YESTERDAY ended the first week of the 33rd annual summer `Teach Them Young’ day-camp for cyclists, which is currently taking place at the National Park, and the man at the helm of the exercise is the same man who founded the camp 33 years ago, national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed.

This year’s camp has shown that the interest in cycling has not declined over the years as there are 32 participants who have already shown up in the first week – a number which Mohammed expects to grow over time as a lot of potential participants are taking summer classes and do not have the time to spare.

The camp is for all cyclists but it also places a lot of emphasis on giving instructions to beginners who are instructed in the fundamentals of the sport which include stamina-building exercises, pedalling, bike control, focus, bike-setting techniques and discipline.

Mohammed stated that his efforts are not in vain as the potency of the exercise is evident in the fact that a high percentage of the country’s top cyclists have passed through this training camp.

Names such as Hector Edwards, who is now president of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), and more contemporary competitors such as Alonzo Greaves, Christopher Holder, Warren McKay and Geran Williams have all come under the tutelage of Mohammed at his training camp.

Mohammed was himself a competitive cyclist for 14 years, from 1958 to 1972, and while he was in his prime he gained a scholarship to go and study abroad. It was the fact that he did not have an instructor in his days that fuelled a yearning within him to impart his new-found knowledge.

In 1975 he was appointed the national coach and his need to impart knowledge was manifested in the formation of the camp.

The national coach disclosed that it is the amount of satisfaction that he gets from the fruits of his labour that has kept him going for such a long time.

During the course of the camp’s two months, competitions will be held at four-week intervals to assess the level of growth of the trainees.

Mohammed expressed his gratitude to the National Parks Commission for always rendering the facilities available for cycling activities.