National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed promises another great year

Jan 12, 2010 Sports

Organised 25 events in 2009, corporate support was excellent

Flashback!!! Youngest winner of the Ride for Life 5-stage cycle road race Geron Williams leads the pack on the Linden Soesdyke Highway in the 5th and final stage of the race on November 7th. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Hassan Mohamed

By Franklin Wilson

Many of the Associations and Federations have been crying that they have not been getting the requisite financial support from corporate Guyana to back up their plans and programmes but this has not been the case with National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed who has been keeping the sport alive in Guyana.
Mohamed is promising to maintain an intense work routine to promote and organize the sport which has been holding its own among the other disciplines – the local riders performing creditably at regional competitions during the past year.
“It has been a very successful year for the sport and I am gratified with the kind of results we have seen during the year. Corporate Guyana has continued to really support the sport and I am very appreciative of their unflinching support. I would like to recognize our newest sponsor on board, Digicel, for accepting our proposal and I look forward to this partnership.”
Mohamed, who is also Race Secretary of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) which apart from running off the National Road Race Championships in June has just sanctioned events, again is challenging riders to prepare for what will be another exciting year for the athletes.
“I delivered on my promise that in 2009 there would be an increase in competitions and I would like to let riders know that this year will be even better than last year, so they must prepare accordingly.”
The biggest event of the year in the sport though was the 3rd annual Ride for Life five-stage race which saw the largest ever turn out to date with overseas participation. This event was sponsored by the Ministry of Health and was run in association with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the Guyana Cycling Federation.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored 3-stage event was another of the successful races held.
Overall, Mohamed ran off a total of 11 road races and a further 13 at the inner circuit of the National Park. For the first time the Cheddi Jagan Memorial was held on the West Demerara, complimenting races which are also held in Berbice and Essequibo. Mohamed also hosted a successful track meet at the Everest Cricket Club ground under lights.
The Ministry of Sport hosted for the first time in August, ‘The Big Ride’ which saw the most riders ever at a single event in Guyana. Participants came out by the hundreds to participate in the event which was held to promote cycling as an avenue to stay healthy and fit. A number of other clubs also ran off events during the year also.
Riders standing out during the year are Geron Williams who became the youngest rider to ever win the 5-stage event. Williams is also the current National Road Race junior champion. Fellow juniors Christopher Holder, Enzo Matthews and Christopher Persaud enjoyed a fair year and will be aiming to improve this year.
Among the top seniors are Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay, Robin Persaud, Alonzo Greaves, Junior Niles, Tony Simon, Lear Nunes, Alex Mendes and Eric Sankar among others. Physically challenged rider Walter Grant-Stuart continues to prove that he is and will continue to be a force to reckon with despite his physically challenge.
Mohamed is expressing thanks to the following sponsors for their support: Hand in Hand Insurance Company, Ricks & Sari Agro Industries, Geddes Grant, DeSinco Trading, R&R International, BK International, Ansa Mc al Trading, Laparkan Holdings, Sarah Johanna Garden’s & Friendship News, Chris Jagdeo and the National Sports Commission among others.