Guyana’s cyclists excel in Anguilla

Guyana’s road race champions Raynauth Jeffrey (senior), Michael Anthony (junior) and Junior Niles (veteran) of Team Coco occupied the podium in their respective categories when the 14th annual John T Memorial Road Race was staged in Anguilla yesterday.

Fresh off winning this year’s senior National Road Race title last Sunday, Jeffrey, 19, placed third out of a field of 56 international riders in the gruelling 75-mile event widely regarded as one of the premier cycling races in the Caribbean.

Team Coco’s five-man unit (from left to right) Paul DeNobrega, Michael Anthony, Junior Niles, Christopher Holder and Raynauth Jeffrey poses with the Golden Arrowhead and their respective winnings at the completion of the 14th annual John T Memorial Road Race in Anguilla yesterday.
Team Coco’s five-man unit (from left to right) Paul DeNobrega, Michael Anthony, Junior Niles, Christopher Holder and Raynauth Jeffrey poses with the Golden Arrowhead and their respective winnings at the completion of the 14th annual John T Memorial Road Race in Anguilla yesterday.

The 16-year-old Anthony who secured a gold medal at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships last year placed second in his category as did Niles, Guyana’s national under-45 road race champion.

The John T Memorial Cycle Race is held in honour of John Thomas who was a pioneer in the cycling arena in Anguilla. The event drew large crowds of locals and visiting support teams from other Caribbean countries.

This year’s event attracted competitors from islands including St. Vincent, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, Trinidad, Barbados, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe and the host nation.

According to reports from Team Coco, the event was won by a rider from Guadeloupe followed by a Barbadian.

Team Coco’s five-man unit which includes Jeffrey, Anthony, Niles, Junior Sportsman of the Year, Paul DeNobrega and former junior prodigy, Christopher Holder is scheduled to compete in another road race in Anguilla this weekend before returning home.

The locals sojourn was made possible by Team Coco’s owner, Ian Davis.