NSC director pleased with 3-stage cycling race
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
May 21, 2002
Director of Sports Neil Kumar, yesterday justified his position on inviting former National Sports Commission Three-Stage cycling road race champion Godfrey Pollydore to this year’s event.
Delivering the feature address at yesterday’s presentation ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Kumar told cyclists, club officials and special invitees "one of the good things we did this year was to bring Godfrey (Pollydore) for the race and this in my opinion created the interest among the public. There was a large turn out of spectators on the Corentyne, in Georgetown and East Bank".
Kumar also alluded that the presence of other overseas based Guyanese and the coverage given by the media, created the interest among the public.
"Pollydore’s presence led to a better race. The records of the second and third stages were bettered and I hope the cyclists work harder for next year’s race" Kumar said, adding "I’m calling on the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) to find sponsorship, we need to see the federation put their heads together with the corporate citizen, the (National) Sports Commission and the Ministry (of Culture, Youth and Sports) in staging this event and other such events," Kumar urged.
"Because we helped Pollydore (purchased his ticket to return for the event from Antigua) people are `busing’ me and the (National) Sports Commission NSC, but we need to understand that Pollydore is a good cyclist and if he was at home, he would have ridden better. We need to work as a team for the further development of the game. We need to strengthen the federation for the further development of the sport" Kumar stated.
On a less controversial note, Kumar said he was very happy to know the 3-stage event was a success. "it was one of the better organised races. Go Guyana Run had its problems and had to be cancelled because of the problems on the East Coast of Demerara. I had my doubts that this race would come off, but I had discussions with the race officials and got the assurance that everything will be alright" Kumar said.
He (Kumar) thanked the parents, the media and the traffic department of the Guyana Police Force for their hard work and support to the event. "From the Corentyne to the East Bank and Georgetown, there were lots of people who came out to view the race and cheer the cyclists on" Kumar said.
Race organiser Hassan Mohammed thanked the NSC for sponsoring the event for the 20th year and alluded to the fact that this year, there was the largest turn out - 65 starters - of cyclists ever.
Mohammed also thanked the businesses which contributed to the event.
DDL’s marketing representative Dale Browne lauded Mohammed for staging the event and expressed his company’s pleasure to be associated with the event.
Guyana Cycling Federation president Ernest Seibs endorsed Browne’s compliments and expressed the hope that 100 cyclists compete next year.