The morning of Friday, February 22nd saw a frenzy of athletic activity on the sporting grounds of Ronald Webster’s Park as the ALHCS held its Annual Road Race. It was part of the school’s sporting activities leading up to its Annual Sports Day on Tuesday, February 26th.
The traditional race event took the customary 3-mile route from Tropical Flower Distributors in the Long Road, through The Farrington, into The Quarter, and on to Webster’s Park in The Valley. There were five houses competing: Yellow, Pink, Maroon, Orange and Purple.
Arriving at the finish line in first place was Yellow House represented by 2nd former, Reba Stott. Reba is a streamlined, featherweight runner, and The Anguillian chanced to speak with her about her astounding victory. She said: “Well, the way coming down was hard, but it took determination to reach in. It took some hard work to reach in to the finish line. I came second last year, so I must say that I improved.” When asked if she had practiced hard for the race, Reba replied: “I haven’t really practiced that hard. I don’t really train, but I am involved in athletics so it was not too difficult for me.”
In second place was another 2nd former, Defari Francis of Maroon House. When asked what it felt like to sprint the 3-mile route, Defatri responded. “I had a lot of cramps on the way down and my chest and legs were hurting terribly. My legs felt like they were going to give out, but I kept on pushing. I was determined to stick with the run. I love to run. I came in at 4th place last year, and it feels good to be in 2nd place today.”
Amidst the crowd, The Anguillian caught up with Mr. Trevor “Ras Bucket” Davis and Mr. Keith “Maduki” Brooks. Ras Bucket was asked to give his impressions of the morning’s race. He declared: “I feel very happy this morning to see that our youth are carrying on with athletics. I would like for everyone to support them. I have always said we need a track here to help our young people. They are making us proud, and they need to be encouraged. And when there are people here like Maduki — who was a champion in the olden days — supporting our young people today, it shows that the interest in sports is growing.”
Maduki is a road race veteran who contributed much by his participation in the school’s earlier annual grueling race which was at that time popularly called “Cross-Country”. He remarked: “I was a regular winner in the annual Cross-Country races. There would be a five-mile run for the seniors and a three-mile race for the juniors.
“The seniors’ race would start from the park grounds here, up to Lake’s store, over to the airport, up through Tanglewood, then we would pass down through The Quarter, and back on to the park. The juniors’ course would take them into The Valley Bottom, up The Valley Well road, over to Lucas Wilson, past the airport, back down to Lake’s store and back to the finishing point on the park. That was the Cross-Country Race.”
When asked what his views were on the race today, in comparison to those earlier times, Maduki answered: “The problem that we have here is that all of the athletes are doing the same distance, so it will be difficult to move them up to the next stage. But, otherwise, I like what I see this morning. There is a whole lot of potential here, but in this day and age these runners need to be coached — they need to be nurtured.”
Maduki remarked that he had been involved in this type of race for all of his life — for over 50 years — since 1966. He said that he was determined to do what he can to improve the quality of the road race. He hinted that in the not-too-distant future there would come on stream a memorial scholarship fund to carry on the sporting legacy of his deceased brother, Ras B, who was a sprinter himself, and an avid supporter of these kinds of school races.
