FEATURE
SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
RDL Eagle Trade transforming business services
Collis Williams and Ashley Williams, team members of RDL Eagle Trade Inc. Image Source: Barbados Today
This post was originally published on https://barbadostoday.bb/.
Officials of the locally-owned black business RDL Eagle Trade Inc., are on a mission to transform the way logistics services are done in Barbados and the rest of the region.
In fact, Managing Director Collis Williams, who is a second generation owner of the over 30-year-old logistics and supply chain management firm, told Barbados TODAY that transformation has already started and he was doing all he could to ensure that the business survives and grows while keeping the clients at the forefront of their mind.
“For us, we have identified for a long while that logistics and supply chain is a lot more than just the movement of cargo from the point of origin to the point of destination,” he said.
“We felt that as professionals in this industry, we have to admit that we have underserved the investor. If you continue to divorce the services – whether it is shipping, brokerage, trucking, insuring the goods – and present to the investor this whole segregated approach, ultimately the pain is the fact that at the end of the day he or she doesn’t even know what it costs,” said Williams.
As the world continues to embrace new and emerging technologies to make doing business easier, Williams, 51, said he was ensuring that RDL remains relevant. To this end, he has been incorporating greater use of technology
“So what we have done at RDL Eagle Trade is create our own systems. We have designed our own softwares and we have gone to market, because our concept is, ‘we need to defend the investor, the risk taker’. So not only are we sitting down and designing from conception, we are designing strategies for delivering a product to the market on time and cost effectively,” he said.
His company is a full service one, focusing on helping clients secure necessary concessions, sourcing quality items and managing the costs. His main clients are currently investors and high-volume retailers, most of whom are within construction and the tourism and hospitality industry.
Williams said while most logistics companies focused solely on delivering goods on time, he has taken it a step further to provide clients with real-time information, helping them to better plan.
“You can’t wait until two weeks or five weeks later to find out that the goods landed $10 more than you had budgeted for in your retail shop,” he said.
“We as professionals in customs brokerage, we have that information, all it needed was that we package that to give the customers access to that information in as close to real-time as possible. And that is what we are about,” he declared.
After about two years of development, RDL Eagle Trade recently introduced its logistics app for projects called KNOW, which is designed to transform the way project teams keep track of their cargo.
“We have architects, interior designers and general managers at hotels that live on the app because you have made a purchase and you want to know where it is in the supply chain. You need to know, that is what KNOW is,” he explained, adding that it is managed by a concept known as “purchase order to proof of delivery (POtoPOD)”.
“We felt the whole concept of just delivering information by email and people waiting to open their email was insufficient. You need to know and you need to know now. You go on the app and it helps you to know,” he said.
Williams said he was able to boast of having the only logistics and supply chain management company in the Caribbean that has “a proof of delivery concept where you not only sign on the screen, you take a picture and get a pin of where that was delivered and when”.
“At the end of of it all you need to secure the investor that there was no abuse of his purchase orders, you need to ensure to the government or the ministry of finance that everything that was supposed to be bought was bought and not more, and you need to let them have documented proof that
it was delivered to site and signed for by the approved authority,” he explained.
Williams, whose children also have a stake in the business, said he was about to sit back and allow the black-owned business to die like so many others across other industries.
“RDL was started by my father over 30 years ago who was a customs officer who came out and started his little customs business. I took it from there and now my kids are involved. So you are talking about three generations right now, of a depth of knowledge and experience to lean on.
“The secret is will. You cannot afford to let it die. So it is whether you have the ambition and what are you predicating that ambition on. I saw my father working some ungodly hours to provide for his three kids. How can I let it go? I can’t,” he said.
“Yes, you will get challenges abound, but the realities are, and one of the things I have to accept is that you can’t stop because it is a journey, it’s not a destination. That is what I have predicated my entire life on, what you want to call the succession on – watching my father sitting at that dining room table at 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. trying to finish customs entries to try and get into customs the next morning. How do I let it go? I am hoping that the other generation see the same thing and understand that we can’t leave it,” said Williams.
