Alanzo Greaves wins 17th Cheddi Jagan Mem. Road Race in Berbice

Mar 10, 2014 Sports

By Samuel Whyte
Leading cyclist of the Roraima Bikers Club, Alanzo Greaves in a time of Two hours 7 Minutes 8 Seconds won the 17th edition of the Annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race which was held on Sunday in the Ancient County in a driving finish.

Alanzo Greaves receiving his prize from Minister Anthony.

In so doing, Greaves had enough left in the tank after a competitive race to win by a whisker from Paul De Nobrega in a two way battle to the finish line ahead of a bunch of about 10 riders. Some 62 riders including three 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 the PPP Office, Main and Charlotte Streets, New Amsterdam, proceeded to No. 55 Village before turning back for the finish at Port Mourant Corentyne.
The event was off to a fast start and as the riders approached the No. 19 Public Road, Greaves, Godfrey Pollydore and defending champion Raynauth Jeffery made a break and continue to press forward.
The three cyclists took turns in sharing the work as they aimed to keep the chasing pack at bay.
However, about a mile before the turn back point, the leading trio was caught by the pack of about 20 cyclists.
It was not too long into the downward journey that the group was separated again as Greaves, Geron Williams, Jeffery and Orville Hinds went on the break. The four riders continued to battle on the downward journey and were looking as if they would have been unchallenged but the chasing pack was closing in all along.
They eventually caught up with about one mile from the finishing line. From there on it was a ding dong battle for the finish with Greaves edging home ahead of De Nobrega, Junior Niles, Orvile Hinds, Geron Williams and Delroy Hinds in that order.
The top three juniors were Alanzo Ambrose, Andrew Hicks and Stephano Husbands. The veteran category was taken by Thuran Harris with Jaikarran Sukhai and Wilbert Benjamin following in that order.
Top female rider Naomi Singh won from Tashwanna Doris and Deancie Welch. In the mountain bike category, the top positions went to Clyde Jacobs, Nigel Jacobs and Wayne Nurse in that order.
The juniors, upright, veteran and females cyclists turned back at Hogstyle on the Corentyne Coast.
The sprint point prizes were shared by Pollydore, Orville Hinds and Greaves with two each while Hamza Eastman and Jeffery took one each. Anthony Faria at age 72 received a special prize for being the oldest cyclist on show.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony after the race, Chairman of the Jagan Commemoration Committee, Navin Chandrapal, noted that Dr. Jagan always had an interest in sport and was an advocate of camaraderie maong the people.
Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony noted that Dr. Jagan was serious about health and wellness adding that the staging of the annual race is an appropriate tribute to the former president’s vision of working towards a fit Guyana.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, reflected on Dr. Jagan’s memory, noting that the late founder of the party believed in living healthy.
The first leg of this race was held earlier this month on the West Demerar roadways with Michael Anthony of Team Coco’s winning both the senior and junior titles. The third and final leg will be held in the Cinderella County of Essequibo on March 23.