COMPETITIVE cycling will return to the West Demerara roadways this Sunday when national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed stages the ninth annual Regan Rodrigues Memorial 50-mile race which will pedal off from Wales Police Station at 08:00hrs and proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. The first six finishers will receive prizes, while the top three in the juniors, veteran, mountain bike and female categories will be rewarded. There will be a prize for the top Over-60 veteran rider while eight prime prizes will be up for grabs during the course of the race.
The experienced Robin Persaud is the defending champion of the Open category, having won last year’s event in a time of 1h: 52m: 41.21s, while a new champion will emerge in the junior division since last year’s winner Raynauth Jeffrey has moved up to the senior ranks.
Talim Shaw, Naomi Singh and Walter Isaacs are the defending champions of the veteran, female and veteran Over-60 categories respectively.
The day’s activity is being sponsored by Ricks and Sari Agro Industries Limited, whose staff and family members of the late Rodrigues would assist in the distribution of prizes at the conclusion.
Rodrigues, up to the time of his death on August 4, 2004, was president of the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club and former president of the Guyana Cycle Federation,