RDL Eagle Trade was one of several firms that took part in the recent three-day AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, which brought together more than 1,000 participants from over 100 countries.
Describing the forum as a seminal moment in Barbados and the Caribbean, Williams said he was pleased with what was being presented and he was seeking to make a number of connections given that logistics will play a major role in the cementing of ties between the Caribbean and Africa.
Noting that his company has not been spared the rising costs associated with shipping, Williams added that the freight delays have been “nightmarish’’ for him.
He explained that some people have had to import more stocks than required at the time due to the uncertainty surrounding when goods will be delivered as well as to cut back on costs.
Williams said he believed that having a direct link with Africa could help to lower shipping costs and create greater certainty.
“We need to form these bridges so that it is not just the cost of fuel, but we may be able to get access to labour from Africa,” he said.
Video Source: VOB 92.9FM
Source
Madden, M. (2022, September 09). RDL Eagle Trade transforming business services. Barbados Today. https://barbadostoday.bb/. Visit →
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
FEATURE
JULY 25, 2022
The modern gable villa: From conception to completion
Love it or hate it, logistics is a critical part of the success of any project. This is especially true for projects where most purchases are imported—a longer supply chain poses a greater risk of mishaps and delays. There is a growing need for full visibility into the supply chains of project purchases, so project teams know for certain what to expect, when and can plan accordingly.
Attention to detail is critical. Project purchases are more than just boxes or piece counts; each item is distinct and must be treated separately paying close attention to specifics such as colour, finish, quantity, constituent parts and signs of damage. The discovery of exemptions or damage at the point of delivery to the project site or at installation is way too late in the supply chain and can gravely impact project and installation schedules.
Project teams need total visibility into the supply chains of their purchases. RDL gives just that. We keep our clients informed by continually capturing supply chain data in real time and delivering it to the palm of their hands.
Our client, the architecture and design firm Gillespie & Steel Associates Ltd, knows this first hand. In this article, we celebrate their fine work with a particularly stunning modern gable villa. Follow the project from concept to completion below. It’s absolutely breathtaking.
Media
The Modern Gable Villa. Gillespie & Steel Associates Ltd. 2022 Newsletter Collection: Visit →
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
UPDATE
DECEMBER 03, 2021
RDL’s Logistics Director teams up with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) to deliver the final segment of its Survive & Thrive Small Business Series
Live stream of Workshop 4 of the the BCCI Survive & Thrive Small Business Series entitled, ‘From There to Here and Everywhere: Efficient Shipping Logistics’. Click video to view.
The Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry launched its Survive & Thrive (S&T) Small Business series aimed at helping small to medium-sized businesses optimize for success. The series comprised of a number of digital workshops, the fourth and final of which was facilitated by RDL’s Logistics and Supply Chain Director Collis Williams.
The workshop, entitled ‘From There to Here and Everywhere: Efficient Shipping Logistics’ addressed key topics including a new paradigm for exports and the importance of global value chains.
In Collis’ words:
We cannot continue our incestuous relationship with the Barbados economy. We [small and medium-sized businesses] must explore and conquer in order to survive and thrive.
Media
From There to Here and Everywhere presentation: Download ⤓
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
FEATURE
DECEMBER 20, 2019
I AM Chad Williams
Inside the mind of a winner: Cricket champ (and RDL team member) Chad Williams on finding the power of calm in majestic India
All alone, scared, and lonely were the thoughts that crept into Chad’s mind as he awoke in a hard, uncomfortable wooden bed, tucked away in the corner of a cold, dreary room in Bangalore, India.
It was his first morning there, and with only a handful of clothes and a boxer in his backpack, desolate in the non-English speaking village of Singanayakanahalli—the southern end of India where Wi-Fi and U.S. dollars are rarities—manic, doubtful thoughts tried to rattle Chad’s spirit.
He however remained unmoved; never once thinking of giving up and returning home to the familiar comforts of Barbados. Undoubtedly, he was there for a reason.
