-Bharrat, Fernandes and Crawford also win
IF ANYONE had told Orville Hinds of Linden, he would have came out on top of the lot in this year’s fourth annual Digicel ‘Cancer Awareness Ride’ yesterday morning, after he waited for his training buddy Michael Anthony he got a puncture midway through the 65 miles course, he would have laughed at them without hesitation.However, the former Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club (LBFCC) and Team United cyclists defied the odds despite putting in a humanitarian and sportsmanlike effort, to stop the clock at 2h. 38mins:45secs to take the top prize of $250,000, a trophy and the Digicel ‘Cancer Awareness’ yellow jersey.
Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega, Robin Persaud, Andre Greene, Juban Crawford and Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, rounded off the top six paying positions behind Hinds in a race that was highly competitive from the starting point at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice to the finish line on Carifesta Avenue.
LBFCC had much reason to smile, for not only did they organize the event which was incident free, but they also saw the defending female champion Hazina Bharrat, who is presently at Teacher’s College in Linden, take a break from her academic studies to successfully defend her title won last year.
She crossed the line at 1h. 28m: 19secs to take the female category from Berbice’s Marica Dick and Christina Mathieson, while Stephen Fernandes was declared the Veteran’s category champion after he crossed the line ahead of Jaikarran Sukhai and Talim Shaw.
By virtue of finishing fourth, Greene, also topped the junior category ahead of Raul Leal and Anthony, while Romello Crawford was the top Juvenile rider, taking that position from Andrew Hicks and Jornell Yearwood respectively.
The seniors and juniors were sent on their way for their 65 miles journey by Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope and immediately Roraima Bikers Club’s Alanzo Greaves made a move to the front of the 21 man peloton, enjoying a lead of 250metres as he warmed up his legs.
He was caught at Bath Settlement by the chasing peloton who stayed together until Greaves, DeNobrega, Greene and Geron Williams made their move to the front and surged ahead, but lack of cooperation saw them being wheeled in as they approached Fort Wellington.
As they stayed together for most of the race, five of the first six finishers minus Marlon Williams thought they had enough and surged ahead at Belvedere, West Coast Berbice, a move that was not attended to by the peloton, which also included two Surinamese riders who enjoyed the cat and mouse game that ensued amongst their Guyanese counterparts.
Anthony suffered a flat back wheel and in a show of great teamwork, saw Hinds waiting on him as he conducted the wheel change, then paced him back to the peloton and later to the front of same as the lead peloton looked to increase their lead.
The gap was over 2500metres and counting with every turn of the gear wheel, as those at the back which included Greaves, Marlon and Geron Williams, Albert Philander and Leal were content on conducting a battle of their own instead of challenging the front runners.
With the finish line in sight and asked to complete two laps around the outer circuit of the National Park, Hinds decided to make the top prize money his target and moved away from the field, opening a lead of 125metres as he crossed the finish line the first time and increased same by 25 for the second time.
He was all alone when he took the chequered flag, while Persaud relaxed and handed the second place purse of $200,000 and a trophy to DeNobrega, saying after ‘ he worked for it why take it from him” while Persaud himself took the third place prize of $150,000 and trophy.
Greene copped $80,000, Crawford $50,000 and ‘Fishy’ Williams $20,000 to round off the top six paying positions, while Greene pocketed another $80,000 for finishing in the top spot for Juniors, with Leal and Anthony receiving $50,000 and $30,000 respectively, while they all received trophies as well.
In the Veteran’s category, Fernandes took home $50,000 and Sukhai $30,000 with trophies even as the top three juvenile finishers along with Montgomery Parris (Oldest Competitor) and Whitney Boyer (Youngest Competitor) all receive trophies for their efforts.
Caption
All winners in a row! From Left: CEO of Digicel Gregory Dean, Stephen Fernandes, Orville Hinds, Hazina Bharrat, Andre Greene and Marketing Director of Digicel Jacqueline James strikes a pose following the presentation of prizes.
Yes I did it! The smile on the face of Orville Hinds says it all, as he crosses the finish line alone to take the top prize in this year’s Digicel ‘Cancer Awareness Ride’.

(By Calvin Roberts)