Zip Riders win La Ruta Maya River Challenge 2010

James Adderley

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and today we’ve got a jammed pack Sports Monday for you.

To start, let’s quickly jump into La Ruta Maya River Challenge which blasted off its thirteenth edition Friday inside the Macal River at San Ignacio under the gaze of thousands of fans which gives testimony to its meteoric rise in popularity over a relatively short period of time. Eighty-six teams including thirteen foreign units are lined up for the seven a.m. start and the calm of the river is shattered by the power of the paddles as men, women, boys and girls set off for one hundred and seventy miles in search of fame and fortune or adventure or even experience or maybe all of the aforementioned. Immediately the big boys establish themselves, so when we join the Belize Bank at Iguana Creek Bridge it’s no surprise that perennial champion, the Belize Bank is in command of the lead. However, in year thirteen there’s a real and present threat to their continued dominance by Jeffrey Rhaburn and the zip riders who do not even bother to disguise their ambitions. La Ruta Maya brings out all types, especially with seven categories being offered. You have Grumpy Old Men, metal workers, church types, school teachers, environmentalists, cane farmers, the Belize Coast Guard, printers, mixed teams and all female teams. However, make no mistake about it, the competition is deadly serious as zip riders demonstrates by taking the forty-nine mile first stage a full minute of the Belize Bank, who knows full well a one minute lead is not necessarily manageable.

So day two finds us at Banana Bank for the early morning start of the grueling sixty mile journey to Bermudian Landing, which will certainly separate the men form the boys in terms of time. For the Belize Bank, it’s a perfect start as they jump out clearly knowing that today’s performance is pivotal if they’re to capture the lead. At More Tomorrow the bank is still in the lead with Zip Riders right on their tail while Caribbean Pride would not let the frontrunners move out of reach. In the meantime, you folks at home must know how tough this race is as this picture shows an athlete succumbing to exhaustion and is being serviced by the first aid team. As a matter of fact, thirteen teams abandoned the race today as we head to the finish of stage two at Bermudian Landing and guess what Zip Riders is grabbing the W by some seventy seconds over the mighty Belize Bank. Some two and a half minutes later, C.P.B.L. pulls in alone for third place and it looks like a three team race going forward.

In the meantime, the thirty-six mile third leg of la Ruta Maya gets off at Bermudian Landing and the intensity of the competition brings a frenzied start that picks off two more that overturn as a result. And folks, just maybe the people in charge should clear the debris in the Belize River for this event. Nevertheless, at Isabella Bank Zip Riders have padded to the lead and are being chased by the Belize Bank and Citrus Products of Belize. Reagan International is also hanging in there making a bid for third place. At Flowers Bank the big three remain locked in combat. Belize Bank tries to push ahead but both Zip Riders and C.P.B.L. respond immediately. The Belize Bank clings to the lead when the race paddles past Grace Bank and it’s now a four team race for the third stage as Reagan International is back in the hunt. On our way to Burrell Boom for the finish, we were forced to detour because of this accident which involved service personnel in this year’s event and it’s a tragedy for which we must extend sympathies. Inside Burrell Boom, Zip Riders sprint to grab this third stage win in a row to extend their lead to 1:27 over Belize Bank. C.P.B.L. secures another third place finish while Reagan International settles for fourth. In an effort to save time, we take you immediately to the conclusion of the 2010 La Ruta Maya. Belize Bank is challenging for at least a stage win against Zip Riders, but it’s not to be as Zip Riders turns up the pressure to grab the twenty-five mile final stage. Belize Bank finishes second and C.P.B.L. third.

Jerry Rhaburn, Captain, Zip Riders

“Well today we were just conserving, trying to conserve our energy for the sprint. We wanted to give the fans something to cheer for and at the end of the day it’s a tough race and we had a good game plan for this race; win the first stage by minutes and try to ride in with the guys because we know these guys from Belize Bank, they are a tough team and they’ve been winning the game for a really long time and if you’re not serious you can’t beat those guys.”

James Adderley

“You won all four stages; that certainly shows some kind of dominance.”

Jerry Rhaburn

“I guess I could say now that we were the strongest team out there this year.”

Folks, we could get anybody from La Ruta Maya going to press time, but we believe Lost and Found took the mixed class and we’re certain Peace Makers won the female category. However, the good news is that we’re airing a one hour special on Friday to give you all a more detailed look at the thirteenth staging of La Ruta Maya so stay tuned.

Turning to the cycling scene, we caught up with the twenty-ninth Belmopan Cycling Classic at mile four heading to the finish line. A six man lead pack enjoys a 2:07 lead over the pelathon when Peter Choto of Team Zamir executes this brilliant move that the other five could not counter. At the finish line, it’s Peter Choto of Team Zamir with the big W in uncontested fashion. Froggy Leslie of Santino’s wins the sprint for second place, Jose Choto of Western Spirit hangs on to third, Roger Troyer of Sagitun pulls up fourth, the Guatemalan Luis Santiago riding for Zamir finishes fifth and Nives Carrasco, a Costa Rican riding for Benny’s Megabytes rounds out the top six.

In the meantime folks, look out for our Cross Country show which kicks off Thursday at eight-thirty p.m.

In basketball news, the Ballin 4 Life Tournament blasted off inside the Civic Center Friday as the UB Black Jaguars faced off against Bros Habet Berger Boys and it’s the Berger Boys getting the first points of the senior season when Edward Baptist finds Alfred Bainton who sinks the three pointer. At the other end, UB responds with this penetration by Winston Pratt who would lead all scorers with thirty points. Off the missed shot, Elsworth Itza gets two of his thirteen points with the put back in traffic. Now watch Leroy Loriano with the well timed interception. He dishes to Stephen Williams who scores the easy bucket for two of his thirteen game points and at the end of the first quarter it’s UB with a five point lead. In the second, Alfred Bainton hits his second tre for the Habet Boys with this offering. He would put up twenty points tonight. However, his team shows poor defense giving Daniel Nelberto this easy bucket for two of his nineteen points. And when Richard Soto hits this three pointer to end the half, UB Jaguars go up 51-37. Soto would put up twelve points. In the third quarter, Greg Rudon blows past the UB defense for two of his team high twenty-one points to pull his team to within ten. To put it bluntly, Berger boys had nobody to contain Winston Pratt as UB goes on to crush the Habet Team 107-77.

On the junior undercard Belize Bank Bulldogs mashed the Truckers 78-63. In the other senior match on Sunday, Belize Bank Bulldogs tamed the San Pedro Tiger Sharks in an 81-66 bashing while on the junior ticket Rising Stars outscore Ferrari 70-58. Friday’s ticket at the City Center will find Truckers in action against OW Revving Rebels in the Junior opener. The senior showdown matches Ebony Lake with Belmopan Bandits and the Junior nightcap will find Youth Hostel facing Burrell Boom Celtics.

Turning to the football scene, F.C. Belize downed Hankook Verdes 1-zip yesterday at the M.C.C. Grounds in B.P.F.L. play. Paradise Freedom Fighters beat BRC Blazers by that same score. The B.D.F. burned San Pedro See Dogs also 1-nil and make it an all 1-nil weekend as Georgetown Ibayani beat Shanaiah Corozal by that same score.

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.