The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic is a one-day amateur cycling race held in Belize every year during the Easter holidays. It is Belize's biggest cycling event and has begun to be recognized internationally.
Format of the race The race begins at 6:00 AM (previously 5:00 AM) on Holy Saturday morning, near Mile 2 on Belize's George Price Highway, a favorite road for cycling events. Recently there has been a lead-out from inside Belize City at the BTL Park with actual racing beginning on the highway. Cyclists race to the western town of San Ignacio, in the Cayo District, turn there and return to Belize City, finishing at the Marion Jones Sports Complex (formerly the National Stadium) with two laps on the asphalt track (more recently on flat straight portions of Princess Margaret Drive and Marine Parade while the Complex is under renovation). The estimated distance of the Classic is some 142.4 miles. Participation is limited mainly to amateur cyclists of any country, and cyclists from Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica, the United Kingdom and the United States have participated. In addition to prizes awarded at the end of the race, station prizes are handed out at strategic points on the road going and coming. These prizes are usually cash donations, farm produce or certificates for trophies, jewelry and other items. Belizeans normally line the roadway to cheer on Belize's representatives in the race. While the cyclists are pushed toward Cayo by southeasterly or even easterly winds, a combination of those same fierce winds and the usual muggy conditions of Belize in the dry season traditionally faces cyclists on the return journey.
History of the race Original proposal The idea for the race originated with Belizean Monrad Metzgen, who on a trip to one of the villages on the Northern Highway in 1928 was struck by the number of bicycles Belizeans used to attend weekly cricket games in the Belize Rural area. He pitched an idea for a sort of cycling "expedition" to San Ignacio, testing the cyclists' ability to cope with a then-badly built Western Road (now George Price Highway), to the Governor, who immediately pledged support and offered a cup as a prize to the winner of the race. Other prominent Belizeans Monrad Metzgen spoke to, including medical officer Lieutenant Colonel James Cran, Matron L.M. Roberts of the Public Hospital, Royal Bank of Canada local manager Charles Beattie and Frans Dragten all donated money and trophies to the cause. The help of a young surveyor, Henry C. Fairweather, was also enlisted. On April 2, 1928, a parade and inspection of the cyclists was organized by Metzgen and attended by the Governor, Superintendent of Police and others, who congratulated the cyclists and sent them on a parade through the town's streets. Among the participants were two Cayo men, Cyril Simmons and Leonard Neal, who covered the journey between the two districts to prove it could be done and were specially commended for their daring. The official race kicked off on April 5, 1928 from in front of the courthouse at 5:00 AM. (Amandala)
The men traveled throughout the city and then hit the western road (or "trail" as some have called it) headed for Orange Walk, which was at that time the quickest connection to Cayo, though still 55 miles from Belize City (the cyclists expected to cover 90 miles on their trek). The roads were terrible, and the first rider into Cayo, Elston Kerr, was cheered for making it into town in about 13 hours. The men stayed through the Easter holidays, feasting, eating, playing cricket and soaking up the accolades of the Cayo faithful. They also visited Benque Viejo and San Jose Succotz, the westernmost settled areas in Cayo.
On April 9, the expeditionists set off at 5:00 AM, their progress reliably reported through of the telephone service. Comments issued back and forth among the populace about the overall good humour of the expedition and its participants were praised for being pioneers and behaving modestly in spite of their achievement.
Kerr, of Burrell Boom, finished first in 21 hours 29 minutes, 81 minutes ahead of second place Norris Wade, also of Boom. Third place was Bertie Cleland in 24:37. Walter Scott, easily the youngest ever competitor at 13, took 50 hours to finish but was awarded a prize anyway. Race organizer Metzgen participated and finished in 30 and a half hours. The race led to the formation of the British Honduras Cycling Association in June. (Amandala; Cycling Association)
1929-1950: Opening up the West The second race was organized for 1929, and Kerr beat David Graham for his second title, becoming the first repeat champion. Wade won over Kerr in 1930. The 1932 race was canceled due to the 1931 hurricane which devastated Belize City the previous September. Other early champions included brothers Robert and Goldburn Ferguson, Jose Sosa, Ben Sanchez and Hendicott Croft.
