Basking Ridge Kids' Bike Races Escape Rain Drops

It wasn't exactly sunshine and blue skies, but Monday's rain paused long enough to allow all of the Labor Kids Races in downtown Basking Ridge to start, finish — and to give a chance for all the participating children to pick up their lollipops and ribbons.

Adult cyclists weren't quite so lucky at the 22nd Olde Mill Inn bike tour of Basking Ridge and Family Fun Day, which started at 7 a.m.

Three bike crashes resulted in one cyclist being transported to the hospital as rain made Basking Ridge streets slippery. But bike tour organizer Greg Cordasco, also co-owner of Liberty Cycle in Basking Ridge, said that everyone was counted as okay shortly after 1 p.m., when races for children had ended.

The rain delayed the adult races for a while and those that followed were shortened. The big race of the day was a category 1 competition won by Jermaine Burrows, from Brooklyn, N.Y.

The "citizens" race for local residents was five laps instead of ten. 

Although the race was for adults, the number three spot in the "citizens" race was 13-year-old Hugo Schreur of Basking Ridge, who said he is entering the eighth grade at William Annin Middle School.

At noon, it was clear sailing for the kids races, presented by the Bernards Township Department of Parks and Recreation (except for one little spill.)

Kids races for ages 3 to 12, on training wheels and without, were held on South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge.

Mayor Carolyn Gaziano and Township Committee members John Malay and Carol Bianchi handed out ribbons and lollipops to all participants. First-place blue ribbons were handed out to the winners in each category.

Seven-year-old Sydney Gunn of Basking Ridge was one of those winners — and her mom said her daughter may have been inspired by a little sibling rivalry since Sydney's brother had won a first-place ribbon in a previous year's race.

Another first-place winner in his age category was four-year-old, Vihaan Iyer, 4, of The Hills in Basking Ridge, who was cheered off at the starting line by his mother, Ujwala, and welcomed at the finish by his father, Hari, who had trained him all summer.

Although the Labor Day in Basking Ridge traditionally signals the end of summer for township children, this year they get a reprieve.

The first day of school in Bernards Township this year is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9. 

Asked whether she would prefer to start school this week — as some districts are doing — Sydney said she's happy that she'll be back in the classroom "next week," summoning a smile matching the one brought on by her blue ribbon.

Bernards Township Parks Director Jennifer Gander said that the break in the rain allowed a usual turnout for the Kids Races. This was the first year that preregistration was required for children.