By Santino "the Chief" Castillo
This past holiday weekend was Chief's Birthday Tour for Cat 4 & 5 Riders over the age of 28 even though the Chief turned 53. This is an event which goes back some 5 years. Each stage this year was approximately 50 miles for a total of 150 miles over the 3 days. This was a POINTS TOUR, where 11 points was awarded to 1st place, 10 for 2nd, and so on through 10th place who got 2 points. Each finisher was awarded 1 point. Additionally there was one sprinting preem on the road in every stage which awarded 3,2, and 1 point to the first 3. Twenty Five riders registered with Leroy Casasola of Team Santino's going in as the defending Champ.
STAGE 1 - This stage started at Cisco due to the ditch recently dug at Waste Control, and traveled through the Boom Road to the Northern Highway and back to Cisco. After winning the 3 points at Prison and leading at this point, the Chief encountered bad luck when he sustained a puncture with less than a mile to the finish. This eliminated him from contesting the sprint, and from getting any additional points at the finish. The ensuing sprint was won by Collet "Bunas" Mejia, followed by Leroy Casasola, and in a rare occurrence, Warren Coye, and Fred Usher tied for 3rd Place. However, since Leroy Casasola got 2 points for 2nd place at the Prison Preem, he was draped with the Leader's Yellow Jersey.
STAGE 2 - This stage traveled from Belize to Belmopan. Besides the hills encountered, the riders rode into a strong headwind, which proved fatal to many riders who were detached when the war started. At mile 33 it was the duo of Leroy Casasola and Glen Obian, who after many attacks, finally separated themselves from the Peloton taking 1st and 2nd. This kept Leroy Casasola of Team Santino's in the Yellow Jersey. A minute later three riders rode in, and it was Bunas Mehia taking 3rd, which kept him in 2nd place OVERALL in the General Classification. He was followed by Wilbert Jones, and Sherwin Latchman, who took 4th and 5th respectively. This put Latchman in 3rd place in the G.C.
STAGE 3 - Again Leroy Casasola of Team Santino's started in YELLOW in this stage that also traversed through the Boom road to the Northern Highway, and back to Cisco. However, Team Santino's came out with a different plan. Their intention was to unseat Bunas Mejia, and Sherwin Latchman of Team Guinness, who were in 2nd, and 3rd place respectively. Glen Obrian's instructions were to attack at the gun, and only Wilbert Jones was able to follow him. They distanced themselves from the field never to be seen again securing 1st, and 2nd in that order. Team Guinness was now forced to chase so as not to lose 2nd and 3rd place. However, things got worse when on the return journey, George Abraham attacked coming out of Hattiville, and soloed in for 3rd place. Juan Gonzalez and Leroy Casasola of Team Santino's then did the same thing at Mile 8 for 4th, and 5th place. Cocky Welch also got into the action, when right at the Police Booth attacked to take 6th place. In the monster sprint that ensued, Bunas Mejia nipped the Chief by a nose to take 7th. However, by taking 8th, the Chief secured a top ten position on the General Classification.
The Prize presentation followed at the San Cas Plaza with the top 3 of each stage being awarded with a Trophy for first place, and medals for 2nd and 3rd followed by ICE COLD Red Bull and Miller Beer for one and all. The top 10 in the General Classification were also awarded with Trophies from 1st to 5th, and Medals from 6th to 10th. They are as follows:
General Classification:
1st Place - Leroy Casasola of Team Santino's - Defending Champion with 31 points (2nd year in a row)
2nd Place - Glen Obrian of Team Santino's with 28 points
3rd Place - Collet "Bunas" Mejia of Team Guinness with 25 points
4th Place - Wilbert Jones of Benny's Megabytes with 22 points
5th Place - Sherwin Latchman of Team Guinness with 18 points
6th Place - George Abraham of Benny's Megabytes with 16 points
7th Place - Warren Coye of Team Guinness with 13 points
8th Place - Juan Gonzalez of Team Santino's with 10 points
9th Place - Kenny Gladden of Team Pediatric Center with 10 points
10th Place - Santino "the Chief" Castillo of Team Santino's with 9 points