Fast-forward to November 2019, 8 months and 10 days after his cathartic journey to India, Chad captains the Spartan Cricket Club to victory, reclaiming the Barbados Cricket Association’s Elite Division title after a nearly ten-year dry spell.
The number of thoughts in his mind at that time? ZERO.
Not absolutely nothing, but instead nothing of irrelevance, empty of chatter, zero nonsense. His body’s on turbo after such a historic win yet his mind is as still as the Indian Himalayas. This is his superpower, learnt many months prior during his two-month, transformational sojourn in the foreign land of India.
Chad learnt the power of quieting the mind, and the manic focus and ultimate success that comes as a result of it.
A long shot—all the way to India to train in world cricket
Chad is a man of simple words. Likened to gurus, saying less meant more; “Let there be light”, and we have an entire universe. He was playing football with his three-year-old son Kyrie when I reached out to him. It was a modern-day interview with a modern-day sage, so WhatsApp seemed just about right.
He spoke of the things that matter—the classic Five Ws (who, what, when, where, why)—with a direct response to every question. He was careful and articulate but felt like any combination of alphabets would never do justice to what he experienced in India.
Because how can you explain something so beyond you, something unfamiliar using a familiar language? From there, I knew we were speaking of the language of the universe: words so simple to none yet explains everything and more.
A natural athlete and son to RDL’s Managing Partner Collis Williams, Chad was born to lead.
“I was always around the business as far back as I can remember. But I started working at 19.”
Chad is now the head of RDL’s transport division. He is also a professional cricketer.
There has always been a unifying force that binds Chad’s work and sport together—his winning, conquer-all mindset. This is what compelled him to venture to the unfamiliar land of India, the breeding ground for some of the world’s best cricketers, to hone his skills.
“I wanted to go to India for the longest time because of their dedication to the sport. I went online and took a gamble, really. My family were a little hesitant but all very supportive.”
What is there to doubt when your vision is clearly laid out in front of you? Nothing. And so, his journey to The Land of Mystery and Diversity began.
From Elite Left-Arm Spinner to No One
He’s a cricket champion and a sport extraordinaire, to say the least. But in that part of the world, in the 22 flight-hours-away Kempegowda International Airport, realizing he may never see his luggage or precious cricket gear again, he had nothing. Chad was a terrified no one.
Saying the first week in India was “rough” is an understatement:
His bags were stuck in the airport for five days.
His hotel was nothing as it appeared online. It was a scam.
No one accepted U.S. dollars, so all the money he had saved up and brought with him was useless.
He didn’t have internet so was out of touch with his family and friends back home in Barbados.
And if that wasn’t enough, the hotel’s promised complimentary dinners were also non-existent. The room attendant couldn't speak a lick of English and even when Chad got into a disagreement with the hotel manager who made him double pay for his stay, he was accosted with a language unbeknownst to him.
“It was a lot at once. But I wasn’t going to let these challenges change my mind.”
By a twist of faith, 22-year old local, Muhammad Suleman came to Chad’s rescue. He was there for a business trip, and he spoke English. He translated for Chad and bought him food for a few days. It’s safe to say, he saved his life.
“It's crazy how it worked out because he left the hotel the same time I left. It was like he was put there for me. His energy and his kindness are something that would never leave me.”
“Like a true guardian angel, unexpectedly appearing from nowhere. What happened next?”, I asked.
Just Cricket Academy—but a whole new ball game
I thought Chad was being discreet when he mentioned the name of the academy where he trained—he must’ve felt like a protective scholar to an institution that taught him so much. But it’s literally “Just Cricket Academy”.
It’s about an hour’s drive from the city of Bangalore, located in the state of Karnataka, and is run by three former first-class world cricketers. After almost a week battling the many challenges of staying in the hotel, finally, he was given the opportunity to make the academy his home away from home. And it definitely was a whole new experience.
Chad having a photo moment with some of the younger students of the Just Cricket Academy in Karnataka, India.
Indians are known to have a touchy-feely culture and are easily fascinated with foreign faces. Being new and the only black person, Chad became an idol of sorts, constantly being touched, from his arms, to his back, to his hair.
