SEVENTEEN (17) year old Continental Cycle Club’s (CCC) Raynauth Jeffrey’s consistency paid off handsomely yesterday, when he rode away with the 15th Annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycle road race in a time of 2.23:29.
After being sent on their way for the 55miles journey which saw them pedaling from Freedom House to Number 55 and back to Baboo John, Jeffrey, Raymond Newton and defending champion Junior Niles moved to front at Number Two village.
They opened a lead of close to 1500metres over the chasing peloton which included Olympic hopefuls Alonso Greaves and Geron Williams, Robin Persaud, Warren Mc Kay, Enzo Matthews and Walter Grant-Stuart.
As they approached the long winding and popularly known 19 Road, the trio increased their lead while Grant-Stuart, Matthews, Paul De Nobrega and Eric Sankar, broke away from the peloton.
The trio in front worked in tandem to maintain their lead over the quartet who lost Grant-Stuart after he collided with a dog and was thrown off the saddle as they approached the Port Mourant Market.
He regained his composure and managed to catch up with Matthews, De Nobrega and Sankar, who later reconnected with the front trio as they entered the Number 45 Village, while the chasing peloton reconnected with the front runners shortly after.
As they made the turn for the downward journey, Mc Kay and Jeffrey went to the front and was later joined by Grant-Stuart, Greaves, Persaud, Williams and Raul Leal, another junior cyclists, at Cromarty.
Even though they were several breaks made during the journey to the finish line, same was short lived as the peloton worked overtime to ensure the move made by Niles, Newton and Jeffrey, was not repeated taking into consideration the shortened course for the downward journey.
With just under 200 metres to go, Jeffrey caught the pack by surprise and made a move to front and despite the valiant efforts of Mc Kay, managed to steal the win and in the process, successfully defended the junior category he had won last year as well.
Persaud edged Greaves for third position, while Niles and Williams completed the top six who all received cash prizes and a trophy, with Jeffrey picking up three sprint prizes, Mc Kay two and Niles, Newton and Williams one each.
Kennard Lovell took the Veteran’s category from Mark Spencer and Virgil Jones, Naomi Singh the female category from Marica Dick who suffered a puncture, Nigel Jacobs the Upright category from Garfield Lorimar, while Leal and De Nobrega finished second and third behind Jeffrey in the junior category.
Prior to the start and even at the prize giving ceremony of the event which was sponsored by BK International, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and Regional Chairman of Region Six David Armogan lauded the cyclists who participated in the event.
According to Dr. Anthony, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in their 2011 elections manifesto, promised to fulfil the dream of constructing a cycle velodrome and with the development of the sport so far, same will be a reality in the not too distant future.
Dr. Anthony further told his audience gathered at the Memorial Site for the presentation ceremony, that this year’s cycling programme which continues on Sunday with the 40 mile race on the West Bank of Demerara, will see the stages’ winners receiving a replica trophy.
“We want to encourage more participation for this event, so the winners of the three races will receive a replica cup and once you successfully defend same three years in a row, you will be given the Cheddi Jagan Memorial trophy.”
Presidential Advisor Navin Chandrapaul also lauded the cyclists who participated in the day’s event, saying that a Certificate of Participation will be issued to all those who competed in the three races this year.
The third and final race will take place in Region Two on Sunday 25th March, commencing at Supenaam and proceeding to Charity and back to Suddie for the finish, while Sunday’s race will take place from the Demerara Harbour Bridge, proceed to Bushy Park and back to the place of origin for the finish.