Great Race pioneers recognised

THREE Great Race pioneers were acknowledged for making the annual powerboat event the success it has become at the prize distribution ceremony of this year’s race at Cascadia Hotel Ballroom, Cascade. Those receiving awards for their service to the Carib Great Race on Saturday night last were the man who hatched the idea Kenneth Gordon, Steven de Gannes and Great Race multi-winner Ken Charles. Taking a trip down memory lane Gordon painted a picture of  how the event came into being and how it survived over the years, and told of  his experiences and challenges that were overcome during the early days.

He said the performance required by a competition like the Great Race really “determines and separates the boys from the men.” Mr Solo Too, with Hayden Charles taking over from dad Ken for the first time, won the Great for an unprecedented fifth time in a row on August 16. Trinidad and Tobago Power Boat Association Garth Marshall and Carib Brewery CEO Andrew Sabga congratulated all the winners of the 35th edition of the annual powerboat race from Port-of- Spain to sister-island Tobago. Since its inception, several local boats travelled abroad and competed on the international scene with great success in Puerto Rico, Miami and Antigua. Trophies were handed out to the winners in the various categories — Pirogue Class; Production I Class; Production II Class; A Class; B Class; C Class; M Class; Sport 1 Class; Sport 2 Class; and overall.