Antiguan Robert Marsh won the 11th Jason Bally Memorial Race, holding off Orano Andrews and Darel Christopher Junior in the process. Photo: VINO/file

Orano Andrews was crowned Men's National Champion being the first local rider home during the race. He also won the National Time Trial earlier in the season to make it a double success. Photo: VINO/file

Lone female entrant, Sally Blckmore took the women's National Championship to add to her Time Trial success to emulate Andrews. Photo: VINO/file

The Participants in this year’s event are facing a packed itinerary with many riders not expected to arrive in the Territory until the Saturday, when after a chance to rest and acclimatise themselves to the course they will be attending the annual memorial service to Bally in Sea Cows Bay at 6pm. Bally was fatally shot in 1999 whilst walking to his home in Sea Cows Bay. 

Following the memorial the BVI Cycling Federation will be hosting a Dinner and Race briefing and then the action begins on Sunday from Slaney with a 7am start. 

As per the norm, the race also doubles as the BVI National Cycling Championship with the first male local rider who completes the full course being named the 2012 BVICF National Champion, and the first female to complete the Ladies’ course the 2012 BVICF National Female Champion. 

Orano Andrews will be defending his Men’s Title after securing a double in 2011 of both the National Road Race Champion and also the BVICF National Time Trial Championship. Sally Blackmore matched the feat in the Women’s division and will also be defending her title on the 30^th. She was the lone female entrant in 2011 and will hopefully face a sterner test in 2012. 

Robert Marsh from Antigua is the current Jason Bally champion having won the 2011, 62 mile, race in a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes and 23 seconds to take the victory to Antigua. Close behind him was the   Andrews who held on to Marsh throughout the course but succumbed seconds before the finish line in a sprint finish. Darel Christopher Jr. held on to the third podium spot with a time of 3 hours, 5 minutes and 8 seconds in another sprint finish ahead of Antigua’s F&G Trading, Neil Lloyd. Lloyd was also the first Masters to cross the finish line. St. Thomas’ Morgan Locke was fifth while Brian Lyn of Antigua was sixth. 

The course for this year’s race will be on the Western end of Tortola, starting from in front of the former Department of Information Service building. Riders will travel west on the main road and turn at the Towers junction where a cone will be placed and head back East. Riders will then go over the Manuel Reef Hill, return on the main road and continue around the Prospect Reef Roundabout, returning to the start/finish line for one lap or 12.4 miles. The elite & Masters Course will be (6) six laps or 74.4 miles. Juniors and women will be completing (4) four laps or 49.6 miles, and Fun Novice who will be doing (2) two laps or 24.8 miles.