Toward the middle 1940s, Altreith Smith and Aston Gill emerged as the best cyclists. Smith won the first one-day event in 1948 and Aston Gill won four times between 1947 and 1951.
Due to repair projects initiated on the Western Highway by Governor Alan Burns, some races were held on the Northern Highway. Donald Lightburn was the first winner on the Belize-Corozal circuit (in 1935 and 1936), followed by Jose Sosa in 1937 and 1938, Ben Sanchez in 1939, Goldburn Ferguson in 1942 and Aston Gill in 1947 (his 3rd victory). A few later races went to Orange Walk and back; this practice was discontinued after Mexico's Pablo Calderon won in 1971.
Cross Country Classic Winners 1929-1950 Year (Date) Winner Second place 1928 (April 5–9) Elston Kerr Norris Wade 1929 (March 28-April 1) Elston Kerr David Graham 1930 Norris Wade Elston Kerr 1931 Donald Lightburn Anselm Waight 1932 No race (1931 hurricane) 1933 Robert Ferguson Donald Lightburn 1934 Robert Ferguson Herbert Gentle 1935 Donald Lightburn Dinsdale Lord 1936 Donald Lightburn Hendicott Croft 1937 Jose Sosa Jim Melin 1938 Jose Sosa Luther Tucker 1939 Ben Sanchez Jose Sosa 1940 Hendicott Croft Ben Sanchez 1941 Goldburn Ferguson Altreith Smith 1942 Goldburn Ferguson Altreith Smith 1943 James Robateau Charles Payne 1944 Robert Ferguson Goldburn Ferguson 1945 Aston Gill Robert Ferguson 1946 Aston Gill Melford Ramsey 1947 Aston Gill Colly Coffin 1948 Altreith Smith Melford Ramsey 1949 Alvin Joseph Aston Gill 1950 Aston Gill Altreith Smith
1951-1973: The O'Brien and Miguel dynasties Beginning in 1951, a young cyclist named Jeffrey O'Brien would become arguably the most dominant champion ever. He joined Gill as a four-time champion from 1951 to 1955. His chance at making that total five was interrupted by a most unusual race in 1953. The story goes that Cycling Association officials felt O'Brien was too dominant and might affect the sport's development. They planned a stratagem involving four junior riders (under eighteen) who would receive a half-hour headstart on the seniors. O'Brien and the peloton caught all but one, the eventual winner, Clinton Castillo. The incident has become a treasured part of Belizean cycling lore. O'Brien would retire in 1955 and never race again. But a new dynasty was to emerge, featuring a team of cycling brothers, the Miguels. Edward, Arthur, John and Rudy would share 11 of the next 13 Classics between them, though not without some controversy. In 1958, John Miguel's finish with contender Duncan Vernon was ruled a dead heat, the only one in Classic history. In 1961, brother Edward thought he had the race won and raised his hands in the air accordingly, only to be disqualified in favour of Vernon and Arthur Miguel. John won the most titles of the quartet with four, followed by Edward's three, and Arthur and Rudy with two each. Other winners during the period were Clinton Castillo in 1967 and Kenneth Sutherland. In 1971, an international participant won for the first time, Mexico's Pablo Calderon, but he won on the Northern Highway, where Cross Countries have occasionally been held. In 1972, Cayo's Anthony Hutchinson, nicknamed "The Tank", demolished Calderon and the Miguels for his first title on the Western Highway, then repeated in 1973 ahead of Kenrick Halliday, then an unknown. But Belizeans were soon to know all about him. (Cycling Association retrospective)
