ROADTOWN Tortola, BVI, April 26th 2011 - Lloyd, Antiguan veteran and national rider, won the 2011 Sir Francis Drake Highway Challenge held yesterday Sunday April 24, 2011 on the western end of Tortola.
And while it was not a full domination of Antiguan victory as the team did last year, he brushed off strong competition from local rider Orano Andrews to hold on to victory in a sprint finish in a time of 3 hours 4 minutes and 2 seconds. Andrews followed just two seconds later. Omari King, another Antiguan took third place in a time of 3 hours and 12 minutes. In fourth was Antonio Andrews in 3:18:36, with Peter Wilmott in 5th in a time of 3:25:11 and Adrian Dale in sixth in 3:35:59.
Speaking to VINO following his victory, Lloyd said he trained particularly for the event and came with the intention of winning it.
He has always placed in the top five for the past four years, earning a fourth, two thirds and a second last year.
Lloyd considered his win a great accomplishment and described the race as a “very tough” one.
Lloyd plans to return to compete in future races but feel satisfied that he was able to garner this victory under his belt.
There was only one female competitor in the ladies division, Kay Reddy, she completed her two laps in 3 hours 5 minutes and 35 seconds.
There was strong competition in the Under-19 Junior division, which saw the two local riders and visiting junior riding the three lap distance for the first time.
In the end, it was local rider Shaquil Sammuel who sprinted away to victory in a time of 2 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds. Antiguan junior Tasheed Gordon followed in 2:32:35, with local rider Barney Knocholds at his heels, in 2:32:37.
There was only one Under-15 Junior, Justin Solomon, who completed his one lap in a time of 53 minutes and 30 seconds.
The Masters Division was dominated by Hank Vergeer who finished his two lap course in a time of 1:35:54 to take first place. Rusty Burns came in second in 1:49:25 with John Shirley in third, in a time of 1:49:31.
In the Grand Masters, Jim Cullimore came in first in 1:49:29 with Joe Gaicinto in second in 1:58:10.
Alistair Abrehart was the lone Veteran rider, clocking 1:44:06 for his two lap course and lone fun Novice Philomena Robertson finished her two laps in 2:16:50.
The Sir Francis Drake Highway Challenge was sponsored by Road Town Wholesale Limited and Gatorade. Horizon Yacht Charters sponsored the Junior category.
Article taken from Virgin Islands News Online
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