Anguilla Based Guyanese Riders do well in major home race

Source: Starbroek News

Malon `Fishy' Williams (left) heads Albert Philander to the finish line in stage three of the NSC's sponsored 25th Annual Three-Stage Cycle Road Race yesterday. Williams, who won stage one Saturday, also won yesterday's third stage, but had to settle for

Trinidadian Guy Costa yesterday created history by becoming the first non-Guyanese cyclist to win the National Sports Commission-sponsored Three-Stage Cycle Road Race.

Costa, who rides for the Heat Wave Club of Trinidad, returned an overall time of seven hours 16 minutes 36 seconds (7:16.36) to win the most important race on the Guyana Cycling Federation's calendar of events.

Guyana's Marlon `Fishy' Williams, who also wears the colours of the Heat Wave Club, placed second (7:16.58).

Guyana's Andrew Reece, who is based in Anguilla, finished third (7:18.5).

Barbados' Philip Clarke, another Heat Wave Club cyclist ended fourth while three cyclists, Anguillian-based Guya-nese, Gordon Kennedy, local-based Geron Williams and Junior Niles were tied for fifth.

Yesterday's final stage was won by Marlon Williams in a time of 2:59.46 while Albert Philander (2:59.46) and Eon `Dumb Boy' Jackson (3:0046) ended second and third respectively.

Costa, who had a one minute 31 seconds lead over Williams going into yesterday's final stage, secured a bunch time of 3:00.46.

Marlon Williams, who many had thought would have won the overall title, returned 1:42.51 for stage one and ended the second stage just over a minute and a half behind Costa.

Of the six prime prizes that were up for grabs yesterday, Marlon Williams won three while Philander, Raymond Newton and Earl Van Wilgen won one each.

Jackson, a 39-year-old differently-able cyclist, was awarded a special prize for being the first veteran to complete the 169-mile course. The trophy was donated by the NSC in collaboration with Shameer Baksh of Universal Auto Sales.

Another cyclist, 16-year-old Danny Ramchurjee, received $170,000 from his father who bears the same name.

The senior Ramchurjee told Stabroek Sport he made a promise to his son at the start of the race that if he was to complete the entire course he would be rewarded with $1000 for each mile and the senior Ramchurjee made good on his promise.

Addressing participants, officials and members of the media yesterday, Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, noted that the event was attracting more Regional participation and called on the Guyana Cycling Federation, the NSC and the Sports Ministry to work collaboratively to take the annual event forward.

"I want to work with the stakeholders to ensure this happens. I want to ensure the event grows from strength to strength."

Anthony also noted that there were persons in the sport as well as other disciplines that were not fit and challenged the GCF to expand the sport.

"I want to see a race that will go from Georgetown to Lethem. "If we work together we can make this happen. We have seen what Cricket World Cup has done for Guyana. I'm sure if we work together we can lift this to another level."

Race organizer, Hassan Mohamed, as well as Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, congratulated the participants, especially the top finishers of each stage.

Kumar pledged the NSC's continued support for the event.