The event is the biggest track and field meet in the country, where for athletes, especially the ones locally based; it’s their biggest payday. 

But the present condition of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground has raised some concerns about the safety of the athletes.
Usually, the topic for the day would be which athlete will come out on top, but this time around, lovers of track and field debated whether the event should continue to be held under the present condition or should be moved to the recently built Track and Field Facility at Leonora.
Those discussions were certainly not only limited to people who attended the games, but also drew the attention of many who frequent the social network, especially Facebook.

Dianne Munroe
As a former athlete who competed at the MSC, I’d say that the entire complex needs renovation since back then. Yes, Edison Jefford and Mr Colin) Boyce had been doing great in keeping track and field alive in Guyana and in order for them to continue, give them a new facility.
But honestly, Guyana needs more than one track. Every region should have at least three. Demerara alone needs about 10. The issue that I have with Guyana is that we just let our facilities and structures go. Let’s work on getting track around the place. Let’s get MSC ground back up; it’s a great place for athletics.
Photo Name: Dianne

Leonard Caleb

They shouldn’t have even been a facility like that at Leonora. Most of the athletes that were at the event on Sunday were from either Linden or Georgetown, and to take another event from Linden like others (Mash, Football) would be another loss for the community and promoters. Athletes would be happy to go there because of their safety but promoters would lose out. A similar facility should be built in Linden because it would cost more to renovate the MSC.
Photo Name: Caleb

Ryan Stephney

I think they should build a facility like the one in Leonora because let’s, face it that’s a $2M facility with inflated costs so it would be better to build it in Linden where there is actually a need for one. And, since Kashif and Shanghai left Lindeners hanging, at least they can get this back. Another advantage of having it in Linden is the support … which I love btw.
Photo Name: Ryan

James Bond
I spent the weekend in Linden to support the Boyce and Jefford Classic not only as a sponsor of Guyana’s premier athletics event but also to support the endeavours and vision of Jefford and Boyce to expose local talent by providing a laboratory for testing against international and local elements and to witness firsthand the impact this event has on the Linden economy.
Strangely enough everyone I spoke to said the Boyce-Jefford Classic should be moved to Leonora. First the rain was a factor and secondly Leonora has a facility with a track built to International/Olympic specifications.
It was the unanimous view that the Boyce-Jefford Classic has outgrown the MSC. I also enquired of the organisers of the Jefford-Boyce Classic about Government funding and the answer was NONE, although they did mention that they wrote to the Government requesting funding but … The organisers were miffed that the Port Mourant Horse Racing Meet ‘Guyana Cup’ held on the same day as their event, however, received Government funds to the whopping tune of $14M.
I do not believe the amount is factual but I may be inclined to believe that some funding may have been given to the organisers of the Horse Race Meet.
The organisers were also extremely disappointed that not a single Government official attended the Jefford-Boyce Classic although official invitations were sent but said same Government officials were at the Port Mourant Horse Race Meet held on the same day as the Jefford-Boyce Classic.
I hold no personal interest in Jefford-Boyce Classic except as a financial sponsor and it’s on this basis I make the comments aforementioned and the ones below.
Personally I would like to make a greater sponsorship next year and like this year travel again to the mining town and spend the weekend.
I also want to see good competition on a track and not a soggy field where I fear the athletes will injure themselves. I don’t want to see the shot putter falling over in a puddle of mud or a sprinter dodging a puddle.
I am of the view that a similar facility that is at Leonora should be built in Linden. This isn’t politics this is practical. Linden has featured and has produced the best Guyana has to offer in athletics. That in 2015 they are still on a mud field is vision-less. Linden needs the Jefford Classic just as it needs the Kashif and Shanghai tournament and still does in my estimation.
All and sundry must admire the grit, determination and vision of Edison Jefford and Colin Boyce and support as well, whether coming from the business community or Government.
I don’t think some people understand that we succeed greatly or partially when we support and help each other. If we are thinking of excellence and nationalism then enterprises such as the Jefford-Boyce Classic must be helped and pushed. I rather help and push men and women instead of horses.
PS. It would be remiss of me not to mention that during a one-day visit to Region 10 on August 7, 2015, Director of Sport Christopher Jones made a pledge while attending the ‘Respect The Game’ Linden Charity Basketball Game that upgrading/modernising the MSC where the Jefford-Boyce Classic is held was part and parcel of his vision.