By Emmerson Campbell
Raynauth Jeffrey continues to showcase talent which is making a valid case for him to be Guyana’s next senior cycling king.
Yesterday at the National Park, the junior star rider who is the most improved and arguably the most consistent cyclist in Guyana led veteran Junior Niles, another junior rider Paul DeNobrega and Kester Croal in lapping the entire star-studded field of riders to win this year’s ninth annual Geddes Grant (Guyana)Limited feature 35-lap event .
Jeffrey, 18, stopped the clock at one hour, 17 minutes and 29 seconds and also took home three of the eight prime prizes. Three primes went to DeNobrega while Croal took the other two.
Fifteen-year-old Raul Leal and Hector Edwards Jr. rode in fifth and sixth respectively.
The event, which attracted 35 riders, got off to a fast-pace start with Jeffrey breaking away from the field from the very first lap, two laps later, however, DeNobrega joined Jeffrey and the two juniors would ride together up until lap 14.
At lap 14, Niles and Croal connected with Jeffrey and DeNobrega and the four riders never looked back.
The four leaders worked together to steadily increase their lead on the chasing peloton which included Alonzo Greaves, Robin Persaud, Enzo Matthews, Leal, Edwards Jr., this year’s Road Race championships winner Orville Hinds, last year’s Road Race champion Walter Grant-Stuart and others.
Team Work
With the four leaders steadily increasing their lead because of team work, the chasing peloton was now being chased and at lap 22, most of the field was lapped and the riders were subsequently called out of the race. At lap 30, Jeffrey, Niles, DeNobrega and Croal completed their dominance of the rest of the starters when they lapped the fifth and sixth place finishers.
The four leaders would continue to journey together until the final two laps. At this point Jeffrey knowing he possessed the least sprinting ability pounced on Niles, DeNobrega and Croal and staged his own breakaway.
Jeffrey was never pursued and steadily increased his lead. At the bell lap, Jeffrey was still riding spiritedly and easily crossed the finish line to take the top honours.
It was a good day for the talented junior because earlier in the day, Jeffrey also won the juniors and juveniles’ 10-lap race and the two prime prizes in a time of 22 minutes ahead of DeNobrega and Linden native Michael Anthony.
Adrian Sharma won the BMX boys’ 12-to-14 years, three-lap race ahead of Deeraj Gharbarran and Raphael Leung respectively while Keon Harris took top honours in the BMX boys’ nine-to-12 years, two-lap race ahead of Rashedi Ceries and Thuran Gharbarran respectively.
Before the feature event, Niles rode off with the veterans under-50, five–lap, first place trophy and the prime prize beating Kennard Lovell and Shameer Baksh who were second and third respectively.
Cleveland King took top honours in the three-lap BMX boys Open race ahead of Ricardo Sharma. King and Sharma were the only two starters for the event.
In the 12-to-14-years, boys and girls three-lap race, Hazina Barrett took home the winner’s trophy and the prime prize, while Berbician Marica Dick and Alfie Sonaram occupied the runners-up positions.
In the five-lap veterans over-50 race, Virgil Jones was first followed by Wilfred Thom. The duo were the only starters for the event.
Maurice Fagundes won the veterans over-60 years race ahead of Harry Lall and Krishna Singh, the only three starters.
The race for the upright cyclists was won by Nial Kingston who also took the prime prize. Joshua Dunn and Ray Raul placed second and third respectively.
The two-lap BMX boys six-to-nine years race was won by Lamar Duncan while Isaiah Sahadeo pedaled in second. Duncan and Sahadeo were also the only two starters.
At the prize giving ceremony, Mohamed thanked product specialist Karen Connell of Geddes Grant (Guyana) Limited, through its Seven Seas range of products for the sponsorship of the event for the ninth year and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a success.
Mohamed also intimated that three other 11-race cycling programmes are planned for the next three Saturdays at the same venue.
Conell handed out the prime prizes, Seven Seas hampers as well as the trophies to the winners and the runners-up of the events.
Connell in brief remarks also congratulated all the cyclists for their participation and pledged his company’s continued support for cycling and sport in general.
