Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race
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Irving Sinclair Packwood
Sinclair Packwood was recognized as a top sprinter and was, for many years, one of our top riders, winning several events and representing Bermuda in multiples competitions abroad.
He also worked very hard for the BBA behind the scenes, serving as a member of the executive for a number of years. As such he was one of the key figures that convinced the police and the organizers of the Heritage Day to allow the BBA sponsored event. |
ÇItâs not the kind of thing weâd like to do frequently. For now we thought it wise to make it a one-off thing then decide. If itâs successful and the community responds to it, weâll think about allowing it annually.ä
Quinton Edness
Public Works Minister
1987
An event along the line of the Heritage Day Cycling Classic, now named after Sinclair Packwood, had long been sought by BBA officials. In 1987 the police and the organizers of the Heritage Day, under the combined lobbying of the BBA, the Departments of Public Works and Youth Sport and Recreation finally agreed to let the cyclists ãfly downä the route from Somerset to Hamilton. Legislation, similar to the one required for the Bermuda International Triathlon raised the speed limit along the route to 75km/hour. The organizers also insisted that the field be limited to invitee only. That restriction that continues to exist today: no more than 50 riders are allowed to start in order to avoid any interference with the Junior Classic Running Race.
The first race was won by Buddy Ford who out sprinted Sinclair Packwood by ãthrowingä his bicycle across the finish line. The journalist covering the event described the race as ãa photo finish with no photoä as there was no camera at the finish line. In 1999, using his digital camera, Kip Herring was the first to capture those crucial moments. He has done so every year since then.
During the 9 nine years that followed, the race became known for its exciting finishes with a sprint down Cedar Avenue to the finish line in front of the Leopards Club. We also witnessed dramatic crashes that influenced the outcome of races like in 1991 when Sinclair Packwood and Mike Lee collided at the top of Cedar Avenue leaving Carlos De Silva to race to victory.
Sinclair Packwood finally won back to back events in 1992 and 1993 after a streak of bad luck in his previous attempts (he placed second twice, fourth once and crashed in 1991). He was 29 at the time of his first victory and was quoted as saying ãI won because I wanted it the mostä.
Then in 1997 veteran Jeff Payne, who was 58 years old at the time, outsmarted the peloton when he escaped with Aaron Schindler, a category three rider. Nobody responded when the pair broke away near the Port Royal Service Station. At the top Burn House Hill the peloton was still not in sight so the escapees worked tirelessly as a team to maintain their lead and finished almost a minute ahead of the next group of riders. Jeff won the sprint. He became the first person to win both the Heritage Day Cycling Classic and the Marathon Derby, having won the latter in 1980.
The winners of following 5 years took similar approaches by attacking early, taking the sprinters out the equation as soon as possible in the race.
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1987 Heritage Day Bike Race Jim Butterfield, Randy Burgess, Anton Daniels, Donald Davis, Carlos DaSilva, Daron Dowling, Buddy Ford, Glenn Franklin, Dave Garcia, Earl Godfrey, Rory Gorman, Cal Grimes, Frank Hesketh, Keible Hart, Greg Hopkins, Dion Ingham, Keith Johnson, Mike Lee, Basil Lindsay, Rowan McKittrick, Sinclair Packwood, Jeff Payne, James Rayner, Tony Ryan, Joey Richardson, Vince Seaman, Steve Steritt, Clark Tear, Elmore Warren, Derek Wellman, Dwyer Williams, Damion Wilson, Clive Wilson, Tracy Wright |
In 1998 it was MacInnis Looby, a winner in 1995, who broke away on East Broadway to ride unchallenged to the finish. Greg Hopkins made his escape in 1999 at Burnt House Hill riding to a solo victory. This was the first year the event was held under the title of Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race.
Then Kris Hedges made the race his own with back to back wins in 2000, 2001 and 2002 ö an exploit unmatched by anyone else yet.
In 2002, within the Hedges reign, the route was changed to end in front of the National Stadium on Frog Lane. Riders must now do an 180¡ around the Bird Cage, go east on Front Street, turn left onto Court Street and Right onto Reid Street ö Cavendish Road to Montpelier Road, turn left onto Montpelier to Frog Lane and finish at the top of the hill.
The 2003 saw the return to strategy over speed with a number of riders in good position for the first place at the top of Montpellier Road. Jean-Nicolas Bertrand, the winner of the IBC Sprint Championships earlier in the year, won the sprint up Frog Lane, beating Andy Kain to the finish line. He became the youngest winner in the history of the event and the first rider to win the IBC Front Street Race, Sprint Championships and Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race in the same year.
One cannot forget the contribution Jean Cannonier Bean to the success of the event. She has been the driver of the lead car for ten of the last eleven years. In a sport car, she clears the way for the leaders and carries the camera crew and live commentator. She remembers vividly the year that Jeff Payne won as he kept bumping into the back of her car. She truly enjoyed her role, which reminds her of her rally racing days in England, but refuses to reveal the speed at which she is negotiating the various curves on Harbour Road.
The Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race has proven to be one of the main attractions of the Bermuda Day festivities and will continue to provide exciting bicycle racing to the thousands of spectators along the route from Somerset to Hamilton.
