ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CYCLING FEDERATION

The Antigua and Barbuda Cycling Association opened their 2013 cycling season on Sunday 11th March with a full day of activities. The season opened with the blessings from the St Andrews Anglican Church for safety, strong growth, higher performance and administration as we carry out the 2013 season, as the members of the association partake in the 6:15am sermon.

The activity continued in the afternoon at 3pm with the hosting of the ABACA 16 mile Opening Season Individual Time Trial. It was a great turn out for the season opener as the riders came out to record their individual efforts over the 16 mile course. The Minister responsible for Sports in Antigua and Barbuda, Senator the Honourable, Winston Williams was on hand as he declared the 2013 Cycling Season opened. Caribbean Cycling Female Time Trial Champion, Tamiko Butler was on island to participate in the season opener and was the first to set on course as she had to catch flight hours later.

Tamiko who is now contesting the A-Class amongst the male riders placed 10th, producing a time of 40:38. But the ride of the day when to Jyme Bridges who clocked an amazing time to win the opening event, setting a new course record in a time of 35:23 setting the new course record time 9 seconds faster than the previous time set by Robert Marsh. Robert Marsh of the East Side Raiders Club produced the 2nd fastest time of the day to place 2nd clocking a time of 36:17 ahead of Marvin Spencer who placed 3rd in a time of 36:37. Commendable effort came from Garfield Henry who placed 4th in a time of 36:51 ahead of Veteran, Dale Richardson who was 5th clocking a time of 37:35. Alvin Merrick and Ashley Rhodes was 6th and 7th respectively.

(Jyme Bridges: Winner of the A- Class)

B-Class results was too close to call with the naked eyes as Tasheed Gordon and Mervin Gore produced similar time which separated by hundreds of second resulting with Tasheed Gordon as the winner of Sunday’s B-Class event. The East Side Raiders rider produced a time of 39:49.439 with the edge over his teammate Mervin Gore who had to settle for 2nd after producing a time of 39:49.602. Conroy Thomas placed 3rd in a time of 40:20 ahead of Tristan Matthew and Nkosie Barnes who was 4th and 5th respectively.
 
Lindsay Duffy of the Road Runners Club won the Female class. Duffy completed the 8 mile female course in a time of 23:41 over teammate, Kevinia Francis who was 2nd in a time of 24:57.

Joel Phillip captured the Junior Class in his first race as a junior. The Team Terminex youngster clocked a time of 42:42 over the 16 mile course ahead of Colin James who was 2nd in a time of 43:25. Zackyle Joseph placed 3rd after producing a time of 49:54. Nigel Fabian was the lone competitor in the Cadet Class; he completed the 8 mile course in a time of 22:17.

Meanwhile, the cycling association will be hosting their 2nd race for the season this weekend, the Pan Am Base Circuit Race will be held on Sunday 17th March start at 2:30pm. The race will take place in Coolidge/Shell Beach area and follow the roads surround the Pan Am Base. A-Class will go at it for 35 laps, B-Class 30, Junior 25, Female 12 and Cadets 10. The general public are invited to come out and enjoy the entertainment.