Riding on Guyana’s 47th Republic Anniversary, Team Cocos’ Hamzah Eastman rode to glory in the Courts Guyana Limited 40-mile road race in the ancient county of Berbice on Thursday.
Eastman completed the race, which started with the Regional Executive Officer of Region Six (Upper Corentyne-Berbice), David Armogan sending the riders off in front of the Courts store located on Main Street, New Amsterdam, in a time of one hour, one minute and 50 seconds (01:01:50).
Hamzah Eastman raises his hand in the air as he leads the pack to the finish line
The race, after beginning at 10:00h at New Amsterdam, saw the riders go up to Adventure Village on the Corentyne Highway and back to the point of origin at New Amsterdam.
An excited Eastman who spoke with Guyana Times Sport after the race, said “It feels good to win my first race after coming in podium positions in the last few races.”
The Cocos rider related that his machine was in top-order after having a chain problem since last month, but this race is where it all came together; giving credit to the cool weather and a high-confidence level that ultimately won him the race.
Eastman, who dethroned last year’s winner Orville Hinds, added that in the race he was “just buying time” waiting on the sprint to show his skills and secure his first win of the season.
The top six overall finishers, as well as the top-five veterans, the top-four juveniles, the top-three females and the top-three BMX cyclists were all rewarded for their efforts.
Eastman was trailed by his club mate, Jamaul John who took the second spot, while Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds and Paul DeNobrega had to settle for third and fourth respectively. Meanwhile, Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Shaquel Agard took the fifth spot and Michael Anthony took sixth.
Also in the day’s event, Briton John was the only rider in the juniors category with Junior Niles winning the Veterans race ahead of Jaikaran Sukhai in second and Wilbert Benjamin in third, Stephen Fernandes and Lennox Jackman completed the top five in that order.
