BVI's Chris Ghiorse, 3rd from top, chasing uphill on the 1st of 16laps.

Team BVI walked away from the Caribbean Cycling Championships, this past weekend in Aruba, feeling very encouraged about the performances. The best performance was turned in by Chris Ghiorse, who finished 6th in the Elite men’s race, and secured a spot for the BVI for the 2007 Pan American Games.

“It was a very productive and encouraging weekend!” BVI Team manager David A. Thomas said. “I am very proud of the way the team performed this weekend. All of the performances were very good, especially Chris’s. I was really impressed with the way he rode, especially seeing that he hadn’t really been racing or training much lately.” The BVI Cycling Federation sent 5 cyclists to the 5th Annual Caribbean Cycling Championships in Aruba. Darel Christopher Jr. was the youngest person on the team, but the one with the most promise. “We were really excited for him. I knew that this would be a good test for him,” Thomas stated. “The juniors from Puerto Rico, Barbados, and Aruba were really strong. We may have been a little out of our league, but I am still happy with his performances. We now have something to build on.”

BVI's Darel Christopher Jr. on his time trial run.

Patlian Johnson, the only female cyclist on the team, was also very impressed with the team’s performances, and with her own. “I think that we did well, but we still have a ways to go to be more competitive,” Johnson stated. When asked about how she felt she did? “It was an eye opener! I think that I rode better than I did last year. I felt a lot faster too. The girls weren’t going that fast all the time and I felt that I could have gone faster. I’m disappointed that I got lapped, but I am psyched to be better. I need to prepare better mentally… I need to be more aggressive.” Johnson also said that she is definitely motivated to put more time in on the bike. “I have to ride more….it’s the only way for me to improve, but I am ready for it. I have get better!” When asked about the rest of the team’s performances? “I was very impressed with Chris. I’ve never seen him ride like that before. Neil impressed me too. He was very aggressive in the early stages of the race. He attacked on the climb and left the whole peleton behind.” And Darel? “Darel is really supportive and encouraging. He had a problem with his knee; but still rode 5 laps…that’s guts. But it’s Darel Jr. that I’m most impressed with. He has so much potential and he is very committed and excited about what he’s doing. The other juniors were twice his size, but he fought on to the finish.”

Martinique's Laurent, Arcade, and Barbados's Clarke all smiles after the race.

Eleven countries participated in this year’s championships, with Suriname being the newest country present. “The Aruba Cycling Federation did a wonderful job in hosting this championships,” team manager Thomas stated. “Everything was top notch, and first class. Great job Aruba!!!”

Results:

Time Trial Juniors 22.5km

1. Rowald Kelkboom, Aruba 34 mins, 50 secs; 2. Anthony Galarza, Puerto Rico 34:52; 3. Quincy Jones, Barbados 35:31; 4. Jyme Bridges, Antigua 36:23; 5. Juan Martinez, Puerto Rico 37:00; 6. Ryvel Arrendell, Curacao 37:24; 7. Marlon Antrobus, St. Vincent 38:01; 8. Timothy Kook, Curacao 38:37; 9. Sidney Merryweather, Aruba 39:27; 10. Darel Christopher Jr. BVI 40:22.

Time Trial Women 22.5km

1. Marie Rosado, Puerto Rico 34:57; 2. Lynn Patchett, Bermuda 35:06; 3. Susan Brown, USVI 37:35; 4. Fabiola Acaron, Puerto Rico 37:51; 5. Emelie Sweerts, Curacao 39:22; 6. Corma Vroegindeweij, Aruba 41:13; 7. Saskia Koomen, Aruba 42:09; 8. Patlian Johnson, BVI 48:25

Time Trial Men 37.5km

Junior Champion Puerto Rico's Anthony Galarza, Barbados's Quincy Jones, and St. Vincent's Marlon Antrobus.

1. Herve Arcade, Martinique 53:08; 2. Michael Laurent, Martinique 53:44; 3. Agustin Font, Puerto Rico 55:44; 4. Phillip Clarke, Barbados 56:04; 5. Milton Miranda, Puerto Rico 56:04; 6. Mitjenka van Toorenburg, Aruba 56:49; 7. Robert Marsh, Antigua 57:48; 8. Lucien Dirksz, Aruba 58:48; 9. Ken Jackson, Antigua 59:07; 10. Kent Richardson, Bermuda 59:29; 11. Maximillian Irving, Aruba 1:00:23; 12. Iwan Jonker, Curacao 1:00:41; 13. Percy Cooman, Suriname 1:01:01; 14. Stefanus Carbiere, Suriname 1:01:23; 15. Albert Vrolijk, Aruba 1:01:23; 16. Jamie Perestrelo, Curacao 1:04:02; 17. Neil Thomas, BVI 1:04:13; 18. Gabe Webber, USVI 1:04:14

Road Race Junior 52.5km

1.Anthony Galarza, Puerto Rico 1:27:05; 2.Quincy Jones, Barbados 1:28:20; 3.Marlon Antrobus, St. Vincent 1:28:30; 4.Rowald Kelkboom, Aruba 1:29:16; 5.Ryvel Arrendell, Curacao 1:29:16; 6.Mario Forde, Barbados 1:29:22; 7.Juan Martinez, Puerto Rico 1:29:30; 8.Timothy Kook, Curacao 1:30:34; 9.Jyme Bridges, Antigua 1:34:17; 10.Sidney Merryweather, Aruba 1:36:30; 11.Daniel Juliana, Curacao 1:40:40; 12.Darel Christopher Jr. BVI 1:42:51

Road Race Women 52.5km

Team Martinique

1.Lyn Patchett, Bermuda 1:31:13; 2.Marie Rosado, Puerto Rico s.t.; 3.Susan Brown, USVI 1:31:20; 4.Emelie Sweerts, Curacao s.t.; 5.Fabiola Acaron, Puerto Rico 1:31:29; 6.Saskia Koomen, Aruba 1:40:16; 7.Corma Vroegindeweij, Aruba 1:40:21; 8.Renate Celie, Aruba 1:41:03

Road Race Men 120km

1.Herve Arcade, Martinique 3:06:39; 2.Michael Laurent, Martinique 3:09:10; 3.Phillip Clarke, Barbados s.t.; 4.Olivier Ragot, Martinique s.t. ; 5.Ruben Borrero, Puerto Rico 3:14:01; 6.Chris Ghiorse, BVI s.t.; 7.Milton Miranda, Puerto Rico 3:14:41; 8.Pierre Beuze, Martinique s.t.; 9.Sven Stekkel, Suriname s.t.; 10.Aichel Magdalena, Curacao s.t.; 11.Garth Thomson, Bermuda s.t.; 12.Jamie Keys, USVI s.t.; 13.Cristophe Angele, Martinique s.t.; 14.Jamie Perestrelo, Curacao s.t.; 15.Lucien Dirksz, Aruba s.t.; 16.Ken Jackson, Antigua 3:14:44; 17.Marcel Thoonen, Curacao 3:14:46; 18.Carlos Torres, Puerto Rico 3:14:50; 19.Simon Clarke, Barbados 3:15:00; 20.Iwan Jonker, Curacao 3:15:05; 21.Robert Marsh, Antigua 3:16:22

The 2005 CCC Champion, Martinique's Herve Arcade.

BVI's Patlian Johns on her time trial run.

It was close, but Bermuda's Lyn Patchett took Puerto Rico's Marie Rosado by inches at the line!

© Copyright 2003 BVI Cycling Federation

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