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Tributes pour in for Cycling Pioneer George ‘Speedy’ Binning
Will be laid to rest in Linden tomorrow
Kaieteur News – Tributes are pouring in highlighting the memory of George ‘Speedy’ Binning, a former cyclist who formed the first racing cycling club, Sunjet Wheelers, in Mackenzie, Linden during the 1960s.
He passed away after a brief illness at the Georgetown Public Hospital on March 18, at the age of 74 and will be buried tomorrow (Saturday) at the Christianburg Cemetery in Linden following a church service at the Christ the King Anglican Church at 11.00am on Republic Avenue, Mackenzie.
George Binning
‘Speedy’ as he was well known across Linden and Guyana, initially competed as a cyclist but later would pave the way for cyclists of Linden to become national cyclists.
United States-based former national cyclist Victor Rutherford, who worked in the bauxite town for a period of time, and knew ‘Speedy’ had this to say: “Speedy was an outstanding person, dedicated; but in the latter years you see him with his grey beard and hair. He single handedly promoted the sport where cycling was concerned.
“He was able to form his club Sunjet Wheelers, but after Chef Doc and others came on the scene with the Bauxall Cycle Club, his club became defunct. He was a dedicated man he had connections everywhere he went and because of him the Vibert Rose’s, Joelyn Joseph’s, Ignatius Titus’, Joseph DeAbreus, ‘Troggie’ Lorrimers, Joe Smiths, Gaylen Wiliams’ must all be extremely grateful.”
New York-based former national cyclist Joelyn Joseph recalls seeing the pint size Binning as a cyclist in Mackenzie, as his father took him to see many races. He later became affiliated with the Sunjet Wheelers Club and said ‘Speedy’ was underfunded but got things done for cycling.
Joseph said ‘Speedy’ singlehandedly pushed for the sport in Linden and it was unfortunate when the Bauxall Cycle Club emerged, those cyclists went to the newly formed club.
He also remembers when that the Mackenzie team of Sunjet Wheelers cyclists joined the bauxite ship from Georgetown with Speedy in charge to go to Trinidad for a cycling meet in the early 1970s.
Another former cyclist Lennox Sampson on hearing of Speedy’s death, reminisced: “As the man behind Sunjet wheelers he had no assistance from any one. He did all by himself. When we rode in the first Tour of Guyana, it was under Sunjet Wheelers and he was the only man who showed us how to calculate the gears for riding. He gave us gear charts and such things. He was a very good organizer. Nobody knows how Speedy used to get things done, but he did.”
- Christ the King Anglican Church, George Binning, Georgetown Public Hospital, Speedy, Victor Rutherford
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