The Queen Elizabeth Avenue was much abuzz with much with excitement on Sunday, February 21 as the 2016 Cycling Season began.
Beginning promptly at 1 p.m. with a short opening ceremony with the National Song being played on steel pan by Michael “Crescendo” Martin, prayer by Mrs. Tracelyn Hamilton, Principal of ATHPS, after which Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for sports, spoke to the cyclists about the importance of discipline and officially declared the 2016 Cycling Season open.
There were many races, Road Bikes, BMX Open and Primary School BMX Championship, but the highlight of the day’s event was when the Elite Category took to the start line with the much anticipated return of the likes of Kris Pradel, Top finisher and a cyclist who represented Anguilla on numerous occasions and Ricardo Romney, 2011 Junior Caribbean Cycling Champion.
Another crowd pleaser was the beginning of the first ever Primary School BMX Cycling Championship which saw the participation of seven of our 8 primary schools.
The crowd was so alive that as cyclists sprinted to the finish line, cellphones were quickly removed from handbags and back pockets as all and sundry wanted to capture the finish on video.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
The Anguillian was unable to print the lengthy results of the race. However, they will be available on The Anguillian’s website.