Williams, DeNobrega, Derouche, Shaw & Naiomi Singh are category winners

Jul 02, 2012 Sports

Third Seven Seas/Dr. Chase 50-Mile Cycle Road Race

By Franklin Wilson
A hectic weekend for Guyana’s cyclists continued yesterday on the West Demerara when the Third Annual Seven Seas / Dr. Chase 50 Mile Road Race was contested.

Close Finish!!! Geron Williams (2nd left) digs deep to pip Robin Persaud (left) top the line to win this exciting race. Paul DeNobrega (2nd right), Raul Leal (3rd right), Michael Anthony (right) and Orville Hinds (4th right) are the other riders involved in the top six placing. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Emerging as the overall winner was Geron Williams who recently returned from a yet another stint in the United States, the lean looking Williams won an exciting sprint to the line from Robin Persaud, Paul DeNobrega, Raul Leal, Michael Anthony and Orville Hinds (National Senior champion) in that order.
In what was the most exciting finish to a road race in recent times, the junior riders continues to maintain an admirable level of consistency as they featured in three of the top six spots.
DeNobrega, Leal and Anthony placing first to third in the junior category. Yet again, the top female was Naiomi Singh who continues to out maneuver Marica Dick of Berbice who placed 2nd and Linden’s Hazina Barrett.
Yesterday’s event was very competitive for the most part as the riders were together on the upward journey of the race which started at the Wales Police Station on the West Bank, proceeded to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.
On the downward journey, Williams, Alonzo Greaves, Persaud, Raynauth Jeffrey (National Junior champion), DeNobrega, Leal, Hinds, Sean Alves, Rastaff O’Selmo, Mark Lewis and Anthony separated themselves from the main pack at Windsor Forest, the rest is now history.
Emerging as the top upright cyclist was Walter Derouche who took the win from Hamza Eastman and Keon Thomas in another sprint home.
Even the veteran segment of yesterday’s event saw another gripping finish; Talim Shaw took the number one spot, crossing the line ahead of Kennard Lovell and Keith Fernandes.
The veterans, upright and female riders turned back at the Uitvlugt Community centre and returned to the finish line.
Representatives of the sponsors, Ms. Karen Connell (Seven Seas) and Mahesh Itwaru (Dr. Chase) were on hand to witness the end of the senior race and also assist with eth distribution of prizes.
Ms. Connell in remarks complimented the 60 competitors who made the race a successful venture. She lauded the high level of camaraderie that was displayed while noting that the products which Geddes Grant decided to associate with the event contributes to good health and vitality, traits which should be high on the list of athletes.
Itwaru thanked the riders for coming out in such numbers while the organiser (Hassan Mohamed) and his team were also lauded for the work they put in also.
The Guyana Police Force, West Demerara ranks were also complimented for the high level of control and professionalism they displayed throughout the event.
Riders will be out in their numbers today again when the 9th annual NAMILCO / Wheat Up 65 Miles Road Race in observance CARICOM Day is held on the East Bank and Linden Soesdyke Highway. Race time today is 08:00hrs from the National Milling Company, Eccles (Flour Mill Road).