… Niles wins back-to-back Vets category in two days

BERBICE cyclist Romello Crawford took advantage of home turf to win the fourth edition of the Wilbert Benjamin Sports Store’s 50-mile cycle road race in Berbice on Monday.
The event which started in front of the Benjamin’s Sports Store located at Courtland Village, Corentyne, Berbice saw a total of 58 participants in the various categories vie for top honours in their respective categories.
According to reports, after being sent on their way, there was a jostle for positions and soon after that, Geron Williams, Jamal John and Silvio Inniss broke away and reached the turn-back point at Number 51 Village, Corentyne unchallenged.
However, shortly after, the chasing pack closed in on the trio who were eventually joined by Crawford, Paul DeNobrega, Hamza Eastman, Shaquille Agard and Andrew Hicks.
The bunch stayed together until there was approximately 200 metres remaining to the finish line.
Crawford jumped the bunch but was followed by DeNobrega and Eastman and in the end, Crawford stopped the clock at one hour 54 minutes 29 seconds and was followed past the line by DeNobrega and Eastman in that order. Williams, Agard, Hicks, John, Inniss, Stephano Husbands and Mark Harris occupied the other positions..
John won five of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs while Inniss, Eastman and Williams won one each. Junior Niles, who one day earlier had won the second leg (veterans) of the Dr Cheddi Jagan 50-mile road race in West Demerara, secured back-to-back 50-mile victories by winning Monday’s Benjamin Sports Store veterans’ category ahead of Ian Jackson, Jaikarran Sukhai, Paul Choo-Wee-Nam and Ralph Williams respectively.
Zaman Khan was first in the juveniles’ category. Second was Corwin Collins.
The 12-14 years age group race, David Dick was first. Second was Jamar Helliger and finishing third was Michael Holder.
Ozia McAulay won the mountain bike event ahead of Keon Thomas, Julio Melville and Michael Holder respectively.
On the distaff side, Deance Welch won the category ahead of Shenika Teixeira and Nyonza Poyer respectively.
The females, mountain bikers and the 12-14 riders all left the starting point but turned back at the University of Guyana, Tain, Berbice.
The event was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice.