History was made this past weekend as Suriname hosted its first CrossFit Licensed event, the Kares Caribbean Championship ‘December Classic,’ in partnership with Rock Fitness Paramaribo and sponsored by Kares Group and Lotus Hardware.
But it wasn’t just a landmark moment for Suriname; it was a Caribbean CrossFit eruption, with 82 athletes from across the globe – Guyana, Suriname, Bahamas, French Guiana, UK, France, USA, Venezuela, and Brazil – descending on the Ring sports canter and Plantation Frederiksdorp.
The two-day competition kicked off with a grueling outdoor challenge at Plantation Frederiksdorp: a 1000m kayak, 2000m run, and a punishing 5000m trail bike ride.
Athletes then faced five more intense events on Sunday, battling from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While the international field was stacked, Guyana made a resounding statement.
Roley Chandler stormed to victory in the Intermediate Individuals division, with fellow Guyanese Kellon Reid securing a hard-fought third place.
Shanika Estwick added to the Guyanese medal haul with a third-place finish in the Scaled Women’s category.
This event was only the second CrossFit Licensed competition in the Caribbean, following Trinidad’s event in August 2024.
According to the organisers, the energy was electric, with 300 spectators fueling the athletes’ performances, and they have already announced plans for another CrossFit Licensed event in a different Caribbean country in April 2025.
The ultimate vision is to establish the competition as a premier CrossFit fixture across the Caribbean and then expand its reach globally, hitting the USA, UK, Europe, and beyond.
The Podium Finishers:
Intermediate Individuals
1st – Roley Chandler (Guyana)
2nd- Jaime Thompson (Bahamas)
3rd- Kellon Reid (Guyana)
Scaled Men
1st- Timotee Juge (French Guiana)
2nd- Dimitri Stomp (Suriname)
3rd- Kenneth Yau (Suriname)
Scaled Females
1st- Patiqua Cooper (Bahamas)
2nd- Amanda Rijsdijk (Suriname)
3rd- Shanika Estwick (Guyana)
