By Avenash Ramzan
Local cyclists are in for a busy two days this weekend with back-to-back races in the city and West Demerara. On Saturday, the inner circuit of the National Park is the venue for the 12th annual Diamond Mineral Water 11-race programme, billed to pedal off at 09:00h.
The day’s activity will be headlined by the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitation, which is set to attract the country’s leading riders. Last year’s main race was won by Orville Hinds of Team Evolution. He clocked one hour, 19 minutes, 58 seconds, outperforming the field with ease.
Hinds would be aware though that defending his title this year would be tough, as all the leading riders are expected to face the starting line. Raphael Leung won the Junior division last year, while Junior Niles was the leading Veteran Under-50 rider and Keon Thomas was the top Mountain Bike rider.
Representatives of Demerara Distillers Limited, including marketing personnel Larry Wills, are expected to witness the races and later assist in the presentation of prizes. On Sunday, the action switches to the road for the eighth annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial race in West Demerara.
The race will pedal off at 08:00h in front of the Wales Police Station, proceed to Bushy Park, Parika, and return to the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish, covering an approximate distance of 50 miles.
Team Coco’s Hamzah Eastman is the defending champion of the Open category, while Christopher Griffith had won on the junior side when the event was last held in 2015.
Niles was the Veteran Under-50 champion, while Anthony Fariah won the Over-50 and Deeraj Garbarran was the leading rider in the Mountain Bikes.
Sunday’s race is being sponsored the People’s Progressive Party’s Vreed-en-Hoop District. Top officials of the party are expected to witness the race and hand out the prizes at the conclusion.
Both events are being coordinated by national coach, Hassan Mohamed.