Cross Country Classic Winners 1951-1973 Year Winner Second place 1951 (April 13) Jeffrey O'Brien Altreith Smith 1952 Jeffrey O'Brien Colly Coffin 1953 (April 4) Clinton Castillo (junior) Jeffrey O'Brien 1954 Jeffrey O'Brien Duncan Vernon 1955 Jeffrey O'Brien Colly Coffin 1956 Edward Miguel Duncan Vernon 1957 Duncan Vernon Barry Parks 1958 Edward Miguel Duncan Vernon 1959 Edward Miguel Arthur Miguel 1960 John Miguel/Duncan Vernon (tie) Anselm Ysaguirre (third) 1961 Duncan Vernon Arthur Miguel 1962 Arthur Miguel Anthony McClaren 1963 Lindsford Sutherland Anthony McClaren 1964 John Miguel L. Longsworth 1965 John Miguel Duncan Vernon 1966 Kenneth Sutherland Clinton Castillo 1967 Clinton Castillo Louis Peyrefitte 1968 John Miguel Rudy Miguel 1969 Rudy Miguel Noel Gordon 1970 Rudy Miguel L. Longsworth 1971 Pablo Calderon Manolo Ruiz 1972 Anthony Hutchinson Pablo Calderon 1973 (April 19) Anthony Hutchinson Kenrick Halliday
1974-1989: The Doctor, Sparks and the Americans Kenrick Halliday was to achieve cycling glory in a most dramatic fashion. City born, handsome and talented on the bike, "The Doctor" as he was known seemed the perfect successor to Gill, O'Brien, the Miguels and Hutchinson. In 1974, Halliday won convincingly, and repeated in 1975. But this event is noted for rivalries, and one was born when Alfred "Sparks" Parks defeated the field in 1976 during Halliday's absence. "Doc" returned with a vengeance in 1977 and 1978, breaking a record set by O'Brien nearly a half-century before-on the day Halliday was born- but could only watch as Parks devastated the peloton in 1979 when he led the race from start to finish. Overall, Halliday won four titles to Parks' two and is regarded as the better sprinter.
In 1980, a special finish was witnessed at the Stadium as Alexander Vasquez outdueled twenty of his peers to win a field sprint. 1981 saw the arrival of Alpheus Williams, a precocious youngster who would go on to win three Classics before leaving Belize in 1985. Teammate Lindy Gillett set a record and became the youngest winner of a Classic at 18 in 1983; Robert Mossiah and Matthew Smiling took titles in 1985 and 1986, respectively. But in 1987, cyclists from the United States imported by Belizean team owners would put an end to the homegrown dominance. Ward Zauner broke Gillett's record in his 1987 win; Steve Steward and David Licker swept the top positions in 1988, and Frank "Mac" McCannon took the roses in 1989. These American winners rode a faster pace and were better sprinters, but Belizean sports fans figured they had the right person to beat them-if they could find out who that was.
Cross Country Classic Winners 1974-1989 Year (Date) Winner Second place 1974 (April 13) Kenrick Halliday Alfred Parks 1975 (March 29) Kenrick Halliday Eugene King 1976 (April 16) Alfred Parks Jose Rendon 1977 (April 9) Kenrick Halliday Alfred Parks 1978 (March 26) Kenrick Halliday Alfred Parks 1979 (April 13) Alfred Parks Glen Gordon 1980 (April 5) Alexander Vasquez Anthony Morris 1981 (April 18) Alpheus Williams Joslyn Chavarria 1982 (April 10) Alpheus Williams Vincent Smith 1983 (April 2) Linsford Gillett Vincent Smith 1984 (April 21) Alpheus Williams Karl Smith 1985 (April 6) Robert Mossiah Warren Coye 1986 (March 29) Matthew Smiling Michael Lewis 1987 (April 18) Ward Zauner Charles Lewis 1988 (April 2) Steve Stewart David Licker 1989 (March 25) Frank "Mac" Cannon Michael Lewis
1990-present: Modern era