“How did you respond to this?” I was curious.
He admitted it took time getting used to as this was a custom very alien to him.
The majority of persons at the academy were Hindu and most meals were vegetarian—a religion and diet that were very foreign to Chad. But one thing’s universal no matter where in the world you may be—kindness. The chef and staff made sure he was taken care of and was still able to indulge in meat.
Everything else at the academy was structured and routine. He woke up at the same time every morning and trained from sunup ‘til sundown. He trained hard, but with purpose. He was taught that every ball he delivered must have a well thought out intent and every swing of his bat should come from a place of calm and confidence.
“From a coaching point of view, they were very different in that they wanted the players to be the most relaxed. It’s more about comfort and technique than anything else.”
The winning technique: yoga and meditation
The academy taught mandatory yoga and meditation sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They knew that the players would be extremely exhausted from their rigorous cricket training sessions, so yoga was thought to be a gentler means of getting the players physically stronger while meditation brought them back to a balanced state of mind.
Chad and his fellow cricketers would all grab a mat and sit legs crossed; eyes closed and focus on the thing that connects life’s beginning with its end—the breath. Slowly, thoughts make themselves known— they are wild, manic, provoking. But just as they come, they subside. They dissipate and fade to calm.
“The aim was not to be involved in our thoughts and not to judge them but to become aware of them as they passed.”
And they do pass. Eventually the mind is left with no thoughts. Like an empty vessel, it is then ready to receive wisdom. This is mindfulness.
“I found yoga and meditation to be difficult. But meditation is something I've continued with since my time at the academy. It has helped me be present and aware of my thoughts. I felt relaxed and rejuvenated mentally. I found that I became more precise in decision-making and calmer under pressure,” observed Chad.
Admittedly, this ancient form of inner workings is still seen as otherworldly to many, but Chad is living, striking proof that it works and has brought mindfulness to all aspects of his life and most noticeably, to his recent Spartan victory.
“I was awakened by India. Yoga is a brief escape from the fast-paced nature of my life while meditation allows me to release tension, reprogram, and forget about peripheral stuff. As a captain, I needed to focus on the needs of the team. I became more balanced.”
In the attitude of gratitude
Chad saw majestic India from inside out.
He was introduced to a unique mold of nature—from national parks to holy ashrams, towering mountains to luscious greens—vividly contrasting the equally breathtaking Caribbean region he calls home.
He saw the Indian national cricket team play up-close—one of the highlights of his trip.
What struck him the most however, was seeing the stark contrast between the poor and the rich sectors of society. This grounded him and made him more appreciative of his current standing.
Chad began connecting with people of lower castes— laborers—in the academy, and they would invite him to sit with them in their humble huts sharing whatever little they had.
“The unwavering happiness and generosity that they portrayed despite having very little, gave me a renewed sense of gratitude. They were extremely kind, and I felt loved every day.”
Chad forged many friendships with the people at the Just Cricket Academy. And not just with the players and coaches but also with those whose absence would be a threat to the academy’s longevity—the labourers.
Beyond Sports
The wonderful thing about spiritual or existential learning is that it flows in all areas of life. Meditation was key to silencing Chad’s mind. And with absolute calm came indestructible focus, a skill that he has transferred to his work at RDL.
1. Dedication
Despite the many challenges, Chad finished what he set out to do in India and brought home an amplified, almost obsessive commitment to improving daily.
“Even when I’m tired, I put a smile on my face and carry the same enthusiasm when I make a delivery to my first client of the day as I do when I make a delivery to the last.”
2. Grit
“To make it to the Indian national team is very difficult. But these boys, despite having poor facilities, poor equipment, and little to no money, continue to turn up every single day and give nothing less than 100 percent.”
Chad saw what it takes to reach a world-class level and vowed to carry the same tenacity.
“Whether it may be as an RDL team member, as a father, as a friend, or as a cricket player, each day I strive to be the best Chad Williams I can possibly be. I will stop at no end to ensure that anything that I am responsible for, I give my very best.”
