Wilbert Benjamin Memorial 70-mile race set for Sunday

Widow of the late Wilbert Benjamin, Evette Benjamin, (left), hands over the sponsorship cheque to president and coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts.
Widow of the late Wilbert Benjamin, Evette Benjamin, (left), hands over the sponsorship cheque to president and coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts.

The inaugural Flying Ace Cycling Club-organised Wilbert Benjamin Memorial 70-mile road race will pedal off this Sunday in Berbice.

The event is the first major event for the club this year and will see riders from across the country gather at the front of Benjamin Sports Store, Fyrish, Corentyne from 10.00 hours and head to Springlands Police Station where they will turn around and head back to the starting point in pursuit of the checkered flag.

President and coach of the club, Randolph Roberts, confirmed yesterday that the race is expected to see around 50 of the country’s best riders take to the starting line.

He detailed that there will be 10 sprint prizes along with prizes for the first eight finishers, first four juniors, top three females and top three veterans.

Among the riders expected to take to the starting line are We Stand United brothers, Andrew and David Hicks, Andre ‘Padlock’ Greene, Christopher Griffith and Paul DeNobrega of Evolution, Paralympian, Walter Grant-Stuart, Curtis Dey, Alonzo Ambrose, Alex Mendes, Kwame Gilbert, Jaikaran Sukhai, Ralph Williams, Suzanne Hamilton, Clevica Spencer, Talim Shaw, Kennard Lovell and others.

Roberts indicated that there will be strict COVID-19 guidelines enforced including mask wearing and social distancing.

He pointed out that the event has received the green light from the Region Six Task Force.

The late Benjamin was a former national cyclist who succumbed to head injuries back in August last year after being in a vehicular accident.