NEVIS CYCLE & TRIATHLON CLUB

The athletes and members of the Nevis Cycle & Triathlon Club are celebrating the passing of a milestone this month as they have been in existence for 10 yrs. Club founder and President Winston Crooke is very pleased with the progress the club has made, and puts its success down to the level of commitment from its athletes and support personnel, and even ex members who now live elsewhere still send in their support from afar.
Continuing its style of operation, sending athletes out in the region to compete and spread the news about Nevis, we have reports of successes both home and abroad.
Andy and Wendy Brear recently returned form attending the Barbados Marathon event, Wendy and Andy Brear flew the Nevis flag proudly as they did battle with the rest of the Caribbean at this years race, Andy was racing in the 1/2 Marathon, whilst Wendy had the daunting task of completing the whole thing. Andy took 8th place in the 40-49 male category in the half marathon. Whilst Wendy took a well deserved 1st place in her age group competing in the full marathon, well done Wendy and Andy.
Here on Nevis this past weekend the 2nd of the Min-tri series took place, with distances of 350 mtr swim, 15 km bike, and a 3km run.
In the male category and overall winner was 1st Keith Jones, 2nd Jaime Moreno, and 3rd Greg Phillip. Another steady performance by Keith with his bike and run bringing him to the front of the pack with an ever improving Jaime hard on his heels.
In the female category in 1st place was Kristina Stoney, 2nd Sarah Petre-Mears, and 3rd Dannielle Moreno in 4th place was Nicole Forson, Nicole was competing in her very first triathlon so special congrats to her, and hats off to a dominant performance by rising star Kristina.
On the same weekend Reggie Douglas, Alex Isles and James Weekes traveled over to Antigua to support the return of Triathlon to Antigua. Under the leadership of Owen Clashing and the newly formed Antigua & Barbuda Triathlon Association, a revival of this historic event took place. Starting in Dickenson Bay for the 1200 mtr swim, the athletes, 46 in all, changed to the bike and headed out across Antigua for 22 kms to end up at Cobbs Cross for the next transition to run up to the top of the very scenic Shirley Heights, a distance of 3kms (uphill)
Amongst the field were veteran triathlon campaigner Peter kelsick, who started this event 20 yrs ago, and members of the Antigua cycling fraternity, including Robert Marsh, who was attempting his first triathlon.
The weather was against the athletes as they started the swim, with rain wetting the roads in advance of the bike leg, however, it did not affect the riders adversely as it began to dry out. The Nevis team were showing their experience in the swim and holding position in the front pack of swimmers, with Reggie exiting not far behind the race leader, followed by Alex and then James.
After a swift transition it was on to the bike and a very demanding course lay ahead, Reggie was in good form and was soon making up ground on the lead teams, James meanwhile had made up the time he lost to Alex in the swim and passed Alex at the halfway mark. Also doing very well was road biker Robert Marsh who, after a surprisingly competent swim blazed his way past both James, Alex and the rest of the field. Coming into Cobbs Cross for the transition to the run, Reggie was in 2rd place overall and 1st individual male, he had only to maintain his form on the run to take the top honours, and maintain he did completing the ardous uphill run to finish in the number one position, a fabulous start for Nevis. Next into the transition was the 2nd placed team followed by Robert Marsh with James and Alex coming in together not too far behind Robert, the question was, can Robert run? James and Alex took off in hot pursuit up the road to Shirley Heights, unfortunately for James and Alex it appeared that Robert was more than competent as a runner, as he held off James to finish in a well deserved 2nd place followed closely by James in 3rd and pushing Alex off the podium for 4th.
A fantastic result for the Nevis team that was celebrated by all spectators and athletes alike.
The Nevis team had to commend the organizers, volunteers and police for their superb support for this event and promised to return in 2007.