3. Teamwork
On his days training incessantly from sunup until sundown in India, physically drained and mentally fatigued, Chad developed a deepened appreciation for teamwork and its ability to make seemingly impossible feats, possible.
“At RDL we have a mantra, ‘We see ourselves as an extension of your team. When you win, we win.’ It means that we are our clients’ teammates and work hard to ensure that we deliver on their expectations. I approach each day with renewed vigor and a determination to bring success to my team.”
The Takeaway
Chad Williams found the power of calm, and it opened up a trove of limitless potential.
What remains with him is an amalgamation of all he learnt on his sojourn in India—kindness, empathy, commitment—and at the center of it all is gratitude.
“Be thankful for every passing day, for every positive in life, however small it may be.”
He is Chad Williams:
“Thankful.”
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
UPDATE
JULY 28, 2019
RDL launches I AM, a series showcasing top Barbadian athletes
Barbadian professional cyclist Joshua Kelly is the first athlete featured in the I AM series.
RDL Eagle Trade today launched I AM, a series of intimate showcases of top Barbadian athletes who are making their names known on the international stage. Each instalment of the series will give viewers the opportunity to delve into the lives of these competitive athletes and learn more about their commitment to pursuing their dreams, circumventing obstacles encountered along the way.
“We love showcasing our athletes,” said Collis Williams, Logistics Director at RDL. “They mirror the character that we bring to the table when we team up with our clients to take them to the top of their respective industries. These athletes dig deep, punch above their weight and chase victories. It is these attributes that we emulate—we team up with our clients to win.”
First in the series is, I AM JOSHUA KELLY, featuring professional cyclist Joshua Kelly, who is fresh off his first European victory. Joshua lets us into his world, a place where pain is a constant and success is a function of what you put in.
FEATURE
JULY O4, 2019
Hard work and humility: Elite cyclist Greg Vanderpool to compete in the 2019 International Cycling Tour of Martinique with the help of RDL
23-year-old Greg Vanderpool is the 2019 Barbados National Road Race champion.
On July 6, elite cyclists from around the world will convene at the start line in Fort-de-France for the 38th International Cycling Tour of Martinique. Among them will be Greg Vanderpool, a first-timer in the race, who will be competing as a member of Team GCS along with fellow Barbadian elite cyclists Joshua and Jacob Kelly.
Though Vanderpool, a 23-year-old student of the University of the West Indies, is fresh off his National Road Race Championship victory in May of this year, he recognizes that he is at a different point in his journey when compared to some of the more seasoned cyclists who will be competing in Martinique. He however admits that they all have this one thing in common—the strong desire to give their best performance and gain recognition as the tour is a known breeding ground for talent as well as a gateway into the European professional cycling circuit.
Vanderpool considers himself to be a climber, that is someone who excels more in hills, although he does like a good sprint as well. He is looking forward to the challenge presented by Martinique’s mountainous terrain.
For Vanderpool, gaining top results and contributing to the overall goal of his team is not his only objective. He is using the race as an opportunity to test his limits—both physically and mentally—and measure himself against those cyclists who are well accustomed to competing on such intense, mountainous terrains.
“My first goal realistically is to finish,” says Vanderpool. “The Tour of Martinique will be the longest consecutive race of my cycling career thus far, with the Tour of Dominican Republic being second. It will have 11 stages, totalling 1052 km. For sure it’s going to be a hard and aggressive peloton because everyone wants to perform. However, I’m not looking at it as one race but instead 11 races. For me, each day is an opportunity to either get a result or to try a new race strategy.”
The RDL Eagle Trade team will facilitate Vanderpool’s travel to Martinique to compete in the race.
As a cyclist in the midst of his formative years, Vanderpool stressed the importance of travelling outside of Barbados to compete in races such as the Tour of Martinique, and thanks the team at RDL Eagle Trade for giving him the opportunity to do so.
