Andre “Padlock” Green upsets field to take Grenville Felix memorial open cycle race

Aug 09, 2016 Sports

Andre “Padlock” Green back in the saddles after a layoff due to injuries continued his winning ways as he made good use of home conditions as he won the third annual Grenville Felix memorial open 50-miles cycle event.
The event, which was held last Sunday, began in front of his former residence at Betsy Ground with a flying start. However, the actual race started in front of Felix’s Residence at Canefield East Canje, Berbice where they were given the flag. They proceeded to Nand Persaud and Company Limited at No36 Corentyne before turning back to finish in front of his Canefield Residence.
A group of seven riders showed their intentions early and broke away at the start of the No19 Road straight. The leading bunch which included Green, Walter Grant Stuart, Jebon Crawford, Raphael Leung, Michael Anthony, Sylvio Inniss and Deoraj Garbarran took charge and was never caught. In fact due to the pace Garbarran was dropped as the remaining six riders continued to battle for top positions until they reached the turn back point.
Setting a blistering pace on the down ward journey, Green along with Grant Stuart and Crawford eventually opened a gap on the rest of the pack. The three did not let up as they continued their “ding down” battle which ended in a three man sprint home in a grueling battle to the finishing line. The one handed Grant Stuart ended second with Crawford third. Leung, Anthony and Inniss had their own tussle for fourth, fifth and sixth, while Shaqueel Agard edged out Andrew Hicks in a tight sprint home for seventh and eight positions.
The race started around 14:45 in the afternoon with some twenty cyclists taking to the road in their quest to be crowned champions and have their name etched on the Grenville Felix lien trophy.
Hicks was the first junior to across the finishing line with Leung and Garbarran second and third. Syborne Fernandes was the first among the veterans with Steve Ramsuchit occupying second, Shenica Teixeira once again won from Withney Poyer in the female category.
Fernandes was also the first rider from the FACC to finish the event. The female cyclists rode from the No1 Road area to the finish line.
The eight sprint point prizes saw Green taking three, Garbarran and Crawford two each, while there was one for Inniss.
The cyclists were sent on their way by Felix’s Son Rawle Felix.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, relative of the late Grenville Felix, Claville Francis congratulated the winners while thanking all who participated. The family decided to continue the tradition and will do so for a long time.
Ms. Francis was very impressed with the performance of the one armed Grant Stuart. She said that Grant Stuart, who is a fireman, performance was unbelievable. She mentioned that the family will try their best to assist him when they return overseas. She however presented him with a sum of US dollars as a start.
Rawle Felix stated that the event will continue in the foreseeable future as a tribute to their father. He stated that the family will make it bigger and better in the years to come.
The event, which is staged in collaboration with the Flying Ace Cycle Club, was first held in 2012 and then in 2013 on Felix birthday. It was changed to a memorial event in 2013 after he died. Felix was one of the first local engineers trained by GuySuCo and worked in Guyana the Caribbean and other parts of the world. He was 96 when he passed away.
On the occasions when the race was held as a birthday anniversary race it was for Berbice cyclists only. Andrew Hicks rode away with the first edition with Neil Reece etching his name on the winner’s board in the second edition.
Mario King won the first open event.
(Samuel Whyte)

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