Abrupt end to Payless Variety Store 11-race Feature

With the 5th Annual Payless Variety Store 11-race cycling meet pedalling off on Saturday, the last race, a 35-lap school boys and invitational race ended abruptly with the officials stopping the race in the 16th lap at the inner circuit of the National Park, Thomas Lands.

The race was organised by National cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed and featured serious competition throughout the ten categories but ended in a disappointing fashion for the last race, a 35-lap invitational.
In the end, the official, Joseph Britton decided it best to declare joint winners, Team Evolution’s Raul Leal and Team Coco’s Jamal John.
As the cycling spectators were cut short of the gruelling competition, it was suggested that the race end in that fashion due to the non-sportsman-like conduct and failure to adhere to the officials’ regulations.
Britton, speaking with Guyana Times Sport, has stated that it was his decision to stop the race at its junction due to the non-cooperation of the rider.
“I decided to call the race off because the riders did not stick to the rules we had made prior to the race.” Britton went on to say that “we had agreed that the rules would be if you get lap you would come out of the race.”
Unfortunately, the official stated that some of the riders were not adhering to that rule and were hindering the race.
It was revealed that the other riders were ‘pacing their competitors’ with almost every rider being lapped apart from the top three.
In the end, Britton declared Leal and John joint winners with there being no second place. John also received five primes while Leal won three. Paul Chooweenam (Team Alanis) was declared third, followed by Raynauth Jeffrey (Team Cocos) in fourth, Orville Hinds (Team Evolution) in fifth and Junior Niles (Team Cocos) in sixth.
In the other categories, Sherwin Sampson won the Boys BMX 9-12 three lap race while Jaran Gorbaran won the 12-14 years three lap BMX race. Kennard Lovell won the Over-50 Veterans race, while Jaikaran Sukhai (Carlton Wheelers) won the U-50 and Julio Melville won the Mountain bike race.
The top wheelsmen will now turn their sites on the Digicel Breast Cancer Awareness 30-lap race around the outer circuit of the National Park today.