“It is so very important to travel so that I can gain experience, which will help me to both better develop and learn about myself as a cyclist. I’m excited, yes, but also very nervous because being in Barbados training for a long time and not getting in as much racing as your competitors leaves you with a lot more question marks over your head in terms of: Where do I stand? How fit am I? What is the intensity going to be like? There is nothing in Barbados to this extent that would allow me to gauge myself, so I’ll be finding this out as I enter the race. It’ll also give me the opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and refamiliarize myself with cycling in a large peloton. I really can’t thank the team at RDL Eagle Trade enough for acknowledging my hard work and facilitating my travel to Martinique to compete.”
Vanderpool poses for a shot with Collis Williams, Logistics Director at RDL Eagle Trade along with his sister Cherise Vanderpool.
When asked about his plans for the remainder of the 2019 cycling season, Vanderpool’s response aligned with his humble, hard-working nature.
“I still have a lot of goals set that I want to achieve beyond Martinique so I want to walk away from this tour with good indicators of how to improve and how to go forward with the remainder of my cycling season.”
Media
Images of Greg Vanderpool: Download⤓
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
UPDATE
JUNE 26, 2019
RDL Eagle’s Medical Logistics Solutionists attend the Florida International Medical Expo (FIME)
Medical Logistics Solutionist, Dr. Cherise Vanderpool, works closely with medical practitioners across the Caribbean showing them how to use international logistics as a tool to drive their operating costs down and elevate their patient experience. Download ⤓
RDL Eagle Medical Logistics Solutionists, Dr. Cherise Vanderpool and Dr. Nakita Haynes, began their 3-day exploration of the Florida International Medical Expo (FIME) today. The expo, which occurs in Miami Beach, Florida from June 26 to 28, will put the team in touch with over 1,200 world-leading manufacturers and suppliers of medical equipment, hospital technology, products and supplies. The supplier information gathered at the expo will be made available to the cohort of regional medical practitioners served by the medical logistics arm of RDL Eagle Trade.
“At RDL, we’re dedicated to keeping our medical clients at the forefront of advancements in the healthcare industry,” said Dr. Cherise Vanderpool, a member of RDL’s medical logistics team. “For us that means scouring the international market for innovative products and solutions that will help move their practices forward. We keep our ears to the ground and are always in search of ways that we can help them drive the cost of patient care down, while at the same time elevating their patient experience. Our journey to execute this mission has taken us all the way to China a few months ago and has now made its way to Miami for FIME.”
By teaming up with RDL Eagle Trade, medical doctors can lean on the company’s over 20 years of knowledge and experience in the international logistics industry to connect them with product the world over. They also have access to a team of trained medical professionals who not only speak their language but can both understand as well as predict their needs.
“We love being there for our clients no matter what their solution needs are, from helping them find the right medical device or machinery for their practice, to crafting bespoke supply chains that put them in touch with a steady stream of medical consumables cost effectively, and finding unique products that align with their envisioned aesthetic for their office or clinic,” said Dr. Nakita Haynes, Brand Director and Medical Logistics Solutionist at RDL. “We’ve always enjoyed a great partnership with our clients—we see ourselves as an extension of their team—and are always excited to work alongside them to devise solutions that satisfy their needs. Attending FIME is just a small part of that.”
FIME is considered to be the leading healthcare exhibition for the Americas and each year connects the over 500 delegates who attend with exhibitors originating from more than 41 countries across the globe. In addition to the expo, there will be a number of Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences which run concurrently and cover topics ranging from medical devices, healthcare supply chain and procurement, healthcare innovation, as well as sterilization and decontamination.
For more information about the team’s findings at FIME, subscribe to our medical logistics newsletter below.
FEATURE
MAY 27, 2019
RDL’s Logistics Director competes in the Barbados National Senior Games road race—and this is what he learnt
RDL Eagle Trade’s Logistics Director, Collis Williams, competed in his first cycling road race at the Barbados National Senior Games. The event was open to persons 40 years and older. Download ⤓
Twenty-nine cyclists competed in the 2019 edition of the Barbados National Senior Games road race, held on the morning of May 26 on the Spring Garden Highway. The 52.5 km race, organised by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, is part of an annual, monthlong event aimed at encouraging physical activity among Barbados’ senior citizen population in the hopes of curbing the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in the island.
