John reigns supreme in Banks DIH’s Rainforest Waters 11-stage cycling

National U-23 rider Jamal John emerged champion of the ninth edition of the Banks DIH’s Rainforest Waters 11-stage cycle race, held at the National Park on Saturday last.

The in-form Michael Anthony, who won the 50-mile race in Berbice last weekend, came in second position. He was involved in a tense finish with Paul De Nobrega, who was also amongst the top finishers, in third position.
John, who represented Guyana in the U-23 Pan American Games in Mexico, won the 35-lap feature event in one hour 22 minutes and 35 seconds. Additional outstanding finishes came from Paul Choo-Wee-Nam, who rode in fifth position, and Kwesi Moses, who completed the top six positions in the feature event.
John led the race from the inception, and was awarded three sprint prizes, while Paul De Nobrega of Team Evolution had three sprint prizes of his own. The race was planned early when John, Anthony and DeNobrega broke away from the main pack, which was led by Evolution’s Christopher Griffith.
In the first race of the day, Kenard London won the veterans over 60 five-lap race in 11 minutes and 31 seconds, while Linden Blackman came in second position. In the second race of the day, Berbice’s David Hicks won the 10-lap Juveniles race in 25 minutes and 20 seconds. In the 12-to-14 years’ category, Sherwan Samson came in first position, finishing his three laps in eight minutes and eight seconds.
The 2018 winners of this event were: Curtis Dey, who won the School Boys and Invitational event in one hour and 14 minutes; and Briton John, who won the 10-lap Juveniles event in 24 minutes, one second. Junior Niles had copped first position in the veterans’ class when he completed his five laps in 12 minutes and four seconds. (Brandon Corlette)