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Race walkers performed satisfactorily last year
– Secretary bemoans poor corporate assistance
Race walking, a relatively new discipline on the Guyanese sports calendar, has endured numerous setbacks but race coordinator of the Cavalier Race and Tour Club (CRTC), Michael D. Kirton believes that over the past year, the entity has performed creditably under the circumstances. However, he is appealing for more corporate intervention if the sport is to continue on its developmental trend.
Kirton said that the CRTC has planned several initiatives towards the development of the sport. The first activity, a training session, will be conducted by a competent race walk coach from the USA. According to Kirton, this initiative is the first of several to be employed in their bid to lift the sport to international standards.
Kirton evaluated the activities of the CRTC during last year and noted that it had successfully hosted 25 races, in several regions. He further said that the highlight of these ventures occurred in August when the Club staged its month of activities.
The race coordinator boasted that the CRTC has managed to shrug aside the many challenges and still run off most of the activities planned for the calendar year. “We have accomplished almost all of our goals with the exception of the Linden Last Lap race which should have taken place in December,” Kirton disclosed. He said that the lack of adequate sponsorship forced him to abandon this event.
Kirton said that despite this shortcoming his organization has successfully discovered new talent particularly amongst the juniors and women. He singled out Lindener, Rudolph Mitchell for special commendation while lauding his achievement. The veteran race walker has notched up a record 84 local titles and has his sights set on the century mark.
While bemoaning the absence of adequate corporate assistance Kirton said that he is indeed grateful for the help received from this sector over the year.
He singled out Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford, President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K A Juman Yassin, Robert Selman, Manager of the Guyana Beverage Company, and head of Modern Optical Service, Mr Jose DaSilva, for the outstanding assistance rendered to the CRTC over the year.
Kirton would also like to encourage other corporate entities to render support since it is this type of assistance that has kept the CRTC functioning.
He further intimated that his organization has big things in store for race walkers in this new dispensation. Among them is an initiative to take the sport to all 10 administrative regions as well as encourage increased overseas participation. The CRTC race coordinator also disclosed he intends to organize more training sessions as well as workshops.
Meanwhile the Club’s activities get underway on Sunday February 15 with a race over 20 laps around the National Park, dubbed ‘The Georgetown Mash Race Walk.’ Subsequently, a second race will be staged one week later, on Sunday February 22, starting from the Burnham Bust Vlissengen and Public Roads Kitty and culminating at the Seven Ponds, Botanical Gardens. Race time is 06:30hrs. (Michael Benjamin)
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