Bermuda Bicycle Association

Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race History

“It’s not the kind of thing we’d like to do frequently.  For now we thought it wise to make it a one-off thing then decide.  If it’s successful and the community responds to it, we’ll think about allowing it annually.”

 

Quinton Edness

Public Works Minister

1987

 

 

1987 Heritage Day Bike Race

List of Invited Riders

 

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  

 

An event along the line of the Heritage Day Cycling Classic, now named after the late 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 "fly down" the route from Somerset to Hamilton.  Legislative orders raised the speed limit along the route to 75km/hour. The organizers also insisted that the field be limited to invitees only.  That restriction 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 starting on Front Street at 9:30AM.

The first race was won by Buddy Ford who out sprinted Sinclair Packwood by "throwing" his bicycle across the finish line.  A journalist covering the event described the race as "a photo finish with no photo" 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.  Since then, digital still or video cameras have been in use.

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 "I won because I wanted it the most".

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.  As they crested Burnt 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 have won 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.

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 - an exploit so far unmatched by anyone else.

In 2002, within the Hedges reign, the route was changed to end in front of the National Stadium on Frog Lane.  Riders then had to make an 180 degree turn around the Bird Cage, go east on Front Street, turn left onto Court Street and Right onto Reid Street - Cavendish Road to Montpelier Road, turn left onto Montpelier to Frog Lane and finish at the top of the hill.

The 2003 race 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 that 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.

 

It was then 37-year old Wayne Scott who prevailed in 2004. He overcame Garth Thomson's 70 yard lead on the double back along Front Street and had just enough to hold off Neil de Ste Croix in the final sprint on Frog Lane. It was a special moment for Scott whose good friend Packwood had convinced him to start cycling to get fit.

 

Proving that the 13-mile dash can be anyone's race, it was 17-year old Khamari Greaves who slipped past Garth Thomson to win at his fifth attempt. Race favorites Thomson and Wayne Scott held a commanding lead on East Broadway, but were eventually chased down in determined fashion by Greaves and fellow teenager, Ricky Sousa Jr. By Front Street, the chase pack had caught the leaders. Thomson surged again approaching Montpelier Road, but it was to be Greaves with the legs at the finish.

 

2006 saw the race revert back to its original route with the finish on Cedar Avenue. Teenager Ricky Sousa Jr. became the youngest ever winner of the race after pipping Wayne Scott in a desperate sprint to the line. Leading a fast and furious race by about four bike lengths with only 30 meters remaining, Scott's victory hopes were cruelly dashed after he threw his chain and could only coast to the finish line.

 

Neil de Ste Croix pulled off a surprise victory in 2007, following a solo break initiated on Inverurie Hill. With his RMS team mates controlling the peleton, no riders responded until it was too late and de Ste Croix coasted over the line some 100 meters ahead of second place Ricky Sousa Jr.

 

With no breakaways materializing in 2008, it was once again seasoned sprinter Wayne Scott who clinched victory at the line, just ahead of Garth Thomson and teenager Thomas Godfrey. The race was slightly marred with Chris Faria being taken to hospital with minor injuries after colliding with two parked motorbikes on Queen Street.

 

New Zealander veteran, Graeme Miller, snatched the 2009 race title from defending champion Wayne Scott after the ‘new’ boy used experience and wisdom to conquer the course. He crossed the finish line two bike lengths ahead of Scott to win his maiden title. It was touch and go as his foot came off the pedal in the final push up Church Street, but he was able to hold on.

 

Wind and rain in 2010 played a big factor, with several crashes, but thankfully no injuries. Garth Thomson, pushing to win his first May 24 race, slid out at the top of Queen Street opening the door for the chasing pack. Once again, sprinter Wayne Scott was able to take advantage on Cedar Avenue and edge teammates Mark Hatherley and Darren Glasford for a third win.

Perfect weather greeted the start of the 2011 race, with a field of 71 - the biggest ever in the race’s history. A group of around 20 riders reached the top of Queen Street together where Darren Glasford made his move. He powered his way to the front and never looked back finishing ahead of 17-year old Dominique Mayho, and Damian Sharp. Last year’s champion, Wayne Scott, finished 4th.

 

Plenty of volunteers have helped out over the years, but one cannot forget the contribution of Jean Cannonier Bean to the success of the event.  She drove the lead car for ten years.  In an open top sports car, she cleared the way for the race leaders and carried 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.

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.