June 16-17 the St Kitts/Nevis Cycling Federation hosted the 2007

[Anguillan newsboy]

On June 16-17 the St Kitts/Nevis Cycling Federation headed by Winston Crooke, hosted the 2007 OECS Cycling Championships in the sport loving island of Nevis. This is the third year the event was staged after many years of non inclusion in the OECS Sports Calendar. The field included riders from the BVI, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and guest cyclist’s from St Marten.

The sport of cycling is no stranger to the shores of Nevis or their organizing committee having played host to a number of cycling events as well as the Nevis OECS Triathlon which is an annual event. This made for many exciting races with an excellent turn out of spectators to cheer on the cyclist’s in the many races that took place, the OECS Road Race, Team Race, Female Race and a race for Novices, all necessary in the development of the Sport.

Hosting a sporting event is not an easy task at present with the costs ***ociated with such a venture increasing, airfares, accommodation, local transportation and meals have all seen sharp increases recently and in particular airfares. The organizing committee for the event must be singled out for the magnificent job they did with the scarce resources available to them. With this in mind, the Sports Desk approached LIAT to get rebated airfares for the cyclist’s and officials as well as to waive the charge ***ociated with the freight for cycles and was pleased with the offer from the airline, this ensured a well attended event.

After a grueling 75 mile ride along the roads of Nevis, with the gentle hills seducing the riders into thinking the race would be easy, at the finish the race was easily won by Robert Marsh of Antigua and Barbuda who crossed the line in a time of 3:37:59 almost four minutes ahead of his nearest rival Tyrone Thomas of Grenada who also came second in the 2006 race, in a time of 3:41:38, third was Anguillan Ronnie Bryan who as well came third in the 2006 event, in a time of 3:42:16, fourth was Grenada’s Troy Felix with a time of 3:48:50 and in fifth position was another cyclist from Anguilla Claude Richarson who’s time was 3:48:53.

Next year the OECS Sports Desk looks forward to another exciting cycling event, this time in one of our Windward Islands.