Just days before the official Anguilla Day festivities, cyclists from across the island gathered on Sunday, 24th May 2026, for the annual Anguilla Day Race — an event that served as an early sporting tribute to the island’s spirit of endurance, resilience and community pride.
Held along the Queen Elizabeth Avenue, the race brought together senior competitors, veteran riders and an impressive roster of young cyclists. Though the atmosphere surrounding the event was relatively relaxed, the action on the road remained highly competitive as riders pushed through the demanding 60-kilometre course.
In the Senior Elite category, Delroy Carty of Anglec delivered a strong performance to secure first place after maintaining a steady pace throughout the race. The Juniors division produced another successful outing for Wheels on Fire – AXA, with Ephraim Hughes-Hodge taking first place while teammate Kamari Ruan followed closely behind in second.
The Masters categories showcased experienced cyclists whose competitive edge remains firmly intact. Irwin Reid rode to first place in Masters A, with Samuel Basil finishing second, while Yannick Arnoult claimed top honours in Masters B ahead of Craig Emmanuel of Brutal Pedals – AXA, who secured second place.
Much of the day’s attention, however, centred on the island’s younger riders, many of whom displayed confidence and composure well beyond their years. In the U15 Male division, Drae Hodge of Wheels on Fire – AXA claimed first place ahead of Zarnell Hodge of Brutal Pedals and Carden Petty of Wheels on Fire – AXA, who finished second and third respectively.
Wheels on Fire – AXA also dominated the U13 category, with Haseem Hennis finishing first, Makhai Hodge second and D’Marri Bryan third. In the U11 division, Matteo Richardson secured first place while Z’kari Lake-Panchoo finished second. The youngest category of the day, U9, saw Raziik Webster ride confidently to first place.
The Anguilla Cycling Association extended gratitude to sponsors Tropical Distributors, Millennium Sounds, 5-Star Media and 5C’s Cycling for their support in staging the event. Organisers also thanked the Royal Anguilla Police Force and the road wardens for assisting with safety and traffic coordination throughout the race.
Recognition was further given to the participating clubs, Wheels on Fire Club and Brutal Pedals Club, along with the independent cyclists who took part in the competition.
With the Anguilla Day Race now completed, the island’s cycling community is expected to reunite from Friday, 3rd July to Sunday, 5th July 2026, for the 25th anniversary staging of the John T Memorial Cycling Race — an event many cyclists and supporters are already anticipating as one of the highlights of the sporting summer.
By Janissa Fleming
