Brighton John Blasts French Guiana Time Trial, Olivia Solomon Anchors Independence Classic, and Nathan DeNobrega Claims Tennis Open Marathon

By|Delwin Neblett | HGP Nightly News|

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – High-octane youth development and international podium finishes defined an action-packed holiday sports catalog on Tuesday. From the dense, riverain terrains of the Essequibo to a blazing individual time trial on the highways of Cayenne, Guyanese athletes showcased supreme tactical elite traits as the nation’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations moved into top gear. Here is your comprehensive nightly sports breakdown.

CYCLING: Brighton John Destroys the Field at Grand Prix Cycliste de l’Ouest

National cycling sensation Brighton John extended his dominant international run on Sunday, blasting through a world-class field in French Guiana while representing the Sinnamary Cycling Club at the prestigious 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de l’Ouest.

Competing in the punishing 14km Individual Time Trial, John displayed masterclass aerodynamic pacing and raw lower-body wattage. He stopped the clock at a blazing 15 minutes and 20 seconds to lock in the fastest time of the day. His performance comfortably dislodged local favorite Benjamin Bousquet (2nd) and sent a clear warning shot to overall general classification leader Larry Lutin, who had to settle for 3rd place behind the flying Guyanese wheelsman.

ATHLETICS: Phillips and Solomon Dominate Independence Track and Field Classic

The Guyana Overseas-Based Sports Association successfully rolled out its highly anticipated 2026 Independence Track and Field Classic over the weekend, packing the stands of the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

The meet served as a high-stakes proving ground for local club stars and returning collegiate athletes:

• The Sprint Doubles: Over the women’s division, standout Kenisha Phillips put on an absolute clinic in stride frequency, capturing both the Women’s 200m and 400m Open titles. On the junior side, double-distance dominance came via Ebo McNeil, who secured maximum points by sweeping both the Boys 800m and 1500m crowns.
• The Speed Kings: Tonya Rawlins claimed the undisputed title of fastest woman on the local track by sealing the Women’s 100m, while Onesi Dunn secured the Men’s 100m title. Shamar Horatio turned on the burners coming off the bend to win the Men’s 200m, and Revon Williams held off a late homestretch surge to secure the Men’s 400m.
• Elite Validation: Outstanding individual title performances were registered by rising grassroots icons Attoya Harvey, Javon Roberts, and reigning Under-17 CARIFTA Games 800m gold medalist Olivia Solomon, who comfortably defended her home-track reputation.

In the highly competitive relay divisions, the athletic powerhouse Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) dismantled the field to claim victories in both the Schools’ 4x400m and Mixed 4x100m Relays. Meanwhile, the tactical units of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) flexed their structural depth to secure both the Men’s and Women’s Club Relay championship trophies.

TENNIS: Nathan DeNobrega Outlasts Scotland in 60th Independence Open Epic

Guyana’s premier racquet specialists brought down the curtains on the 60th Independence Anniversary Tennis Open on Sunday night, concluding weeks of grueling baseline battles at the National Park Courts in Georgetown.

The Men’s Open Singles Grand Final transformed into an instant classic as Nathan DeNobrega battled through a grueling, multi-hour marathon against a resilient Gerald Scotland. Showcasing elite court coverage and clinical cross-court passing shots, DeNobrega outlasted Scotland in the final set to be crowned the 2026 Men’s Open Champion.

On the women’s side, national star Afruica Gentle added another accolade to her career by capturing the Women’s Open Singles title with a flawless straight-sets performance.

BASKETBALL: President’s College Crowned National League Kings at Swoosh Classic

High school hoop architecture and international exhibition flavor converged over the weekend as Swoosh Sport hosted its 60th Independence Anniversary Homecoming Classic inside the newly refurbished Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

• The National Crown: Following a highly entertaining and hyper-competitive tournament cycle, President’s College officially hoisted the hardware on Saturday night, crowned as the undisputed champions of Guyana’s 2026 Schools Basketball League.
• The All-Star Overtime Thriller: Saturday’s feature attraction saw the visiting Diaspora Select squad secure a nail-biting 80-79 victory over the Guyana Select local team in an extra-period overtime period that kept the packed stadium on its feet.
• Sunday Revenge: The local contingent adjusted their defensive schemes on Sunday night, clawing back to deliver a dominant 93-65 victory over the Diaspora Select in the closing feature encounter. Earlier in the evening, an aggressive Amelia’s Ward squad fought through transition bottlenecks to secure a tough 71-63 win over the UG Trojans.

FOOTBALL: Historic Blue Water Shipping U15 Girls League Launches in Kabakaburi

History was officially written in the soil of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) successfully kicked off the first-ever localized fixture of the Blue Water Shipping U15 Girls Football Championship within the indigenous community of Kabakaburi.

The groundbreaking match pitted Kabakaburi Secondary School against a highly disciplined Charity Secondary School unit. Despite roaring support from the native home crowd, Charity Secondary silenced the stands early on the back of an unfortunate Kabakaburi own goal. Charity locked down the three points in the second half when star striker Razeena Wilson latched onto a loose ball outside the penalty area, blasting a sensational strike into the upper corner to seal a historic 2-0 victory.