Among the senior cyclists who competed, some in their late 60s, was RDL Eagle Trade’s Logistics Director, Collis Williams. The race proved to be a test of patience and grit, but for Williams, the challenge was welcomed and was in fact the driving force for his participation.
“Anything competitive for me represents an exercise of character. Whether I am good enough to stand on the podium or not, I will always be a part of the competition because I know that it will hone and refine my character as a person.”
Williams is pictured here riding in a pace line with fellow cyclists Keith Nurse, Chester Foster and Pedro Lawrence (from right to left). Download ⤓
Williams walked away from the the gruelling 1 hour and 22 minute race with three cherished life lessons.
Lesson 1: Truly, age is nothing but a number
“I quickly learnt that age is not exactly a defining factor in a sporting discipline like cycling, so I couldn’t target a competitor because he was older than I was. Some of the older cyclists performed a whole lot better than I did. What they brought to the race was many years of experience, coupled with strength that was allowed to mature over years. It would have been a grave miscalculation on my part, if my strategy was based solely on the age disparities at the start line.”
Sixty-eight-year-old Laurence Downey was the oldest participant in the race. Download ⤓
Lesson 2: There is great reward in digging deeper
“One of the things I have learnt from cycling is that victory is a function of how much longer I can sustain a deeper dig than my competitors. The man who can dig deeper for longer—he who can suffer the longest—wins. It was a momentum race. So being able to condition my mind to sustain a momentum, through suffering for an extended period of time was key. It’s what separated the pack. Digging deeper and sacrificing comfort, will bring you to the finish line ahead of the pack.”
Charles Lynch competed in the 50+ Masters category and is pictured here digging deeper during the latter half of the race. Download ⤓
Lesson 3: The fastest man is not always the one who wins the race
“Competitive cycling is a war of attrition. So while there may be a faster men in the pack, you can grind them down over time. Strategy will demand that you determine where you can weaken them enough so that their strength, which translates to speed, is eliminated when they need it most. And that may involve doing things like exhausting them incrementally by riding each incline faster than expected and grinding them down hill after hill after hill because you cannot afford for them to have enough strength at the end of the race to sprint to the finish line.”
Carol Kelly won the female category with a time of one hour and twelve seconds. The female competitors were required to complete a 37.5 km race circuit. Download ⤓
“To sum it all up, I’ve been weighed in the balances, and have been found wanting. I’m going back to the drawing board so that I can tool myself with the extra capacity for more strategic decisions. I will be definitely competing next year but this time with a lot more tools in my arsenal.”
Sedwin Jones (centre) won the Masters 50+ category ahead of Gerald Bovell (left) and Wayne Edwards (right). Download ⤓
Carol Kelly (centre) finished ahead of second place winner Paula Rose (left) and Gemma Chandler (right) who placed third. Download ⤓
Wingrove Thomas (left) and Handel Davis (right) celebrates with the winner of the Masters 35-49 category, Phillip Clarke. Thomas and Davis placed second and third, respectively. Download ⤓
The 2019 Senior Games will culminate on June 10 with a track and field competition at the Barbados National Stadium.
Media
Barbados National Senior Games road race 2019 official results: Download ⤓
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
UPDATE
APRIL 15, 2019
RDL attends the 125th session of the China Import and Export Fair
The China Import and Export Fair takes place biannually in Guangzhou, China.
The 125th session of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair as it is more commonly known, takes place in Guangzhou, China from April 15 - May 05, 2019 and will be attended by RDL team leaders Collis Williams and Nakita Haynes. The trade fair, organized by the China Foreign Trade Centre and hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, is said to be the largest of its kind, attracting over 800,000 attendees from across the globe.
A glimpse of the bustling nature of the Canton Fair. The event attracts over 800,000 buyers from across the globe.
