tuesday, may 20, 2014
guyanatimesGY.com
‘We need more international competition’ – Geron Williams By Avenash Ramzan
C
ontinental Cycle Club rider Geron Williams believes more international competitions are the way to go if local cyclists are to develop and “up their standard.” The overseas-based Guyanese rider made the observation moments after finishing second to Team Coco’s Darren Matthews in the 32nd annual Independence Three-Stage cycling meet on Sunday on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown. Williams pointed out that while the Independence Three-Stage and the annual ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage provide a great opportunity to test their progress and match their capabilities with their foreign counterparts, more of such events, which can attract international participation, would be welcomed by the local cyclists. Williams said the presence of overseas riders such as Matthews would serve to lift the level of locally based riders, something that was clearly present during the two-day activity last weekend. “It’s always great racing against guys like him [Matthews] because it’s a good reminder of how much work you need to do; it’s a good reality check you know. It was a competitive race and I enoyed it a lot,” he told media operatives. This year’s activity, which attracted a record 96 entries, saw the participation of riders from Anguilla, Trinidad and Tobago and Columbia. Ever since the Three and Five Stages became open to international riders, the visitors, especially Team Coco,
PMTC horse race meet rescheduled – preparations in advanced stage for PPP/C pre-Independence Cup
Dennis DeRoop
By Rajiv Bisnauth
O
Marlon Williams
have been very dominant, leaving the local riders to play second fiddle on home turf. And despite repeated calls for a united Team Guyana to challenge the touring cyclists, those efforts have so far proved futile, with the local riders seemingly bent on hunting individual glory than success under the Golden Arrowhead.
Failed attempt
Meanwhile, commenting on his strategy going into the final stage on Sunday, Williams said the plan was for himself and fellow Guyanese Marlon Williams, riding for Trinidad and Tobago’s Heat Wave, to “try and get Darren on a break” and attack as the race wore on. A mere two seconds had separated the top three riders- Matthews, G. Williams
Darren Matthews
and M. Williams- heading into the final leg. However, Matthews opened a sevensecond lead on G. Williams by the end of the third stage to take the overall title. “My plan was to actually try and get Darren on a break…it had to be me and Marlon Williams because it would have been hard to come home in a bunch with him [Matthews] because he is very fast,” G. Williams reckoned. He continued, “He [Matthews] just finished a month of track training in Trinidad and that would have made him very fast. Things didn’t go as planned [for me], but he is a very strong rider because he trains in Columbia for most of the year.”
Recap
The opening stage from Corriverton to New Amsterdam, which covered
a distance of 46.6 miles or 75 km, was won by Matthews in a time of one hour, 44 minutes, 23 seconds (01:44m: 23s) on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, M. Williams won stage two from Rosignol to Carifesta Avenue in a time of two hours, 23 minutes, 02 seconds (02h: 23m: 02s). That leg covered 60.4 miles or 97.1 km. The final stage from Kara Kara, Linden, to Homestretch Avenue, a distance of 64.5 miles or 103 km, was won by Guyanese Paul deNobrega in a time of two hours, 46 minutes, 14 seconds (02h: 46m: 14s). During the two-day activity, the 96 riders who registered covered 171.5 miles or 275.1km of the country’s roadways. The event was sponsored exclusively by the National Sports Commission for the 32nd year in succession.
