NEVIS CYCLE & TRIATHLON CLUB

Oualie Beach was a hive of activity as the 4^th annual Winfes kicked off in a big way on the beachside, at the same time the members of TNCTC gathered on the roadside to compete in the 2^nd annual ‘Fountain Classic’ road bike race. This course for this event is one of the most challenging, as the long course route took the riders from Oualie towards town up the ‘Claw’ bypass road around the roundabout, back up Pump road, heading towards and then up Jessups Hill, over the top of Barnes Ghaut, down through Cotton Ground and finishing with a climb up to the Village of Fountain. The shorter course had the rider miss out Jessups but take the hill close to St Thomas church, coming round into Cotton Ground and again finishing in Fountain, a distance of 18kms the long course being 23kms.

 It was clear that without any mishaps the fight for 1^st place was going to be between Reggie and James, as they are in full training mode in preparation for the upcoming OECS Cycling Championships,and down to the wire it did come, but once again Reggie held james off to take the pole position in an exiting battle.However, this was not to be the sole point of drama in the race, as the up and coming young cyclist put on their own show of skill and determination. First mention has to go to Triffon Simmons who has shown remarkable progress in his first race season, and starting to nap at the heels of dynamic young gun Assim Chapman, unfortunately it was not going to be Assim’s day as he flatted out on the Jessups Hill climb, this left the field clear for Triffon to take his first win as a junior Elite rider.

Sasha Lloyd showed some fierce determination over the long course as the only junior Elite female, despite being left behind on the ‘Claw’ by the Elite males she fought back, catching and passing Winston, her dad Matt and then Greg to finish 1^st junior female and a great 5^th overall. Sasha is in preparation to make her debut as a young triathlete when she travels to compete in the ‘Boardwalk Triathlon’ in SXM next week, we wish her all the best.

 Competing in and winning the Short Course category overall was 12 yr old Cadet rider Kurtis Huggins, who along with Sasha provided the best sprint finish of the day, despite being in different categories they fought tooth and claw to the line, a wonderful display of heart and stamina after the long climb. Special mention also to newcomers Duryan Cozier and Kriston Liburd taking second/third overall in the short course, and 1^st and 2^nd Junior Male, not forgetting Gordon ‘Doc’ Avery as he romped home unchallenged in the masters division, keep it up Doc!!