Gibbs defends Cheddi Jagan memorial title
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
March 11, 2003
Top local racing cyclist Dwayne `Road Hog' Gibbs returned to winning ways on Sunday when he successfully defended the B. K. International sponsored - Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race title he won last year.
The Federal Management Systems sponsored athlete returned two hours 17 minutes 58 seconds in winning the open category of the 52-mile event in emphatic fashion, finishing more than one minute ahead of the second place finisher, Tyrone Hamilton, but just over one minute from last year's time (2:16:11.33).
The event, which was staged along the Corentyne Highway, Berbice, saw Warren Mckay placing third, Andrew Reece fourth, Gordon Kennedy fifth and Junior Niles sixth.
Hamilton captured three of the eight prime prizes that were up for grabs, while one each went to Kennedy, Seon Alves, McKay, Gibbs and Travis Mendonca. The latter was the first junior to complete the course. He finished ahead of Kelon Charles and Jorge Emmerson in the junior category.
The veterans division was won by Gary Benjamin. Second place went to Linden Blackman, while Derek Persaud occupied the third spot.
John Hamilton won the upright category from Roopesh Baichand and last year's winner, Esau Mohabir, respectively.
Like last year, the veterans as well as the upright wheelers covered a distance of 30 miles.
Shortly after the 52 competitors were sent off by People's Progressive Party/Civic's (PPP/C) General Secretary Donald Ramotar from outside the PPP/C's New Amsterdam office, Rocky Seecharran opened a small lead on the rest of the field. He was joined soon after by Alves, and the two extended the lead.
A group of six went out in pursuit of the two leaders and caught them before Rose Hall Village.
McKay jumped the lead pack while passing through Rose Hall, but Alves responded. The other six soon after caught up with the leaders too.
At Manchester Village, Hamilton, Alves and Mendonca established a healthy lead on the other six, while the third group, which included Canadian based Guyanese Aubrey Bryce was some distance away.
Sherwin Osbourne went in pursuit of the leaders but was soon sucked in back to the second group.
At Number 36 Village, the leading trio enjoyed more than one mile lead on the second group who were soon sucked in by the third group.
The leaders maintained their lead at the turn back point at Number 51 Village but were caught by Gibbs, Seecharran, Reece, Niles, McKay, and Kennedy at Phillipie Village.
The nine pedal pushers stuck together until they reached Hogstye, where Mendonca was dropped.
Gibbs made his move at Manchester and no one responded. He subsequently extended his lead beyond the reach of the others and romped home a comfortable winner at the Port Mourant finish line.
The bunch sprint for the minor positions was started at the 200-metre mark by Reece. McKay took it up but Hamilton came through the middle and edged the others to the line.
The event was has been sponsored by B. K. Inter-national since 1998, was witnessed by B. K's Managing Director Brian Tiwari along with Ramotar and other top government officials, including Ministers of Agriculture and Local Government Navin Chanderpaul and Harripersaud Nokta respectively, Commissioner of Inland Revenue Lambert Marks, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Hydar Ally, Director of Sports Neil Kumar and GUYSUCO's Chairman Vic Oudit. They all assisted with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.
Addressing the participants and cycling enthusiasts at the Port Mourant Community Centre, Kumar expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the race and made mention of a challenge that Minister Nokta issued, for a race to be staged from Georgetown to Boa Vista, Brazil or one that will involve the three Guiana's (French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana).
Ramoutar in his address stated that Dr. Jagan, in whose memory the event was staged, would have been extremely pleased to have his mane associated with the event. "He was keen on the development of Guyana's youths" Ramoutar stated.
Ramoutar said the PPP/C will continue to support sports in Guyana and stated that his party will encourage the business community to follow in Tiwari's path and support sports locally.
Organiser of the event Hassan Mohammed thanked Tiwari for sponsoring the event, Demerara Distillers Limited for the water they provided for the cyclists and Ricks and Sari Group of Companies for the food hampers they donated.
Mohammed expressed his heartfelt thanks to members of the Guyana Police Force's Berbice Traffic Department.
