– Mark Lewis wins 35-lap Schoolboys and Invitational race
BY AVENASH RAMZAN
The various category winners display their trophies and Seven Seas hampers. Geddes Grant and cycling officials also share the moment
Linden’s cycling strength was on display on August 20 when the eighth annual Seven Seas 11-race programme was staged on the inner circuit of the National Park. Mark Lewis won the feature 35-lap Schoolboys and Invitational race, while his fellow Lindeners Hazina Barrett, Lancelot Rose, and Delius Richardson won their respective categories.
Lewis outperformed his more illustrious counterparts to win his first 35-lap race at the venue.
He finished in a time of one hour, 16 minutes, 41.91 seconds (01h:16m:41.91s), beating off the challenge of a large field of 42, comprising all the leading local riders.
The experienced Junior Niles copped seven of the eight prime prizes on his way to the runner-up spot, while defending champion Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams ended third, and Raymond Newton, Robin Persaud, and John Charles rounded off the top six in that order. Lear Nunes won the other prime prize.
Lewis’s performance crowned an excellent day for riders from the mining town, with Barrett taking top honours in the opening race of the day – the 12-14 Open. She was the first to the line ahead of Naomi Singh and Marica Dick in that order.
Rose won the Veterans Over-50 race, with Wilfred Thom and Omar McDougal finishing in second and third spots respectively. Richardson rode away with top honours in the Juveniles’ event, with fellow Lindener Shaquille Agard in second and Hector Edwards III in third position.
In the Veterans Under-50 event, Niles took the top podium spot with Kennard Lovell in second and Virgil Jones third. Maurice Fagundes won the Veterans Over-60 category, with Neville Atwell and Harry Lall ending in second and third positions respectively.
Mario King was the top rider in the Uprights race, while Jamal Arthur (BMX 6-9), Yannick La Rose (BMX 9- 12), and Adrian Sharma (BMX 12-14 and Open) won their respective divisions.
At the presentation ceremony which followed, national cycling coach and chief organiser of the day’s activities, Hassan Mohamed, thanked Geddes Grant and Seven Seas for their sponsorship of the event for the eighth year in succession.
He said that the aim of having the event at this time is to coincide with the ongoing 35th annual ‘Teach Them Young’ cycling programme, which is being hosted at the National Park. “This is an opportunity for the young riders of the programme to exhibit what they have learnt so far,” Mohamed explained.
Product Specialist at Geddes Grant, Ms Karen Connell, said her company is proud to support cycling since it provides them with an avenue to promote healthy living. She said Geddes Grant and Seven Seas have numerous products which can aid athletes’ development.
All the participating riders were presented with Seven Seas hampers.
