Just a few days before she jets off to a regional competition in neighbouring Suriname, Linden youth cyclist Clivecia Spencer is now better equipped to compete in more cycling championships, as she was recently gifted a racing cycle.
The Fifth Form business student of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) recently received the racing bike, which is estimated to cost over $200,000, compliments of the joint efforts of the corporate business community of Linden and Regional Councillor Antonio Hackett.
Councillor Antonio Hackett hands over the new and improved cycle to Clivecia Spencer
Spencer was a force to be reckoned with in the 59th National Schools’ Cycling Championships in 2019, where she was the runner-up in the Open Girls’ division, second to Alleia Alleyne. Representing District 10 Upper Demerara-Kwakwani, the young woman rode away with gold medals in the girls’ 3000m Open and 2000m Open events and bronze in the girls’ 1500m race. Before 2019, she was also declared ‘champion girl’ for two consecutive years in the girls’ Under-20 open cycling category.
The 16-year-old is set to compete in Suriname on January 16 with the Bauxite Flyers Club. With big plans for her future in the sport, she has her eyes set on the Tour de France as a highlight of her cycling endeavours.
Spencer crosses the line first in the Open 3000m girls’ event at the National Schools’ Cycling Championship in 2019
Hackett, in handing over the cycle, noted that while it was not an easy task, he was thankful for the opportunity to assist the athlete.
“This young lady is in need of a real racing cycle and as a leader in my community, in my region, here, I decided that this is what I supposed to do and I stepped in and I know it was a long hardest trip to get to this point, but, however, it has been achieved. I want to thank all those who have really contributed to this happening and this is not the end, because this young lady has a lot of potential and she has places to go representing our region and our country at large,” he said.
The cyclist expressed gratitude for the cycle, noting that it would aid in making her dreams of excelling possible. Her parents were also present at the handing over and both expressed their thanks for the gesture noting it was refreshing to see the support given to their daughter.
Hackett expressed the hope that more persons would come on board and support young people in all sport disciplines in the region.
The upgraded and lighter racing cycle was made possible by contributions from Nigel Liu and Associates, Girls Stand-up Movement, Roy Hutson, Lear Nunes, Mr Kirton, Ms Burnette and Councillor Hackett.
