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Septuagenarian promises to walk 4 miles in 30 minutes
Rudolph Holder
Seventy-four years old veteran race walker, Rudolph Holder has committed to complete a four-mile event scheduled for tomorrow morning on the West Coast Demerara in thirty minutes or less. He has further promised to lie on shame bench, in the blazing sun, if he fails to come good on his word.
Holder’s dreams were fashioned from the historic entrance of Barrack Obama into the White House as the United States of America’s first Black President. “If Obama could have performed such a great feat I felt that I could have attained my personal goals irrespective of how impossible they might have appeared to be,” proclaimed Holder. Consequently, he entered into several events organized by the Cavalier Sports and Tour Club (CSTC) and dominated in his category. Now Holder is ready to do the impossible and even promises to hold himself in ridicule if he fails in the attempt.
Over the past year, race walking has been popularized to the extent that the parent body, the Cavalier Sports and Tour Club (CSTC) is now organizing approximately 20 meets for the fiscal year. While this number may pale in significance to the other disciplines that are organizing frequent tournaments, the executive of the CSTC can give itself a pat on the back for the sterling efforts to popularize the sport.
While the name Rudolph Mitchell has become synonymous with the sport and while veteran, Jonathon Fagundes, has etched his name in the history books for his attributes on the race walk track, Holder has entered the arena and from all appearances is ready to defy age and destroy a few records in the process.
At a casual glance, the act would appear normal but for the fact that Holder will be celebrating his 74th birth anniversary next week Wednesday and at that age many people are either dead or enjoying their twilight years in a rocking chair.
Tomorrow morning, Holder would join the country’s best race walkers and compete for honours on the West Coast Demerara when members of the Den Amstel community stages a four mile race from Leonora WCD, through several villages and culminates at the Den Amstel village. Nevertheless, what makes Holder’s participation so special?
For one thing, his age and for the other his boasts of competing the four miles journey in thirty minutes or less. The race gets underway at exactly 06:00hrs and Mr. Holder is committing himself to its completion half an hour later, which would actually represent a record. “If I fail to back my boast I am prepared to lie on shame bench in the hot sun for the balance of the day,” he declared.
The agile septuagenarian is urging al able-bodied persons to travel over to the West Coast to be a part of the history-making feat. Those unable to be there in person are urged to follow the race and approximately twenty-nine minutes after its start, call telephone numbers 276-3123 or 276-3786 to find out the status of the race. “By that time I should be heading for an historic finish,” declared holder. Callers can then press their redial buttons to be greeted with the grand news that the septuagenarian had not only completed the race but has done so in record-breaking time.
Persons interested in providing trophies and other rewards can also contact the above numbers for details.
Apart from the aged walker, several other competitors are expected to add some flavour to the events and reports are that national race walk champion, Rudolph will be among the participants.
(Michael Benjamin)
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