Organisers cost Williams race

ST. GEORGE’S GRENADA - Saint Lucia’s Anthony Williams failed to win this

year’s Father’s Day Race due to a mix-up in which the organisers in properly

marking the route leading to the finish; coming in second. 

Anthony Williams

Williams leading the approximately 50-kilometre race by about 400 metres, found

himself not knowing which direction to turn, in approaching the turn.

With no route-stewards to guide, the Barbadian rider accompanied by his

manager and race-car, flew past Williams who was alert to follow them, but it

was too late.

When informed of this, the organizers refused to properly address the situation,

instead promising that they would put proper markings in place for the 2009

race.

However, that was not the only mess-up involving the organizers. Another Saint

Lucia rider, 14-year-old Jordan Richard was placed amongst the seniors instead

of with the juniors.

As a result, Jordan Richard came in eighth, and an examination of the junior race

times showed he could have placed in the top three.

However the organizers woes in this year’s race began from the start. A change

of race sponsors saw a clash with the sponsors of a team, which brought about

some heated arguments.

Then to compound the issue, the original route was change due to according to a

race official, “the increased number of riders this year.”

He admitted that it was their oversight, which cost Williams the race, and that

they were not too sure how to address the issue without causing additional

problems.

He further pointed out that these issues will be addressed when the post

mortem is held, and that all of the recommendations made, and lessons learnt

from this year’s race will be put into the planning for next year’s race.

In the Criterion Race, Williams who is being trained by Williams placed fourth;

while young Richard came in fifth, ahead of many more experience riders.