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rganisers of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) have re-scheduled the club’ s grand one-day horse race meet to July 27. The meet was originally scheduled for this Sunday at the club’s race track, Corentyne, Berbice. Secretary of the PMTC, Chattergoon Ramnauth, told this publication on Monday, the decision is to facilitate the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) pre Independence Cup slated for the same day at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC). Ramnauth further indicated that the race meet will now be staged in collaboration with Digicel. While an original programme has not been finalized, Ramnauth noted that eight races have been planned for the day. Meanwhile, chief organiser of the PPP/C horse race meet, Dennis DeRoop, in an invited comment on Monday said preparations are at an advanced stage for Sunday’s horse race meet. “We have already put
most systems in place,” DeRoop said. DeRoop noted that an impressive line-up of animals has already entered for the day’s event, adding that organisers will not extend Wednesday’s registration deadline. Seven races are listed for the day, with competitors set to vie for close to $4M in prize money. The ‘A’ Class event will be the feature race over 1400 metres and will see the horses galloping for a first prize of $1M. There is a newly introduced event for horses classified D3 and Lower nonwinners for 2014, and ‘E’ and Lower for a winning take of $500,000 and trophy over 1400 metres. The Three-year-old Guyana and West Indiesbred animals will be racing for a top prize of $400,000 over 1400 metres. Incentive for the winner in the F1 and Lower 1400 metres event is also worth $400,000. The G3 Class 1100 metres race will see the winner taking away the $300,000 first prize and trophy. Racing fans will see the top ‘I’ Class horses racing over 1100 metres for a top prize of $200,000 and trophy, while the J1 Class horses will sprint over 1100 metres for a winner’s prize of $180,000 and trophy. Interested horse owners can have their animals confirmed for participation through Fazal Habibulla on 232-0232 or 6577010, Inshanally Habibulla 6234495 or 232-3295, Donald or Zaleena Lawrie 225-4530, 2254565 or Dennis DeRoop on 609-9143.
Amla willing to take up Test captaincy H
ashim Amla has made himself available for consideration for the job of South Africa’s next Test captain. ESPNcricinfo understands Amla, who gave up the the vice-captaincy of the limited-overs teams in February last year, has had a change of heart about leadership and has informed the selection panel that he can be considered for the role. That brings to four the number of candidates who will be considered to replace Graeme Smith, who retired in March. While AB de Villiers, who announced his readiness to lead in an interview last week, and Faf du Plessis are considered frontrunners for the job, with JP Duminy being talked about as an outside possibility, Amla’s interest in the role adds a new dimension to the debate because he has been spoken about as a preferred
choice in the past. Amla was picked as de Villiers’ deputy in the shorter formats of the game in July 2011. He ended up leading South Africa in what should have been de Villiers’ first series in charge in October that year - against Australia - because de Villiers was injured. He also led a South African XI in an unofficial tri-series in Zimbabwe in June 2012, in which South Africa lost to both the Zimbabwean and Bangladesh sides. But Amla’s reluctance to accept the position was obvious when he chose not to stand in for de Villiers in the 2012-13 season. De Villiers asked for a break from the T20s against New Zealand in December 2012 and was suspended for slow overrates in the ODI series that followed. Du Plessis took over on both occasions. At the time, Amla was
frank about his feelings on captaincy. “There is no point me being vice-captain if I am not going to captain when the captain isn’t around,” he said in January last year . Amla also asked for a sabbatical from T20 cricket for the remainder of 2013. However, when the new season began at the end of 2013, Amla changed his decision on T20 participation and agreed to play in a series against Pakistan. He opened the batting with Quinton de Kock and was seen as being a foil to the explosive young batsman at the other end. Amla was also part of South Africa’s World Twenty20 campaign where, although he was criticised for having a slow strike rate, he finished the tournament as their second-highest run-scorer, and only JP Duminy and AB de Villiers scored quicker than Amla among batsmen who
played all games. It has since emerged T20 cricket is not the only thing Amla has changed his mind about. He has also decided he is not as averse to captaincy as he first was - news which, a source close to the situation said, has made the selectors’ jobs a lot more difficult. Despite Amla’s softspoken nature, he is seen as an automatic choice for leader because of his experience in the international game, which du Plessis does not have, and the fact that he is not overburdened by other responsibilities, which de Villiers, who is also South Africa’s wicket-keeper is. Amla has also captained in the past, which Duminy has not. He led South Africa’s Under-19 side in the 2002 World Cup and ended up as the third highest run-getter in the team with an average of 27.28. (ESPNcricinfo)
Hashim Amla (right), is now one of four contenders for the role of South Africa’s next Test captain