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Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle Road Race…Raynauth Jeffrey wins classic; Michael Anthony, Hazina Barrett & Junior Niles also #1
By Franklin Wilson
Team Coco’s Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey worked his magic on a star studded field to race away with the top prize of $250,000 when the Second Annual Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle 80-Mile Road Race was successfully held yesterday.
Bigger Better Win! Raynauth Jeffery raises his hands in triumph, winning comfortably.
With some 30 seniors facing starter’s orders in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden, the scene was set for a classic contest and it unfolded as predicted.
Going on the early break were Jeffrey, Alonzo Greaves, Geron Williams and Rastaff O’Selmo but O’Selmo was not able to keep up with the pace and dropped off 15 miles into the race. Soon after it was Geron Williams who would have been dropped which meant that Jeffrey and Greaves were left all alone as the leaders.
The duo enjoyed the advantage until they entered Coverden on the East Bank where the chasing pack connected with them. They remained together until they entered Diamond where Greaves, Jeffrey, Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, Godfrey Pollydore and Albert Philander made their move and were never caught.
Approaching the final two laps, which was around the outré circuit of the National Park, the group remained together until the start of the penultimate lap where Jeffrey made his move just before Camp Street, the rest is now history. His timing was spot on as the others couldn’t connect, Jeffrey winning with consummate ease to pocket the biggest first prize ever in the sport in Guyana, $250,000.
Jeffrey’s winning time was Three Hours Three Minutes 05.31 Seconds. Closing out the top six positions were Godfrey Pollydore who out sprinted Greaves to the line; Orville Hinds, Geron Williams and Albert Philander.
The leading junior on the day was Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club’s Michael Anthony who took home $60,000. Hamza Eastman had to settle for second and Alanzo Ambrose, third.
Hazina Barrett won an exciting duel against Naomi Singh in the battle for female supremacy. Barrett, also a Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club member, won the 42-Mile race from Spalshmin’s in One Hour 31 Minutes 41 Seconds.
Junior Niles reigned supreme yet again in the Veteran category, crossing the line ahead of Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson and Ralph Williams in One Hour 30 Minutes 42 Seconds.
Both Barrett and Niles collected $50,000 for their efforts. Digicel’s CEO Gregory Dean in brief remarks after the event thanked all the athletes for their efforts in making the race a resounding success.
Dean committed his company to continued sponsorship of the race while noting that next year will be even Bigger and Better.
As promised prior to the race, riders were asked to make a donation in keeping with the focus of the race, ‘Cancer Awareness’ and Digicel had promised to match that amount. A total of $35,000 was raised and Digicel matched that amount, the total will be handed over to the Guyana Cancer Society.
The staff of Digicel will also make a contribution to the Guyana Cancer Society after they held their own contribution campaign.
Dean, Jacqueline James (Head of Marketing), Kevin Kelly (Chief Finance Officer) and Ryan Sinclair (Chief Technical Officer) all assisted with the presentation of the cheques and trophies.
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