The racing tactics used by Warren ‘Forty’ McKay to triumph in the 35-lap invitation race at yesterday’s ‘Teach Them Young’ cycle race meet around the inner circle of the National Park was questioned upon completion of the event.
Warren McKay (Right) finishes neck-to-neck with Robin Persaud in the 35 laps invitation race yesterday at the National Park (Orlando Charles Photo)
The high paced race almost saw McKay breaking the 35-lap National Park record around the inner circle where he finished one minute shy after clocking one hour, 20 minutes and 37 seconds (1.20.37).
The finish of the race sparked heated debates by spectators and cyclists.
Mc Kay was accused by second place finisher Robin Persaud of unsportsmanlike actions as the top three cyclists executed their final sprint around the last turn heading into the homestretch.
Persaud, who crossed the finish line neck and neck with Mc Kay, complained to race officials afterwards that McKay “cut in-front of him” effectively blocking his lane and almost causing him to fall.
A fuming Persaud added that McKay should be disqualified for the actions and that he should be declared the winner.
Also lodging a complaint with officials at the finish line was McKay’s club mate, Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams, who placed third.
Prize winners of yesterday’s ‘Teach Them Young’ race meet pose with their trophies (Orlando Charles Photo)
Williams claimed that Persaud too was at fault as the three cyclists came around the final turn, since Persaud dangerously “braced him in the corner” which caused him to go off the track.
It was at this point that some spectators got involved stating that Mc Kay did not cut off Persaud.
Others, however, argued in favour of Persaud, who said the reason for him bracing and almost colliding with Williams was simply an evasive measure to avoid a collision with McKay.
Chris Persaud led convincingly at the beginning of the final lap and was also in contention for first place as the cyclists entered the last turn.
The others, though, managed to close the gap and eventually go past Chris Persaud who finished closely behind in fourth place.
The race, which began with 16 participants, was not only fast-paced, but also gruelling and, after a collision on the back stretch which forced some participants to discontinue, only six riders completed the race.
Closing out the six finishers and also the prize winning positions were Ian Jackson and Mark Spencer who crossed the finish line in fifth and sixth place respectively.
The BMX Categories, which comprised young cyclists currently partaking in the Teach Them Young programme at the National Park, saw a number of participants in the various categories.
Keion Harris won the two-lap, BMX 6-9 years’ category, from Rashid Ceres and Justin DeNobrega respectively.
The three-lap, BMX 9-12 years’ race was won by Deeraj Garbarran with Dineshwar Raghubeer second and Christopher Griffith, third.
Darius Ramsammy left third place finisher Jaleel Jackson and runner up Adrian Sharma in his trail to secure first place in the BMX Open category while in the five-lap, BMX 12-14 years’ race, Ramsammy was again victorious with Sharma again second and Garbarran, third.
The Juveniles category was won by Christopher Holder with Marlon King and Davenand Bissoon placing second and third respectively.
Only two cyclists contested the Veterans over-50 category which saw Kirkwood Kellman finishing ahead of Maurice Fagundes.
Bochel Samaroo was the winner of the Veteran’s under-50 race after he out-pedalled Kennard Lovell and Spencer who finished second and third respectively.
In the upright category, Kester Croal emerged victorious ahead of Nigel Jacobs and Kunta McKenzie.
By Floyd Christie