_{(l-r) Jyven Gonzalez – Elite Male Champion; Keith Enright – 1st Junior; Chelsey Gillett – 1st Female Junior; Ahmaad Cherrington – 1st Youth Male; and Arielle Gordon – 1st Youth Female}

by William Ysaguirre (freelance writer)

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 27, 2025

With the time fast approaching for the folkloric and legendary annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic, every cycle race takes on added importance, as cyclists and trainers measure their progress and conditioning in preparation for the big event. A cycling legend in his own right, this past weekend’s race was in memory of two-time Cross Country champion, Alfred Parks whose historic declaration, “Ketch di bull fi mi!”, is forever etched in Belizean cycling history and folklore.

Jyven Gonzalez, Byron Pope, Francine Gigli, Chelsey Gillett, Keith Enright and Ahmaad Cherrington won the Elite, Masters, Female, Junior Females, Juniors and Male Youth category races, respectively, of the 3rd annual Alfred Parks Memorial cycling race organized by the “Ketch Di Bull” Foundation, in partnership with the Cycling Federation of Belize, on the George Price Highway on Sunday, February 23.

The Elite Males and Masters rode 95 miles from Cotton Tree Village to the Loma Luz roundabout in Santa Elena, and returned to the finish line in front of Leslie’s Imports in Belize City. The Elite Women and Junior & Youth Males rode 50 miles from Roaring Creek Village to Belize City, while the Junior & Youth Females rode 30 miles from La Democracia Village to the City.

Below are the top finishers:

ELITE MALE:  1st Place – Jyven Gonzalez (Team G-Flow, 3:49:33); 2nd – Oscar Quiroz (Team Valvoline, 3:49:33); 3rd – Carlton Robinson (Team DIGI Alliance, 3:49:33); 4th – Goran Gabourel (Team DIGI Alliance, 3:49:33); 5th – Delton Rojas (Rolling Shattaz, 3:49:37); 7th – Jairo Campos (Wateva Boyz, 3:49:57); 9th – Jaylen Briceño (Team G-Flow, 3:49:57); 10th – Joslyn Chavarria, Jr. (Team Santino’s, 3:49:57); 11th – Joshua Fuller (Team Santino’s, 3:49:57); 13th – Dylan Levy (Team Valvoline, 3:49:57); 15th – Eric Trapp (Team G-Flow, 3:49:57); 17th – Giovanni Lovell (Team Lovell, 3:49:57); 18th – Hollis Baptist (Team G-Flow, 3:49:57); 19th – Dejuan Hyde (Rolling Shattaz, 3:49:57); 20th – Brandon Morgan (Rolling Shattaz, 3:49:57).

MASTERS Over 35:  1st Place – Byron Pope (Team DIGI Alliance, 3:49:57); 2nd – Ivan Samuel Vallecillo (Team Santino’s, 3:49:57).

MASTERS Over 40:  1st Place – Phillip Leslie (Team SPD, 3:49:57); 2nd – Henry Moreira (DIGI Alliance, 3:49:57); 3rd – Kenroy Gladden (Team SPD, 3:49:57).

MASTERS Over 50:  1st – Robert Liam Stewart (Unattached, 3:49:57); 2nd – Dewayne Wade (Team BZ Boyz, 3:53:27); 3rd – Alan Auil (UTR Budget Rent A Car, 3:55:50).

JUNIORS:  1st Place – Keith Enwright, Jr. (Team Valvoline, 2:03:17); 2nd – Malachi Myvett (Team G-Flow, 2:03:17); 3rd – Nathan Peyrefitte (Unattached, 2:03:17).

YOUTHS:  1st Place – Ahmaad Cherrington (Team G-Flow, 2:03:17); 2nd – Jahroy Gladden (Team Rolling Shattaz, 2:03:17); 3rd – Johan Choto (Team Chavarria, 2:03:17).

WOMEN OPEN: 1st Place – Francine Gigli (Team Lovelly, 2:18:46); 2nd – Paulita Chavarria (Team Chavarria, 2:23:47); 3rd – Gabrielle Lovell (Team Lovelly, 2:33:37).

FEMALE Juniors: 1st Place – Chelsey Gillett (Team Imani’s, 1:31:39); 2nd – Irene Baki (Team Williams Racing Development, 1:31:39); 3rd – Brandi Tzul (Team Cayo, 1:36:37).

FEMALE Youths: 1st Place – Arielle Gordon (Team Griga Cycling, 1:36:32); 2nd – Lianni Choto (Troyer Treats, 1:36:32); 3rd – Jahmelia Gladden (Unattached, 1:36:37).

The Ketch Di Bull Foundation provided cash prizes and gifts to the top 3 winners in all categories.

_{Women Open winners, (l to r) 2nd Paulita Chavarria, 1st Francine Gigli, 3rd Gabrielle Lovell}