Griffith is new Urban Benjamin Memorial Champion

Christopher Griffith receiving the prize from the wife of the late Urban Benjamin
Christopher Griffith receiving the prize from the wife of the late Urban Benjamin

Team Evolution kept the Urban Benjamin Memorial Road Race title in the house as Christopher ‘Chicken Legs” Griffith stormed to the seniors tile in the second edition of the event yesterday sponsored by Gomes Mining Company and organized by Evolution.

Racing across a distance of 74 miles beginning in front of the Charity Primary School before heading east onto the Essequibo Coast Public Road,  then onto the stretch to Supenaam and back to the starting point,  Griffith stopped the clock ahead of the other 32 competitors in a time of two hours, 59 minutes and 53 seconds (02:59:53).

His time was nearly four minutes slower than last year when his team mate, Paul DeNobrega won the race.

Griffith was part of the lead pack that consisted of We Stand United’s Deeraj Garbarran and Rastaff O’selmo and he maintained the lead from as far off as seven miles.

He then extended the gap within three miles of the finishing line with not another rider in striking distance for a calm stroll to the line and claim the ounce of gold prize.

O’Selmo defeated Garbarran for second while Marcus Kelier was fourth. Warren “40” McKay was fifth and was also the winner of the Under-45 category ahead of Junior Niles who returned from Anguilla just before the race started.

Paul Choo-Wee-Nam was third and Michael Anthony sixth in the seniors.

Meanwhile, in the Over-45 division, Ian Jackson finished at the top of the podium with Andrew Spencer coming in second and Amrit Sankar, third.

In the Juniors’ category, Adelie Hodge was the winner while Ajay Gopilall and Ralph Seenarine finished second and third in that order.

In the Mountain Bike feature, Ozia McAulay captured the title ahead of Quincy Punch in second and Holio Melville rounding off the podium.