Stars of Yesteryear
- Eon D’Ornellas
Stabroek News
July 10, 2002
Racing since he was 13 years of age, he distinguished himself as a persevering and an almost exasperating but very tenacious and determined bike rider, but Cold War politics and South Africa’s Apartheid, proved to be the bitter taste that remains with Eon D’Ornellas to this day.
Born in Alberttown where he resided with his parents and six brothers and sisters, D’Ornellas was good enough to earn spots on teams for two countries - Guyana and Canada - at four Olympic Games. Those being, Munic in 1972, Montreal in 1976, Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984.
According to an article which appeared in a magazine honouring D’Ornellas and other local cyclists that have represented Guyana the world over, one Oscar Wailoo has been quoted as saying “this was the time of Cold War politics and South Africa Apartheid”.
Sadly, politics proved to be the bitter taste of D’Ornellas’ bittersweet cycling career, as it prevented him on not one, but four occasions from competing at the highest level of international competition in a sport that he continues to passionately embrace.
The sweetness of his career is the fact that as a local Guyanese son made good, he remained at the very highest level of international competitiveness for more than 16 years and not many athletes, in any discipline, in any sport, in any country at any level, can attest to this very significant accomplishment.
If for no other reason but respect, he earned the nickname `Taggo’ from his more advanced and senior counterparts who were always irritated to see this little individual, in both age and stature, ride and compete with the best that the country had to offer. Eon was only 15 years old at the time.
With superb cycling skills, in terms of his stamina and endurance, and his impeccable bike handling ability, Eon rose through the ranks rapidly but immigrated to Canada, just as he was being called upon to represent his country internationally.
But this (immigration to Canada) did not stop the country of his birth (Guyana) from recruiting him to represent it at various international competitions. Such was the depth of his talent.
According to the magazine’s article on D’Ornellas, the son of Guyana’s soil was undaunted by the many obstacles and his persistence made him a four-time Ontario Provincial Road Racing Champion, a two-time Canadian National Road Racing Champion, 1979 Pan American Games Silver Medalist, 1978 Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist and what is believed to be his crowning glory, his spectacular win over the world’s best amateur neo-pro bicycle riders at the gruelling 120 miles road race at Vim Ridge in France.
The article quoted a French News media as comparing D’Ornellas’ victory and valor there (France), with another little Canadian “Vimi Ridge” victory of some 60 years ago.