Raynauth Jeffery works magic to take top spot in Cheddi Jagan cycle road race

Mar 04, 2013 Sports

By Samuel Whyte
Top rider Raynauth “Obeah man” Jeffery don his riding gear, mounted his bike to successfully defend his title to take the 16th edition of the annual 50-mile Cheddi Jagan cycle road race which was held yesterday in the ancient county of Berbice.

The lead bunch powers through during the Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycle race yesterday.

Jeffery in his pursuit rode home in a time of 2hrs: 13 minutes and 26 seconds, eclipsing his last year time of 2: 23minutes and 29 seconds by more than 10 minutes to hold off a top class field to take top honours to take his second hold on the trophy which will go to the first rider to win the event three consecutive times.
Some 60 riders including four females took to the starting line, the largest field to have assembled for the race since it began. The riders were sent on their way from in front of the PPP Office at Main and Charlotte Street, New Amsterdam.
The event was off to a fast start and not too long after seven cyclists made their move in a break away at Palmyra. The lead group was further reduced to five and two were dropped.
Jeffery, Enzo Matthews, Geron Williams, John Charles and Berbician Wasim Gafoor made an early break as the cyclists hit the long No19 straight road. The pace was intense and as the picked up the chasing bunch was being separated into smaller packs.
The chasing pack of Paul Choo-We-nam, Raul Leal, Paul DeNobrega, Orville Hinds, Alonzo Greaves and Robin Persaud connected with the front riders at Aucklyne. Charles was then dropped at NO36 and the cyclists continued their battle with rider after rider attempting to breakaway.
At Eversham, Jeffery, Hinds and DeNobrega made a successful break from the lead bunch and opened a sizable gap which they maintained throughout the upward journey to No 55 village.
The three men continued their battle on the downward journey and looked unchallenged up to a point. However the chasing pack closed in. They eventually caught up with the trio around Whim. But as soon as the pack caught up with the front riders Jeffery decided to make a go for it and was not caught after that, riding away to win by about 500 meters.
There was a ding don battle for the other places with Enzo Mathews riding home second, Alonzo Greaves third, Robin Persaud fourth, Geron Williams Fifth and Paul DeNobrega sixth.
The top three juniors were Ray Leal, Montel Anthony and Andrea Abdul.
The veteran segment was taken by Kenneth Lovell ahead of Wilbert Benjamin and Robin Williams. Lindener Hazina Barret beat off the challenge of Naomi Singh to win the female segment of the race as Marica Dick got into a tangle early and was forced out of contention.
The top upright cyclists were McCaulay who won from Ulio Melville and Stephen Husbands. The juniors’ upright, veteran and females turned back at Hogstyle on the Corentyne Coast.
The sprint point prizes were shared by Jeffery and DeNobrega with two each, while Leal, Charles, Williams and Hinds rode away with one apiece.
Two more events are also expected to be held later in the month in observance of Dr Jagan’s life.