By Emmerson Campbell
National cyclist, Robin Persaud continues to show why he is the most consistent cyclist in Guyana today.
Yesterday when the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Hassan Mohamed teamed up to pedal off the 36th annual 11-race youth cycling programme at the National Park, Persaud rode away with the trophy for the feature 35-lap event in affluent fashion.
Persaud, 37, arguably one of Guyana’s most talented cyclists, led Jude Bentley and Seon Alves in lapping the entire field of riders.
Persaud, who won the race in one hour, 20 minutes and 15 seconds also took home three of the eight prime prizes. Three primes also went to fifth place finisher Collis Williams, while one prime went to Alves and third runner up Christopher Persaud.
Alonzo Ambrose pedaled in sixth.
The event, which attracted only 25 riders, because of the absence of other top cyclist competing in Suriname at the annual Bigi Bergi four-stage road race, started off at a high pace with Davenand Bissoon and Robin Persaud separating from the rest of the field from the ninth lap.
Persaud and Bissoon would enjoy the lead until they were caught by Bentley, Alves and others.
At the 21st lap Persaud, Bentley and Alves up the ante and and had a race of their own.
The lead trio worked together to steadily increase their lead on the chase peloton which was eventually lapped with eight laps to go.
The three leaders would continue to journey together until the final fives laps. At this point Persaud pounced on Bentley and Alves and opened a lead that he never relinquished.
At the bell lap Persaud had opened up an unassailable lead and eventually won the event comfortably.
Adrian Sharma won the BMX boys’ 12-to-14 years, three-lap race ahead of Deeraj Gharbarran and Ralph Leung respectively while Keon Harris took top honours in the BMX boys’ nine-to-12 years, two-lap race ahead of Rashedi Ceres and Jaural Hendricks respectively.
Kennard Lovell rode off with the veteran’s under-50, five–lap, first place trophy and the prime prize in 12 minutes and 36 seconds beating Virgil Jones and Davindra Ramnarine who were second and third respectively.
Adrian Sharma took top honours in the three-lap BMX boys Open race ahead of Cleveland King and Christopher Griffith.
In the 12-to-14-years, boys and girls’ three-lap race, Alfie Sonaram took home the winner’s trophy and the prime prize while Naomi Singh and Toshawnna Doris occupied the nest two spots.
In the five-lap veteran’s over-50 race, Wilfred Thom was first followed by Courtney Hackett. Thom and Hackett were the only starters for the event.
Harry Lall got the better of rival Maurice Fagundes to take the top honours in the veteran’s over-60 years’ race. Lall and Fagundes were also the only starters for that event
Akeem Wilkinson won the juniors and juveniles’ 10-lap race and the prime prize in a time of 25 minutes and 56 seconds ahead of Ambrose and Andre Abdool.
The race for the upright cyclists was won by Keon Thomas who also took the prime prize. Julio Melville and Nial Kingston placed second and third respectively.
The two-lap BMX boy’s six-to-nine year’s race was won by Lamar Duncan with Isaiah Sahadeo and his brother Ken Sahadeo pedalling in second and third respectively.
At the prize giving ceremony, Mohamed thanked Director of Sport, Neil Kumar and the NSC for the sponsorship of the event and the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a success.
Kumar handed out the prime prizes as well as the trophies to the winners and the runners-up of the events.
Kumar in brief remarks also congratulated all the cyclists for their participation and pledged the NSC’s continued support for cycling and sport in general.
The annual event was held to culminate the eight-week Teach Them Young Summer Camp which was first held in 1977.
It attracted a record 47 participants and was labeled the best ever by Mohamed.
As customary, Jeremiah Harrison who was in need of a bicycle was awarded one by Ricks and Sari for completing the summer camp.
