King won the juniors and juveniles’ 10-lap race in a time of 23 minutes and eight seconds ahead of Anthony and Kurt La Rose. Christopher Hochan however won the lone prime that was up for grabs.
The race for the upright cyclists was won by Keon Thomas with Hamza Eastman and Michael De Roche placing second and third.
The two-lap BMX boy’s six-to-nine year’s race was won by Isaiah Sahadeo with Christopher Goring and Isaiah’s brother Ken Sahadeo pedalling in second and third respectively.
At the prize giving ceremony, Mohamed thanked the representatives of Banks DIH Limited for the sponsorship under the Powerade brand and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a success.
He announced that the next event will be another 11-race meet at the National Park on June 16, which will be sponsored by P & P Insurance Brokers.
The following day the cyclists will take their talents to the open road to compete in a 50-mile road race from Wales to Bushy Park and back to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. This event will be sponsored by GuyOil.
Banks DIH Limited Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart handed out the prime prizes as well as the trophies to the winners and the runners-up at the National Park circuit.
Stewart congratulated all the cyclists for their participation and pledged Banks DIH’s continued support for cycling and sport in general. He also mentioned that Banks’ next cycling event would be under the Malta Supreme brand.
Brief congratulatory comments were also made by Director of Sport, Neil Kumar.
