Overseas based Guyanese cyclist sponsors season opening cycle race Sunday in Berbice

Jan 03, 2013 Sports

Overseas based Guyanese and a former national cycling champion Wilbert Benjamin continues to show benevolence to his home county. Benjamin will on Sunday 6th January give cyclists an opportunity to start the cycling season early when he sponsors a national open cycle road race in Berbice.

Former national Cycling Champion Wilbert Benjamin (left) presents the sponsorship amount to FACC Captain Neil Reece at his store, while Randolph Roberts look on.

Back home on holiday, Benjamin a former member of the Flying Ace Cycle Club, is also in the process of opening a sports store “Benjamin Sports” at his home village of Fyrish Corentyne, Berbice.
The race, which is open to cyclists through Guyana, which will be the first for the year for the year organized by the Flying Ace Cycle Club and is also the first in the country, will be held as the season opener. The 40 miles event will pedal off from Fyrish Village in front of the store and proceed to NO43 Bridge before returning to its place of origin.
There will be prizes for the first six finishers, the top two juniors and the first two females to cross the finishing line, while there will also be eight sprint point prizes up for grabs. The organizers are also pondering on presenting special incentives for the Flying Ace club riders.
Benjamin a native of Berbice was a former national cyclist who represented Guyana at both the junior and senior levels including the Pan Am and the Texaco games. In the junior division he was on the bike at Inter Guiana games among other sojourns. He was also a former school and junior champion who won the national school championship on three consecutive occasions. He still rides in his adopted home land of Canada where he also operates sports stores.
Benjamin along with his older brother Gary, who still rides in the veteran category, made a potent combination for Berbice.  He returns home on a regular basis and would assist his club and teams in whatever way possible including sponsorship of races. He also recently assisted national female cyclist Marica Dick with cycling equipment.
Benjamin in brief remarks stated that he always wanted to do something for his home country and people who helped him. He stated that it is his way of giving back to his country, club, village and sports that nurtured him and helped in his development. He will always remember where he came from.
Randolph Roberts, who is also Coach of the Flying Ace Club, expressed gratitude on behalf of the club and wished Benjamin success in the future.  He stated that more businesspersons should take a page out of Benjamin’s book and come forward and assist. He also expressed the hope that other former cyclists, especially those overseas, should also come forward and do something tangible especially to assist the youths.
All the top cyclists in the country are expected to participate. The race will be coordinated by Roberts.  (Samuel Whyte)