Hasani Hennis, 22-year-old Anguillian cyclist from Blowing Point, received exciting news via an email to President of Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association, Sharon Richardson, that he had been selected as a wild card pick to attend cycling’s most prestigious event: U23 UCI World Championships. National champions and their teams from all over the world along with cycling’s top officials come together annually for a week of prestigious cycling competitions.
The wild card invitation came after a suggestion from Hasani Hennis’ Australian coach, Brad Reardon, a discussion with Cycling’s Vice President, Calvert Fleming and the ever-supportive Director of Sports, Andre Collins led by Sharon Richardson, president of the Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association. All requirements were reviewed to enter the UCI World Championships and based on Anguilla’s/AACA UCI ranking; Anguilla didn’t qualify. As a result, the team decided to request a wild card for the Under 23 World Championships instead and received positive confirmation on September 3rd in the wee hours of the morning to everyone’s elation.
The UCI World Championships are slated for the 22nd to 29th of September 2019 in Yorkshire, England with the U23 Time Trial scheduled for Tuesday 24th September and U23 Road Race on the 27th of September.
“It will be the first time that Britain has hosted the UCI Road World Championships since 1982 and Yorkshire is aiming to deliver the most inclusive, innovative and inspiring Road World Championships in the history of the UCI.
The racing will commence on Saturday, 21st September with a ground-breaking para-cycling event running alongside the Championships which will act as a qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The showcase will feature every Paralympic road racing discipline and take place in front of one of the largest crowds ever assembled for an elite para-cycling event.
These UCI Road World Championships will build even further on the county’s growing global reputation for the sport after hosting ‘the grandest of Grand De?parts’ for the 2014 Tour de France and the annual legacy race the Tour de Yorkshire which has continued to grow each year, with record breaking spectator numbers.”
Hennis will be accompanied on this trip by Team Manager Calvert “Junie” Fleming (VP of Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association) and his father Brian Hennis.
The trio aims to be in the UK by Saturday September 21st to attend the opening ceremony and more importantly, for Hennis to train the routes and acclimatize with enough time before the race days. The trio will stay in Leeds, in an effort to be near Harrogate – the official destination of the week long of activities and Doncaster, which will host town for the start of the U23 Road Race.
The Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association, The Department of Sports and Hennis’ Private Support Team are diligently working to organize and raise funds for the trip in an effort to ensure smooth logistics, correct equipment and necessary support will be provided for such a high level opportunity.
Hennis’ team is very grateful to the Anguilla Social Security Board who continues to show their commitment to improving life for all, as they covered the cost of a much needed bicycle in time for Hasani to train.
In addition to direct sponsorship outreach to both the public & private sector, a GoFundMe page has been set up so that supporters in Anguilla and abroad can contribute to facilitating the seamless participation in the event. For more information on how to donate, contact Mirabelle West on +1 264 476 8716 or Calvert “Junie” Fleming on +1 264 235 7022.
– Press Release
