Club Races
Meg Tops off Great Year with Xmas Handicap Win
Fyans Creek -
Sunday 9th December 2007
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Race
sponsor Leon Gibson presents Meg Parnaby with her
trophies |
Grampians Vets rider Meg Parnaby topped
off a very successful year with a win in the last race
of the year, the Pat and Leon Gibson Christmas Handicap.
After
winning the Victorian Vets Time Trial early in the
year, a training ride fall mid year resulted in a fractured
pelvis, but she came back stronger than ever to take
out the Australian Time Trial in her age group, as
well as several local club races.
Twenty-four riders lined up for the 44km Fyans Creek
event that circled Lake Lonsdale. Light winds and mild
temperatures made for almost perfect race conditions,
only marred by the race having to be shortened 1.5km
due to the Wimmera pipeline construction.
Riding off 13 minutes, second limit riders Les Power,
Merv Thompson, Meg Parnaby and Shauna Heard set off
at a great pace and made up the 4 minutes on the limit
riders Roger Williams and Steve Walker just after the
half way point.
Meanwhile the 6 minute riders Steve Monks, Leon Gibson
and Harvey Lang were quickly making up ground on the
10 minute riders Michael Jensen, Graeme Rooney and
Frank Stokes, catching them at the 23km mark, and picking
up Stokes as they went past.
However, Meg Parnaby knew to
make the most of the tail wind after McCrackens Hill. She broke from
her group, taking Shauna Heard with her, and the two
girls headed for home. However, the 6 minute riders
were hot on their heels, powered along by Monks and
Gibson, but ran out of time and were still 300
metres behind the girls when they crossed the
finish line.
Parnaby deservedly placed first in the sprint finish
with Shauna Heard riding brilliantly for second in
her first club race for some time. The sprint for third
place was hotly contested with both Lang and Gibson
jostling for the best position, but Lang got the better
of Gibson by a bike length.
Riding off 2 minutes, second
scratch riders Michael
Kelly, Tony Lloyd, Tom Eldridge, Gerard O'Brien, Dean
Hayward and Peter Parnaby had ridden well to have the
6 minute riders in their sights with 12km to go, but
just failed to catch them and finished 200 metres behind.
Scratch riders Frank Kean, Richard Clark, Drew Heard,
Allan Barnett, Daryl Elliott and Stuart King were a
further 30 seconds back, with Drew Heard recording
the fastest time of 1:08:30min.
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Left
to Right - Harvey Lang, Meg Parnaby, and Shauna
Heard |
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The Clubs annual presentations
were made after the race. Race sponsor Leon Gibson
presented the race winner and place getters with their
trophies and prize money.
The Allan and Gayle Barnett
Aggregate Award went to Les Power, with Meg Parnaby
runner up. The 2007 Rider of the Year was awarded to
Tania Walter for her Victorian and Australian Vets
title wins.
The Clubs 2007 Most Improved Rider
was awarded to Stuart King. Both Meg Parnaby and Tania
Walter received awards in recognition of their performances
at the State and Australian Championships.
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