BOTH Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Health (MOH) Dr Leslie Ramsammy, along with MCY&S Permanent Secretary Alfred King and Director of Sport Neil Kumar, expressed their pleasure at the hosting of the fourth ‘Ride for Life’ which culminated yesterday. Delivering brief remarks at the presentation ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre, all the officials congratulated the cyclists for making the event a memorable one, especially the Miami-based Team Coco’s whose rider Antonio Quintero carted off the top prize of US$1 000 after completing the 266-mile course in a record time of 10:18.26 secs.
Such was the pace of the race dictated by Team Coco’s that the first 33 finishers completed the distance within the time set by last year’s champion Geron Williams of Continental Cycle Club, shaving a whopping 12:25 secs off Williams’ time, which was also a record time.
Kumar chaired the proceedings and wasted little or no opportunity in expressing his pleasure at seeing another successful event completed – one he described as spectacular and great.
“Certainly, this year’s event was a spectacular activity. Apart from being a great success, wherein our Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony’s challenge to have a record time at the completion was adhered to by you the cyclists.
Seven clubs and 16 overseas cyclists formed a part of this year’s event, with riders coming from as far as Miami, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname to compete and had it not been for the devastating storm Tomas, we would have seen cyclists from Barbados as well, making it a truly international flavoured event.”
He added; “It was a success as all who were a part of the organising committee, including both ministers, did their best to ensure same. All the i’s and t’s were dotted and crossed and with the overwhelming support from the Guyana Cycling Federation and you the cyclists, what else can we ask for? I wish to congratulate all the stakeholders who made this year’s event a truly successful one.”
King took his time at the microphone to highlight the seriousness of the event that is shared by both the MCY&S and the MOH, as they seek to get over to the public, the way to a healthy lifestyle, using the event as a medium.
“Given the MCY&S’s involvement in this event, backed by the strong support from the MOH, coupled with the level of competition, I believe the GCF should move to the International Cycling Union (ICU) and make a petition to have this event recognised as a yearly event on their calendar.
Not only will it help place Guyana on the map of cycling, but at the same time attract more international cyclists to these shores and with both ministries looking to spread the word of a healthy lifestyle to the public, the use of this event as a medium to do so is not bad,” stated King.
Following King to the podium was president of the GCF, Hector Edwards, who, being a former cyclist, highlighted the lessons being taught by Team Coco’s to the other local competitors, while highlighting the efforts of Aubrey Gordon and Bruce Camacho, two overseas-based Guyanese who returned home to compete in the event.
“This race will certainly help to improve cycling, and it is my hope that the local cyclists have learnt from the overseas competitors, and they (locals) will grow from strength to strength,” Edwards remarked.
Dr Ramsammy said the participation of cyclists from Miami-based Team Coco, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and local riders residing in Anguilla, has lifted the profile of the event and called on the foreign competitors to invite their friends to compete next year.
“All the elements of a great international event are in place. Together let’s build this to become the premier cycling event in the Caribbean and with the participation of the foreign teams this year, we are seeing the success we visualised when we commenced this race three years ago.
Dr Ramsammy took the opportunity to notify the cyclists and officials gathered that funding for the event has been guaranteed until 2015 so they need not worry, while the organisers will begin to look for another sponsor before the present one expires.
Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony echoed the sentiments of his colleague.
“We’re striving for excellence and I must say that this was a quality event this year. We want to urge the overseas riders to not just come back next year, but bring along more foreign riders so that we can make this a truly international event.”
Apart from the regular awards, special prizes were presented to Ricky Kissoon and Mark Lewis (for exceptional riding during Stages Two and Four respectively), Walter Grant- Stuart (differently-able athlete) and 63-year-old Monty Parris (the oldest rider to complete all five stages).
The feature cycling event on the local calendar was a collaborative effort of the Sport and Health ministries, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, and the Guyana Cycling Federation.
The objectives of the four-day event were to increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among participants and the general public, and to increase HIV/AIDS activism and volunteerism among the riders, and to inspire them to become ambassadors in the fight against HIV/ AIDS.
The cyclists were trained as Peer Educators before the race, while information on HIV/AIDS was disseminated to spectators in the communities through which the race passed.
Additionally, there were public outreaches, while Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Peer Educators engaged members of the public on HIV/AIDS communication activities. As a show of gesture, the cyclists, led by Junior Niles and Kennard Lovell, handed over an undisclosed sum of cash to 52-year-old Daphne Paton, who is the caretaker of the Amerindian Hostel in Suddie.
According to both Niles and Lovell, it’s their own way of saying thanks for the kind hospitality they received while being housed at the venue before the commencement of the fourth stage which ran from Supenaam to Charity and back to Suddie for the finish. The sum handed over was a collection from the cyclists and cycle enthusiasts.