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Philander blisters field to take feature 30-lap contest
Happy family!!! Competitors, sponsors and some supporters pose following the presentation of prizes yesterday at the National Park.
By Franklin Wilson
Albert ‘Bertie’ Philander won the feature 30-lap race of the 4th George Cumberbatch Memorial Cycle Meet in commanding style at the inner circuit of the National Park yesterday afternoon.
The Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) rider who won in a time of one hour 11 minutes 18 seconds did so comfortably ahead of club mate Alonzo Greaves (2nd) and Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay (3rd). The Kaieteur Cycle Club duo of John Charles and Daniel Ramchurejee placed 4th and 5th respectively with another RBC rider, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams outsprinting Robin Persaud to claim 6th place.
Philander’ performance in the feature event was very commanding. The race started at a brisk pace with Mc Kay, Greaves, Junior Niles and Enzo Matthews in the front pack establishing a comfortable lead. The second pack, which was about one minute behind the leaders, included Persaud, ‘Fishy’ Williams, Raymond Newton, Ramchurejee, Charles, Philander and Darren Allen.
The lead fluctuated from time to time as the race matured; Philander who sped into the lead on lap 10 was sucked in on lap 16 when Greaves took over. At that point Philander seemed to be out of contention as he trailed the front pack of Greaves, Mc Kay, Newton, Persaud, Williams, Ramchurejee and Niles.
But while he seemed to be struggling he somehow mustered the will to stay focused and eventually connected before breaking away for good from the others on lap 24.
His performance is more commendable having also won the 2nd race of the day for category 3&4 riders over a 10 lap distance ahead of Matthews and Ramchurejee in that order.
Last year’s feature winner and still a junior, Christopher Holder, won the day’s opening race for junior/juvenile competitors with Paul De Nobrega 2nd and Berbice rider Neil Reece 3rd.
Marlon Williams topped the field in the category 1&2 contest. Second placed Raymond Newton had established a commanding lead but Williams connected with him on lap 5 before taking the win, Warren Mc Kay settled for the third spot.
Phillip Piggott was a winner all the way in the veteran’s Under-50 event, Andrew Spencer and Junior Niles placing 2nd and 3rd respectively. The Over-50 race went to Robert Beaton followed by Monty Parris and Aubrey Gravesande.
The mountain bike race, sponsored by Fon J Cycle Store saw Lear Nunes upstaging the regular field of riders to win ahead of Kester Croal, Richard Charles, Keon Howard, Ozia Macaulay and Andre Petty in that order. Veteran Jude Bentley, who also participated and Nunes dominated the race in its entirety but the former who could have won the event decided not to cross the finish line as he opted out of the reckoning just before the end of the race.
In the BMX races, Raymond Perez dominated the 7-11 category to claim victory over Crystal Blackman and Deeraj Garbarran. Darius Ramsammy, Davindra Looknauth and Grantley Bentick finished in that order in the 9-12 clash, while the open race was taken by Marion King, Devindra Bissoon and Quacy Duncan placing 2nd and 3rd respectively.
President of organising club Roraima Bikers, Brian Allen, thanked the competitors for making the event another success, noting that the late George Cumberbatch in whose memory the event was held would have been proud of the performances.
He reminded the riders that Cumberbatch was a top class rider and fierce sprinter in his heyday and challenged the current crop to emulate his {Cumberbatch} style.
Also on hand to assist with the presentation of prizes were two of Cumberbatch sons. Sponsors of the event, George Humphrey of Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products and Clifford ‘Toto’ Johnson were also on hand to witness the day’s races and assist with the presentation of the cash prizes which totaled close to $200,000.
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