–Cox calls for cycling velodrome
KAIETEUR Cycle Club’s Eric Sankar clocked a time of 1:24:42 to easily ride away with the eighth annual Hand-in-Hand sponsored cycle programme around the inner circuit of the National Park yesterday, following which Howard Cox Fire Manager/Director of Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, called on the powers that be to make a cycling velodrome a reality.
In his congratulatory speech to the participating cyclists, Cox called for the construction of a cycle velodrome, while stating he has been hearing of same being in the making since 1958 or there about.
“First of all, let me say congratulations to the cyclists who participated in today’s programme to make it the success it was and to the coordinator Hassan Mohammed, you don’t have to worry about Hand-in-Hand’s participation in the years ahead, as we will be maintaining our relationship with you for this race.
However, I must say and we were discussing it earlier during the final race, that cycling certainly needs better facilities. Since 1958 or there about, I have been hearing about the construction of a cycling velodrome, which is yet to materialize,” stated Cox.
He added, “Swimming came along and they got their Olympic size pool which is about to be completed and I hope the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) can one day have a happy smile on their face when told of the plans to construct their velodrome, as it is evident that same is badly needed.”
Warren ‘40’ Mc Kay, last year’s winner Robin Persaud, Alex Mendes, Enzo Matthews and Kurt La Rose rounded off the top six finishers behind Sankar, with Matthews (4), Mc Kay (2) and Persaud and Kennard Lovell one each, taking away the eight sprint prizes up for grabs in the event that saw 15 cyclists facing the starter and only seven completing the journey.
In the BMX 6-9 age group, Keon Harris took the top position from Rashidi Ceres and Philbert Walters respectively, while Lovell won the Veteran’s Under-50 category from Davindra Ramnarine and Virgil Jones.
The Veteran’s Over-50 category was won by Kirkwood Kellman with Courtney Thomas and Lancelot Rose completing the top three even as Kurt La Rose took the Juvenile event from Shahid Zaiboon and Brandon Baker and Ozia Mc Aulay the Upright category from Richard Charles and Mario King respectively.
The BMX 12-14 category was won by Julius Melville over Darius Ramsammy and Adrian Sharma, with Ramsammy returning to take the BMX Open event from Samuel Dick and Alonzo Ambrose while Naomi Singh took the female race from Linden’s Golyn Debideen.
As is customary with the sponsors over the years, three junior cyclists would be the recipients of a BMX bicycle and helmet and this year, Ramsammy, Stephon Lovell and Keon Harris were the lucky recipients of same.