– Hinds takes final leg from Linden to Georgetown
By Avenash Ramzan
cousin after his success on Sunday
Linden’s Orville Hinds rode brilliantly to win the final leg from Linden to Georgetown, but could not prevent Raynauth Jeffrey of Team Coco from emerging with overall top honours when the seventh annual “Ride for Life” five-stage cycling meeting concluded on Sunday on Homestretch Avenue.
The final stage, which attracted 32 starters, was won by Hinds of the newly formed United Bikers Club in a time of two hours, 37 minutes, 58 seconds (02h: 37m: 58s).
It was a remarkable performance from Hinds, who suffered a fall at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, but splendid riding by his teammates brought him back into the contention and eventually allowed him to win the stage.
Team Coco’s Darren Matthews of Barbados and Geron Williams, who won the event in 2009, finished second and third respectively.
Jeffrey, who won the opening stage from Corriverton to New Amsterdam on Thursday last and extended his dominance with victory on the penultimate stage in Essequibo on Saturday, emerged with an overall winning time of 10 hours, 05 minutes, 33 seconds (10h: 05m: 33s).
Jeffrey’s time was far slower than last year’s winning time of nine hours, 46 minutes, 51 seconds (09h: 46m: 51s) by fellow teammate Jaime Ramirez.
Ramirez’s time is incidentally the record for the fivestage.
Roraima Bikers Club’s Alonzo Greaves, who won the inaugural event in 2007, finished second in a time of 10 hours, 06 minutes, 25 seconds (10h: 06m: 25s), followed by Darren Matthews (10h: 06m: 50s), Geron Williams (10h: 07m: 16s), Godfrey Pollydore (10h: 07m: 08s), Orville Hinds (10h: 08m: 25s), Paul DeNobrega (10h: 08m: 56s), Robin Persaud (10h: 09m: 34s), Jaime Ramirez (10h: 09m: 42s) and Hamzah Eastman ( 0h: 09m: 56s) in that order.
Linden’s Eastman, who rides for United Bikers Club, copped the Junior category, ahead of Shaquille Agard and Akeem Arthur, while the evergreen Raymond Newton won the Veteran’s division, leaving Junior Niles, who won the overall five-stage title in 2008, and Ralph Williams to settle for second and third positions respectively.
Naomi Singh was the lone female who competed in the gruelling 266-mile road race, and she was duly recognised by Sport Ministry Dr Frank Anthony, who presented three special prizes on his personal behalf. The other two went to up and coming rider Kravitz Jeffrey of Linden for promise he has shown and United Bikers Club for their exceptional teamwork during the fivestage.
Stage two from Rosignol to Georgetown was won by Darren Matthews, while stage three from Wales to Parika was won by Robin Persaud of Guyana.
Successful race
Delivering feature remarks at the closing ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, Dr Anthony lauded all the stakeholders for putting together yet another successful race.
The race was sponsored by the Sport Ministry with support from the Health Ministry, the Guyana Cycling Federation and the National Sports Commission.
