Pollydore outsprints field to keep Jason Bally 100K crown
Stabroek News
October 9, 2002
Despite burying the field with a punishing sprint to successfully defend his overall title in Sunday's third Jason Bally Memorial 100K, Guyana's Godfrey Pollydore rode with a disadvantage-one his opponents wish they had.
"The race was good but I could have put a little more pressure," said Pollydore after winning the 62.5 mile race that attracted 54 riders in three divisions. He returned two hours, 26 minutes and 36 seconds. "I just received a new bike and today is the second day I rode it. I was riding at a little disadvantage, but I proved that I could ride with any disadvantage and ride well."
Don't tell that to St. Croix's Jamie Keys who finished third. "He's an awesome sprinter man. He shot by us like a bullet man," Keys noted. "He came out of nowhere and just passed all of us. He's an amazing rider a really strong guy. I know who to look out for next time. I was very impressed by him."
Pollydore said the race was a little harder this year, as he was doing most of the pacing. "All the guys were watching me and expecting me to ride real hard. I put my best foot forward this year and it was real tough. I tried to put the pressure on the guys so that they won't think they could trick me, "he explained. "I attacked to make them scared so they won't try anything funny with me."
In addition to the US$500 top prize, Pollydore won a cell phone from CCT Boatphone for winning the Shell Hill sprint. "I made sure I sat back and waited until the last hill for the sprint and just went past them at the top," he revealed. "I know (Robert) Marsh is a good hill climber, but, I know I can beat him on the hill although he's a good hill climber. I don't boast that I'm a good hill climber. I just wait, sit back and show them what I can do."
British Virgin Islands Cycling Federation president David Thomas said the race was great and the turnout excellent. "I'm glad all our friends from the Caribbean turned up and I think they are all very happy." Thomas said he was a little surprised that Pollydore pulled off the victory again. "I thought the guys would have been a little bit more ready for him this year, but it goes to show that once you're a sprinter, you're always a sprinter because he just sprinted away from them. But, the best finish of the day was between Keys and Antigua's Robert Marsh for third. It was so close to call that it was basically a judge's decision."
Final results; Road Bikes: 1. Godfrey Pollyodore, Guyana, 2 hours, 26 Minutes and 36 seconds. 2. Andrew Young, BVI, 2:26.37. 3. Jamie Keys, St. Croix, 2:26.37. 4. Robert Marsh, Antigua, 2:26.37. 5. John Miller, BVI, 2:26.39. 6. Ken Jackson, Antigua, 2:27.26. 7. Ira Fabian, Antigua, 2:27.26. 8. Randy Simon, Antigua, 2:27.27. 9. Danny Donelan, Antigua, 2:27.28. 10. David Jones, St. Thomas, 2:27.29. 11. Bryan Lynn, Antigua, 2:27.30. 12. John Riggs, St. Croix, 2:27.44. 13. Lyn Murray, Guyana, 2:28.55. 14. Tyrone Vanterpool, Anguilla, 2:37.54. 15. Jaron Maduro, BVI, 2:43.46. 16. Neil Lloyd, Antigua, 2:44.28. 17. Phillip Richardson, Anguilla, 2:44.28. 18. Antonie Browne, Antigua, 2:44.29. 19. Neil Simon, Antigua, 2:44.30. 20. Jerry Walters, Antigua, 2:44.31. 21. Patrick Peters, Antigua, 2:54.03. 22. David Thomas, BVI, 3:24.14. Dnf; Darel Christopher Sr., BVI. Jeff Hodeed, Antigua. Wayne Marsh, Antigua. Chris Ghiorse, BVI. Brian Richardson, Anguilla. Evan Gumbs, Anguilla.
Women: 1. Sue Brown, St. Croix, 2:39.54. 2. Lousie Depuy, St. John, 3:36.08. 3. Victoria Robinson, BVI, 4:09.33.
Mountain Bikes: (All BVI finishers). 1. Conrad 'Manny' Emmanuel, 3:03.24. 2. Steve Marsh, 3:07.22. 3. Clifton 'Tito' Forbes, 3:07.40. 4. Manesseh Phillips, 3:10.23. 5. Jim Cullimore, 3:16.10. 6. Anthony 'Zanku' Walters, 3:21.24. 7. Neil Thomas, 3:24.56. 8. Ruben Mingo, 3:32.56. Dnf; Tom Merrigan, Marcus Diprose and Laurens Blok.
Fun/Novice: 1. Alston Hanley, 1:18.27. 2. Ray Learmouth, 1:18.47. 3. Caroline, Diprose, 1:25.28. 4. Sarah Cales. Frandy Martin, 1:29.23. 5. Patlian Johnson, 1:36.29. 7. Robert Lloyd, 1:43.24. 8. Darel Christopher Jr., 1:52.23. 9. Michael Butler, 2:05.46. 10. Keyon Thomas, 2:06.16. 11. Hank Vejeer Jr., 2:22.29. 12. Tracy Flax, 3:17.32.