Persaud carts off feature event

Robin Persaud carted off the 35-lap Schoolboys and Novices race yesterday when National cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed and the Unitech Awning ran off a successful 11 race cycling meet at the National Park circuit, Thomas Lands.

The meet, a continuation of the ‘Teach Them Young’   programme, attracted boys, girls, seniors and veteran riders from age six to over 60.

Prize winners and other competitors at the conclusion of yesterday’s 11-race card.

Persaud won the event in one hour and 16 minutes. Persaud led junior Paul DeNobrega, Enzo Matthews, Ian ‘Dumb Boy’ Jackson, Lindener Mark Anthony and Albert Philander respectively in the top six finishers.

Prime prizes went to Matthews, who copped three while one prime prize each went to Persaud, DeNobrega, Jackson and Marlon Morrison.

In other races, Adrian Sharma won the BMX boys’ 12 to 14 three-lap race ahead of Jhonnick LaRose and Christopher Griffith respectively.

Sharma returned to take top honours in the three-lap BMX boys’ Open race ahead of Cleveland King and Hamza Eastman.

Jhonnick LaRose won the boys’ nine-to-12 years, three- lap race ahead of Deeraj Garbaran and Julharu Ming respectively.

In the 12-to-14 year, boys and girls’ three-lap race, Silvio Innis, Randy Haynes and Isaiah Saul were the top three finishers respectively.

The prime prize went to Alfie Sonaram.

The five-lap, veterans’ under-50 years’ race was won by Raymond Newton in a time of 12 minutes and 45 seconds.  Newton also took away the prime prize. Virgil Jones was second and Kennard Lovell was third.

In the five-lap veteran’s over 50 race, Wilfred Thomas was the sole competitor.

Top over-60 veteran Maurice Fagundes replicated last week’s effort by pedalling with the winner’s trophy once again.

Fagundes defeated Anthony Fariah and Harry Lall who were second and third respectively.

Raynauth Jeffrey won the juveniles 10-lap race in a time of 22 minutes and 24 seconds ahead of Hector Edwards and Martel Anthony.

Jeffrey also copped the two prime prizes that were up for grabs.

The upright cyclists race was won by Mario King with the only other competitor Julio Melville placing second.

The two-lap BMX boys’ six-to-nine years’ race was won by Jamal Arthur with Denzil Huntley and Theron Garbaran second and third respectively.

At the prize giving ceremony, Mohammed thanked the cyclists for participating in the meet and making the programme a successful one.

Mohamed spoke fondly of Noel Persaud also known as Pokan with whom he brushed shoulders with in the late 1950’s and early 1970’s. Ray Persaud CEO of Unitech Awning and son of Noel Persaud shared out the trophies to the top riders.