Gibbs win Anguillan road race
...Reece places second
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
March 26, 2003
Local road `King' Dwayne Gibbs rode a well judged race in Anguilla over the weekend to capture the John `T' Memorial 75-mile cycle road race title. Gibbs' Kaieteur Cycle Club mate Andrew Reece placed second.
Assisted by five other local based cyclists, Gibbs returned three hours, 28 minutes 17 seconds in winning the event from a field of 67 starters.
According to Gibbs, the time was faster than the time he returned in 2001 when he won the annual event for the first time.
The others team members were Warren McKay, Vinesh Narine, Gordon Kennedy and Shaka Whyte.
Kennedy finished seventh, Narine ninth and McKay 13, while Whyte completed the course approximately five minutes after Gibbs.
McKay fell during the final five miles and injured himself. He was with Kennedy in the main chasing pack when he missed a gear and fell.
Gibbs also contested the event last year, but had to settle for fifth.
It was because of that performance last year that Gibbs surmised he will have to get assistance if he is to win again.
According to Gibbs, last year, the other cyclists from other participating countries rode as a team and it was difficult for him to make a real impression.
Gibbs said this year, there was a team plan and the other members worked to the plan.
"The plan was for us (Guyanese) to be at the head of affairs all the time and if the opposition decided to chase, they would have to do so all the time" Gibbs explained.
He explained further that if a Guyanese went out and the opposition decide to follow, when that Guyanese gets `sucked' in back, another would take up the pace and this would allow the first one to recuperate in the pack.
The event was a three-lap affair around the island of Anguilla.
According to reports, this year the event attracted the largest number of participants and it was witnessed by large numbers of cheering supporters along the route.
The countries that participated were; St. Lucia, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, St. Martin/St. Marteen, Nevis, Belize and host country Anguilla.
Anguillan cyclist Ronnie Bryan placed third in 3:29.50 while Antiguan Robert Marsh placed fourth directly behind Marsh.
St. Martin's Samuel Hodge out-sprinted Guyana's Godfrey Pollydore to take fifth. Pollydore is currently based in St. Martin.
Gibbs said the event was not that hard since the locals rode as a team.
He said during the first lap, himself and Reece went out front, but was sucked in back and nearing the completion of the lap, Reece suffered a fall with other cyclists, but did well to get back into his saddle and re-connected to the leaders.
According to Gibbs, Kennedy and McKay launched an attack during the second lap, but they too were pulled in back. However, during the final lap, he (Gibbs) attacked, Marsh and Reece followed, but Marsh was subsequently dropped, allowing the two Guyanese to establish a break, thereby placing first and second.
Bryan caught Marsh and dropped him also to take the third spot.
In the bunch sprint for the other positions, Hodge out-sprinted Pollydore to take fifth.
"One of us (Guyanese) had to win" Gibbs stated.
Gibbs was loud in praise for Narine who he said rode very well and with more exposure will go a far way in the sport. Narine was given a cycle frame by an Anguillan national for his good showing.
According to Gibbs, the locals received a warm reception in Anguilla "the Guyanese living and working in Anguilla was very supportive to us, they also had Guyana flags cheering us on" Gibbs said.
The locals would like to thank the following business houses and individuals for making their participation possible; Caribbean Star for a 50 percent rebate on the air tickets, Myrtle Touch of Gold Salon, Luther's Worthy Cause Pawn Shop, Humphrey's Bakery and Farm Products, Nigel's Supermarket, Paul's Mufflers, Ramchand Auto Spares, Kevin Jeffrey, Johnny Creavalle, M&M's Snackette, Jerry's Snackette, Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, GT&T, Demerara Distillers Limited, residents and business houses in Grove, Maxi Pereira and the Guyanese living and working in Anguilla.
