Ernest Meighan wins Valentine?s Classic
Good evening. I?m James Adderley and welcome to this hefty portion of Sports Monday. The Third Annual Shell Valentine Cycle Classic took center stage yesterday as some fifty riders took off around 9:10 am from San Ignacio. Of course the starting line is always a spectacle of colors and here is cycling official Melvin Torres getting things started in this eighty eight mile journey.
On route to Benque Viejo, the Santino?s Uprising team led by James Frampton goes for the breakaway but it?s still early in the proceedings. On the way back from Benque into San Ignacio another breakaway is in progress and while you see James Frampton up front, it?s Douglas Lamb who takes the station prize at the Hawsworth Bridge. Of course for Glenn Godoy, San Ignacio brings a puncture and Glen would never catch up again with the lead pack.
So folks this is the 11 man breakaway that would eventually produce the champion namely, Frampton, Meighan, Lewis, McGreggor, Williams, O?Brien, Morris, Lamb, “Pizza Boy” Goff and Fred Usher.
At Roaring Creek “Pizza Boy” tries to pull away but the other 10 riders don?t play this move much attention. In the meantime, Collet “Bunas” Mejia and Ray Catt try to reach the lead pack but this gallant effort would event to naught.
By the time the leaders arrive at Hattieville, the prize is down to Frampton, Meighan, Lewis, McGreggor, Williams and Lamb. Some four minutes behind Charles Lewis organizes this close group intent on reaching the front.
Entering into the National Stadium, however, there are only the riders Meighan, Lewis, Frampton and Williams-Lamb got a puncture and Michael McGreggor wilted under the cruel front pacing. Now the big 4 prepare for the final assault and believe me the National Stadium needs some maintenance work.
Nevertheless, it?s James Frampton initiating the spirit, Mike Lewis and JawMeighan immediately respond while Williams tries to hang on. But it?s Ernest Meighan on the inside who generates the burst needed to reach the tape first. Big Michael Lewis is forced into second, James Frampton settles for third while young Floyd Williams hangs on to fourth place in his first big time finish. And here is Douglas Lamb rounding out the top 5. Ernest Meighan finished in 3 hours, 59 minutes but he still holds the record of 3:35:03 set last year.
Ernest “JawMeighan” Meighan, Winner
“I was back there when the first breakaway mek and I decided to attack on that break and finally got there and it go work all the way to Belize City. I had a really strong race, you know.”
Q: “Like your fans are shouting in the back there “back to back”. What does that mean to Ernest JawMeighan?”
Ernest “JawMeighan” Meighan
“Well James, When I see this breakaway. I decided to feel how strong I strong and I decided I can take a shot at it and at the end I was still strong and I won the race.”
Q: “You were the man who led the pace for most of the way. How do you feel finishing third in a field of four?”
James Frampton, Third Place
“Well actually very, very disappointed, you know. But obviously “JawMeighan” and Michael were teaming up together and at five and six miles they decided they weren?t going to pull anymore.”
Incidentally folks, Belizean Cycling has won the protest lodged for Ian Smith at the Honduran Games and guess what Ian Smith is the bronze medalist in the road race event. It?s a first for Belize and yes, the Salvadoran rider will have to return the bronze medal; it now belongs to Ian Smith. Congratulations!
Turning to the football scene, Acros of Belize City made easy work of the Builders Hardware Bandits of Belmopan at the M.C.C. Grounds yesterday. Gentle gets the feed from Joe West and launches this bomb that inches just outside the sticks. It?s some 17 minutes deep when Mark Leslie embarrasses the Belmopan keeper to score in an empty goal to put Acros up 1-nil. 2 minutes later, Clifford Usher finds Joe West and a right away right foot while lost puts the city team up 2-zip. Belmopan looks to impress the scoreboard off this pot skip which puts the ball inches outside the sticks.
Immediately after intermission Clifford Usher looks for his goal but the score remains 2-nil. However, folks Usher does get on the scoreboard with this right foot push that tangles in the net behind the Belmopan keeper. Acros goes on to win 3-zip and now own the homefield advantage in the B.F.L. Championships Series against defending Champion Juventus. It will be Juventus because yesterday at the island – the San Pedro Dolphins were held to a 1-1 tie by Juventud Benquena. That puts them out of the event.
Hey folks, that?s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place next week.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
