Over 500 riders turn out for ‘The Big Ride’

Aug 24, 2009 Sports

Campbellville cops two of six prizes at largest gathering ever

By Franklin Wilson

‘The Big Ride’ organised by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports/Ministry of Health and Guyana Cycling Federation turned out to be a resounding success yesterday with over 500 riders participating.

Riders led by Dr. Frank Anthony, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Dr. Ashni Singh and Hector Edwards commence yesterday’s Historic ‘The Big Ride’ at the University of Guyana Public Road Junction. (Franklin Wilson photo)

The event which commenced at the University of Guyana Junction on the East Coast Highway and concluded at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, got underway just after 17:00hrs with riders drawn from a number of villages and individuals competing.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony along with his opposite number from the Ministry of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Head of the National Aids Programme Secretariat Dr. Ashni Singh and President of the Guyana Cycling Federation Hector Edwards led off the event.

The short but stimulating ride was held under the theme, ‘Ride On, Live Long’ and was held as a means of encouraging persons to adopt riding as a form of healthy exercise.

The Campbellville group coped two of the six prizes on offer. They won the trophy for the village with the most riders as well as the most youth riders. The best uniformed group trophy went to Industry; Ministry of Culture youth and Sports was adjudged the Ministry with the most riders.

Taking the trophy for the Association with the most riders was the Goed Fortuin Volleyball club while the group with the most female riders was Sophia.

At the simple ceremony after the ride, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in feature remarks congratulated the organisers for a well planned and executed event while encouraging all to exercise regularly and to control their diet.

PM Hinds noted that it was activities of this nature that brings our people together and also challenged the organisers to make the event an annual activity.

Minister Anthony said he was happy with the excellent response to the activity and congratulated the Guyana Police Force for a professional job in controlling traffic along the route.

Dr. Anthony emphasized that such an event leads to the building of Community Spirit and bounding apart from promoting healthy lifestyles through riding. He encouraged the participants to continue using their bicycles to exercise and keep fit.

Dr. Ramsammy told the gathering that they need to be active to live long, be healthy and productive.

He also encouraged participants to play sport (cycling, football, cricket, table tennis etc) to live longer and to eat well in order to stay out of the hospital. Dr. Ramsammy also challenged the organisers to make the event annual and to run it off at the same time in all the regions.