Venture celebrate with 5k

VENTURE Credit Union will stage their Fifth Annual 5k Road Race on Sunday, September 19 from 7 am starting in front of their headquarters on the Southern Main Road, Couva. Cost of the event, which is held in commemoration of the 42nd Independence Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago, is $45,000, according to Desmond Baxter, chairman of the Organising Committee. Athletics Central officials are offering all the technical assistance needed to ensure the race is a success, Baxter said yesterday during a media conference to give details of the Independence project. “As a community-based cooperative organisation Venture continues to demonstrate its interest in the financial, educational, cultural, social and sporting development of the immediate environment as well as the national community,” Baxter said. He said the race is expected to attract over 400 athletes including some of the best local and international athletes in the region.

This year the event has been designated the “5k04 Road Race and Fun Walk”  and will be managed by Baxter as the co-ordinator. He will be assisted by Gail Sooknarine Ragoo, Venture’s Operations Manager; Allan Baboolal, NAAA’s 3rd vice president (Technical Director), Hayden Lovell, (Financial Co-ordinator), Geraldine Lewis (Health Director) and Matthew Guelmo, (Course Marshall). Other serving members are Esme Raphael, Carlton Adams, Sita Boodram, Pamela Pilgrim-Pariag, and David Bigford. The race will be contested along a 90 percent newly paved course from in front of the Venture Credit Union Building with runners heading east along the Southern Main Road, Couva. They will then head to Campden Road, turning into the Fourth Avenue, Isaac Settlelement, and then right into First Avenue  through Isaac Street, then south into Grant Street, through to Lisas Boulevard unto the Southern Main Road and back. The finish is in front of the Venture Credit Union Building.

The new course will offer greater safety to participants who will be in constant view of spectators throughout the duration of the race, Baxter said. Registered participants will receive free Venture vests, and schoolchildren will be presented with Venture T-shirts. Financial institutions, commercial banks, credit unions, gyms, sports organisations, village councils, and the general membership of Venture Credit Union have been invited to take part in this Independence 5k Road Race. Support for the event is coming from Plipdeco, Carillion, the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation, the Couva Police and the wider business community, Baxter said. Plans are well underway to ensure that the event would be a huge success  as there would be health booths, ambulances, traffic control, aerobics, trophies, medals hampers and refreshments, Baxter said. Prizes for the Open Category —  (Male and Female) —  1st $600; 2nd $400; 3rd $300;  4th $200; 5th $150. There will also be prizes in the following categories: Under-15;  15-19;  20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; and 60 and Over.