“This is sweet”, one brightly-dressed senior rider remarked as the friendly bicycle race got off to a start on the early morning of Whit Monday holiday, June 1.
The race, in which some 135 cyclists participated, started on the grounds of the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Gazebo, well before the heat of the sun. The event, called “The Anguilla Day Ride,” was part of a few activities to celebrate Anguilla Day 2020 and was hosted by the Anguilla Cycling Association.
The race headed north to the Webster Park Roundabout, across to the Queen Elizabeth Avenue, into Stoney Ground, on to the Shoal Bay Roundabout, into Deep Waters, Welches, Island Harbour, down to Mount Fortune, East End, the Sandy Hill Roundabout; The Quarter, the Airport Roundabout; on to the Jeremiah Gumbs Highway; Blowing Point; the Spring Path Road; up to the Anguilla Trading Company, the South Hill Main Road; George Hill and back to the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Gazebo.
The above information was provided to The Anguillian newspaper by Ms. Sharon Lowe, President of the Anguilla Cycling Association.
Among those present at the cycling race was Mr. Andre Collins, Director of the Department of Sports.
He commented: “I was really excited to see so many people out here just after we have been able to lift the restrictions under the Covid-19 Response. It really shows the resilience that sport brings. People are really excited to be out this morning in their numbers, and I congratulate the Anguilla Cycling Association for putting this event together. We hope that as the riders get out there, and stretch their legs after being such a long time being away from cycling, that it reminds all of us that if we take care of ourselves, and stay healthy, we can continue to celebrate in good health and happiness.”
Just before the event, the Early Morning Riders presented a new bicycle to young cyclist Hector Rogers, one of the Cycling Association’s members whose bike got damaged last year. The presentation was made by Junie Fleming, the Association’s Vice President.