Michael Lewis tops field in Krem Classic
James Adderley, Reporting
Good evening, I?m James Adderley with the first dish of sports Monday for the year 2005. Of course the New Year?s Day Cycling Classics held its annual appearance on the first of January intact and some sixty senior riders made a bid to the biggest man in Belize on the very first day of the year.
We caught up with the finish at the Belcan Bridge yesterday to witness an all out old fashion head on collision between two of Belize?s finest.
Just for a moment the sprint is a dead heat until the 1992 Cross Country Champion big Mike Lewis pulls out the after burner to fire Shane Vasquez of Cayo into second place.
As the wild Veteran Big Mike Lewis grabs the first big cycling title of the year with a time of three hours fifty-four minutes Hey, big Mike won the inaugural ride of the year classic 1991.
Ian Smith who mounted a tremendous effort in tracking down the lead duo in their ninety miles race from the Corozal Free Zone to Belize City, fell short in the attempt and Settle for third place.
Mateo Cruz pulls up fourth, Robert Mariano grabs fifth place, three times Cross Country Champion Charlie Lewis pulls in for sixth place, as Barney Brown who finishes seventh ,Ernest Meighan eighth, Gregory Lovell takes ninth place while Ernest Thurton rounds off the top ten.
Big Mike Lewis was certainly very happy with the big W.
Mike Lewis, 3rd Place Winner
?I just ride to suit with the way how my body feels. At mile twenty I feel like I feel strong. So I said I will try a thing. When I gone, the crowd never react so I just moved.?
?I was worried when my water bottle jumped out because I need water to survive down the road.?
?I rather put all out to finish instead of staying out at the back to have the crowd catch me.?
Shane Vasquez, 2nd Place Winner
?When were in that big break I didn?t want to do anything. I was just waiting for the last part of the race. Within the last sixteen miles of the race, I know I could keep out the whole field within sixteen miles. So they would have really have to chase me to hard if they wanted to catch me in the last sixteen miles.?
?When Mike did that attack, that was a really perfect attack he did because I said I would go up an use him and things like that. But if never came on my wheel, I was going to do it by myself.?
?After when Mike gave me a little courage and putting in a little more than when we first started that?s when he gave me that courage that he is willing to go. So I said go for it. All I had in my mind was to let the best man win.?
Ian Smith, 3rd Place Winner
?I was in the break early but right now I am suffering from the flu. I caught the flu yesterday and so I was cramping up and really wasn?t feeling well. For my fans that know me, when I am in a break I just don?t get drop that easy. I really wasn?t feeling very well. So when you guys saw me fall back it was because I wasn?t feeling good at that point. But I recuperated enough to have a good sprint.?
?I have been riding from the time I was fourteen years old and I am accustomed to from the start of the race, from the gun fires, I can control a whole race. So once I ride that kind of way, obviously I wont have the legs for a sprint. So because of that I wasn?t known for a sprinter. People didn?t think of me as sprinter. But once I have the support of a team I can beat almost anybody out here.?
On the junior side this sole rider cruises in unchallenged have broken away from the pack to be the best that he can be and he does and we say Congratulations to thirteen year old Peter Choto. Justin Williams pulls up second while Domingo Lewis rides in at third place.
In the meantime, the finish of the ladies race eluded us but we did catch up with New Year?s Day winner, Marinet Flowers, who prevailed in a field sprint. She certainly was very impressive.
Marinet Flowers, 1st Place Female Winner
?We started from the round about by Save-U and I knew I could sprint left her but then I didn?t want to take any chance because I was only on one gear. So I just said I would take a chance coming into the finishing line because I didn?t want to change any gear and accident happen at the finish of the race. So coming on to the tape about thirty meters I just overtake her because I knew I had it.?
Meanwhile folks let?s head to Burrel Boom where another Traditional New Year?s Day event reigned supreme.
The Santiago Castillo Cup of Horse Racing and we join the prestigious seven Furlong A class event featuring the four finest steeds in land.
The starting gate swings open and they?re off. The four horses are still together going around the first turn.
Around the final turn though, it has become a two horse race. The other two competitors launch a brave attack which forces Bird Buck on Answer the Call to pull out the whip. The call gets answered as Richard Hoare Stables takes the big W. Tesore of Bradley Stables grabs second while Africa settles for third.
In the meantime the Annual Awards for horse racing were issued out in Burrel Boom. Guy Stables from Cayo won the award for the Upgrade Horse of the Year, an award they had to share with Beaten Stables also of Cayo. This award was issued in memory of Darwin Rodriguez. The Thoroven Horse of the year was won by Bradley Stable. And yes, Finley Thomas walked away with the Jockey of the year 2004 Award. Hey guys when you are big, you?re large. Let?s do it again.
In closing folks, the Annual BPFL Regents Insurance Cup Tournament kicks off this Saturday inside the Michael Ashcroft Stadium with all eight teams competing. We have been waiting a long time for football play. It?s finally here and we certainly couldn?t wait any longer.
Hey folks, that?s our show for today. We certainly invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I?m James Adderley.