During the three-week duration of the fair, the RDL team will have the opportunity to interact with China’s vast manufacturing sector.
RDL’s Logistics and Supply Chain Consultant Collis Williams, interacts with a Canton Fair attendee from Egypt.
PHOTOS
MARCH 03, 2019
BCU Speightstown criterium: An ode to our cyclists
First place Category 4 winner Paul Winner (centre) celebrates with second place winner Charles King (right) and third place winner Alan Harris (left).
At RDL, we see sports as an institution that humbles the soul, develops character, inspires a winning mentality and fuels a desire to conquer. That’s exactly why we support sporting endeavours within our community.
Our team attended the Barbados Cycling Union’s Speightstown criterium and were so inspired that we created a photographic ode to the cyclists who competed.
True grit.
Sandy Wilson, independent cyclist in the BMX 8-12 category.
The BMX 7 and under category was represented by independent cyclist Dylan Headley.
Jonah Kelly (left) and Kevin Webster (right) of the Tiny Mites category celebrates their first and second place win, respectively.
Nothing short of pure, unrelenting determination.
Seniors category second place winner Russell Elcock ahead of fourth place winner Edwin Sutherland.
Category 3 cyclist Ron Graves finished fifth and is pictured here with his daughter.
Rene Lashley looked strong. He finished second in the Masters 35-49 category behind first place winner Junior Proverbs.
Independent cyclist Alan Codogan finished second in the Masters 50 and over category behind first place winner Sedwin Jones.
Amy Cox of the Barbados Port Inc. club represented the women’s category.
Media
Images of the BCU Speightstown Criterium: Download⤓
BCU Speightstown criterium 2019 official results: Download⤓
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296
PRESS RELEASE
February 24, 2019
RDL co-sponsors first race of cycling season
Russell Elcock and Dominic Howard, respective first and second place winners of the Seniors race category. Photo credit: Barbados Cycling Union
The Barbados Cycling Union (BCU) held its first race of the 2019 cycling calendar on the 8 km loop at Sterling, St. Philip. This annual race was held in memory of cyclists Perceval Niles and Don Stoute, and was sponsored by Apex Construction Inc, Servall Inc and RDL Eagle Trade.
“We want to start the season by honouring two men who gave their lives for the sport we love—cycling.”
Forty-four cyclists and five registered clubs competing in seven categories, started the race under very windy and testing conditions. In the senior category, which was a total of 80 km, the early breakaway was made by Russell Elcock and Dominic Howard. These two cyclists extended their lead over the chasing group as the race progressed to finish first and second respectively, several minutes ahead of third place cyclist Edwin Sutherland. All three cyclists represented the Barbados Port Inc Sports and Culture Club.
Cyclists battled gruelling wind and heat conditions. Photo credit: Terrence.G.Lowe
Category 3 was won by Allan Maynard, with Wingrove Thomas and Nathaniel Weekes finishing second and third, respectively.
The Masters category (ages 35 to 49) was won by Junior Proverbs, Masters 50+ by Sedwin Jones and in Category 4 Paul Belgrave rode away with top honours.
Junior Proverbs, winner of the Masters 35-49 category. Photo credit: Terrence.G.Lowe
Taking first position in the fully subscribed women’s category was Amy Cox, with outstanding performances by Nikki Bailey and RDL Eagle Trade’s very own Nakita Haynes, who placed third and second, respectively.
RDL’s Brand Director Nakita Haynes, placed second in the women’s category. Photo credit: Terrence.G.Lowe
Jonah Kelly won the Tiny Mites category, while finishing second was Kevin Webster. Both of these riders represented the Sentry Insurance Boatyard team.
Jonah Kelly, winner of the Tiny Mites category. Photo credit: Terrence.G.Lowe
RDL Eagle Trade, Apex Construction Inc and Servall Inc have committed to sponsoring the event on an annual basis and have even bigger plans in the works for 2020. Stay tuned.
Media
Don Stoute & Percival Niles Memorial official race results: Download⤓
Contact
Nakita Haynes | nakita@rdleagle.com | (246) 261-2296