HAMZA Eastman stopped the clock at one hour 47 minutes 45 seconds in winning the annual Irene Benjamin 75th birth anniversary 60-mile cycle road race which was staged on Saturday and organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice.

Eastman outfoxed a field of 36 riders who wheeled off from outside Benjamin’s Sports Shop at Fyrish, Berbice and after bridging several attempted breaks on the upward journey to Number 66 Village, Corentyne, he rode across the finish line at the place of origin of the event.
According to reports, on the upward journey, Alanzo Greaves and Robin Persaud jumped the pack and opened a sizeable lead but they were caught.
The major break occurred from the University of Guyana Campus, Tain, Berbice where Persaud, Raynauth Jeffrey, Greaves, Holder, Marlon Williams and Stephano Husbands went out and started to work in tandem to extend the lead over the peleton.
Nearing the finish, Paul DeNobrega attacked the chasing pack and Eastman joined in pursuit, along with Michael Anthony, and connected to the leading bunch. Eastman saw that a cat-and-mouse game was going on and took advantage of it as he stormed past the bunch and won ahead of Williams, De Nobrega, Husbands, Jeffrey and Persaud respectively.
Husbands was adjudged the winner of the junior category ahead of Anthony and Jamal John in that order while Junior Niles won the veterans category ahead of Jaikaran Sookhai. Third was Wilbert Benjamin.
The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done by Mrs Irene Benjamin.