Eastman eases to victory in Universal Supplies 35 lap

By Romario Samaroo

Returning to circuit racing, Team Coco’s Hamza Eastman withstood the threat of rivals, Team Evolution’s Paul De Nobrega, Coco’s Jamual John and Linden Bauxite Flyer’s Shaquel Agard in a dash to the finish of the 35 lap featured school boys and invitational race as part of the Universal Auto and General Supplies 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday.

With 17 riders taking to the starting line, the numbers trimmed down lap by lap as a small contingent of five riders quickly formed the lead pack with Pharmco Deep South’s Raynauth “Obeah man” Jeffrey leading at the end of the first lap.

Soon after it was a five man lead of Eastman, Agard, DeNobrega, team Alanis’ Alonzo Ambrose and Mark Harris but Harris suffered a mechanical problem that forced him out of contention.

Jeffrey was leading a big second pack with Coco’s duo, John and Junior Niles close on his wheels.

By the 20th lap, half the riders had dropped out and John moved into the first pack while Ambrose fell back with Enzo Mathews who trailed for the remainder of eight laps.

With the last burst and two turns to go, Eastman initiated the sprint with John and DeNobrega right on his tail, however the 21 year old maintained the win while a photo finish and the eagle-eye of racing official Joseph Britton deduced that DeNobrega had marginally piped John for second.

Eastman stopped the clock in a time of one hour, 17 minutes and four seconds while DeNobrega, John, Agard, Ambrose and Mathews finished the top six in that order. Eastman and John shared the prime prizes of four each.

Meanwhile, in the other races, David Hicks won the boys and girls three lap 12-14 year race in seven minutes 24 seconds as he was trailed by Jonathan Ramsuchit and Brandon DeNobrega in second and third respectively. Ajani Cutting copped the top spot of the boys BMX 6-9 years two lap race while Antone Vanderburg finished second and Johnathan Cox completed the race in third.

Ian Jackson conquered the veterans under 50 five lap affair in 11 minutes 58 seconds as Sybourne Fernandes took the second position and Lennox Jackman third. Linden Blackman was the only over 50 rider in the mix.

Evolution’s Nigel Duguid defeated the competition in the juveniles 10 lap race in 22 minutes, seven seconds. Adealie Hodge finished second while Briton John rounded off the top three.

Over in the mountain bike class, Jaikaran Sookhai trailed Ryan Canterbury into the finishing line to see them finish second and first respectively in 13 minutes and 25 seconds.

After the race, Hassan Mohammed, who organized the event, thanked the sponsors for their dedication to sporting development after sponsoring the event for the past 13 years.

The cycling weekend continues today with the riders will take to the roadways for a 70 mile race. This race will begin at the usual starting point, in front of the National Sports Commission, Homestretch Avenue at 08:00h and see riders heading up the East Bank Demerara to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway where they will turn back at the Coca Cola sign and head to the city to finish just before Tank Street, Grove.

The event will be sponsored by Chin Chan Cycle Shop, Team Cocos (Ian Q-B Davis), Tony Chung’s Body Work Shop of New York and Mark Duke (McRae Body Work Shop of New York).

The winner will receive $50,000, there will be cash prizes for the top six finishers in the open category, top three veterans, top three juniors, top three mountain bikers and top two ladies. There will 20 primes during the event which will be $5,000 per prime, so get set for lots of aggressive racing. Entrance fee for the event is $2,000 and this includes after race meals and beverages.