Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
Youths clinch 3 spots in top 6 led by winner Paul DeNobrega
By Franklin Wilson
Assurances that Guyana’s future in the cycling arena looks solid for the future was further underlined at the 4th annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial 50 mile Road Race which was successfully held on the West Demerara yesterday and sponsored by the Clay Brick Factory.
Led by overall and junior winner Paul DeNobrega who sprinted over the finish line in 1 Hour 59 Minutes 24 Seconds, another junior Raynauth Jeffrey, who won the first race in Berbice one week earlier, settled for the 4th place, while another junior, Raul Leal, crossed the line behind Jeffrey, capping a fine day for the youths.
Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony (standing 4th left) pose with the top performers and other organising committee members.
Eric Sankar (2nd), Orville Hinds (3rd) and Junior Niles closed out the top six positions on a day that saw 57-riders taking starters orders.
Speaking with the Media after the race, DeNobrega said that he is now coming back into his own following the death of his smaller brother Justine DeNobrega who died on January 27 in unfortunate circumstances.
He placed 3rd in the junior category in the Berbice race but did not place among the top six overall and given the fact that his fellow junior Jeffrey won that race, DeNobrega said that he had to step up to the plate this time around being the senior of the two.
Cramping also affected his Berbice performance but DeNobrega said that he overcame those challenges for yesterday’s contest with the results speaking for itself.
The race was a close contest on the upward journey having started outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara on a sunny and windy morning.
The turn back point was as usual, Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo. Close to the end, Niles, Sankar, Jeffrey, Leal and DeNobrega broke away from the pack on New Road Vreed-en-Hoop and with about 300M to the line, Sankar made the jump but was closely pursued by DeNobrega who out hustled him to the line for the top spot in the senior and junior categories.
DeNobrega also noted that he is aiming to compete at the Southern Games in the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago later this month, but is in need of a Track Bike.
Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay copped two of the eight prime prizes with Walter Grant-Stuart grabbing a similar amount. There was one each for Jude Bentley, Rastaff O’Selmo, Hinds and DeNobrega.
Senior & Junior winner Paul DeNobrega. (Franklin Wilson photo)
Talim Shaw was the leading veteran in a time of 1 Hour 22 Minutes 05 Seconds; Mark Spencer and Andy Rajkarran closed out the other positions in this category.
Ruling the roost among in the mountain bike division was Dexter Wilson (1 hr 41 mins 48 secs) followed by Cleveland King and Nigel Jacobs. Walter Isaacs was the top over-60 competitor.
Naiomi Singh (1 hr 31 mins 45 secs) was the leading female yet again, Hazina Barret the other female suffered a puncture on the downward journey. Apart from the seniors and junior riders, the other categories turned back at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Bridge and finished at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The Honourable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony was on hand to deliver remarks and assist with the presentation of prizes. In his remarks Dr. Anthony noted his pleasure at the turnout of riders for the event organised by the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Committee in association with the People’s Progressive Party in memory of the Late President Cheddi Jagan (March 22, 1918 – March 6, 1997).
The gathering was informed by the Minister that there were some additions to this year’s event; the rider winning all three legs will be presented the attractive Cheddi Jagan Memorial overall trophy, while the rider to win three consecutive years will keep the trophy.
The organisers he said will also honour those riders who have participated in the race for the past ten (10) years.
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