Club Races
Crash Mars Scratch Riders Day
Fyans Creek
Rd, Halls
Gap, Sunday 12th October 2008
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Meg
Parnaby |
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Mild temperatures and a very light
northerly made for excellent cycling conditions, as
the 18 strong field lined up for the Grampians Vets
44km Fyans Creek Road handicap last Sunday.
Two minute
riders Harvey Lang, Tony Lloyd, Peter Parnaby, and
Frank Kean set off at a great rate, catching three
and a half minute riders Steve Monks, Peter Mayo, Stuart
King, Danny Monaghan and Shane Clark after about 12km.
This
combined bunch then set out in pursuit of the limit
riders, who started off the 14 minute mark.
However,
the limit riders were making good time, with Meg Parnaby,
Trevor McDonald and Les Power combining well together,
and with 8km to go were still unsighted by the following
bunches.
Scratch riders Alan Barnett, Leon
Gibson, Drew Heard, Mark Uebergang, Gerard O’Brien
and Ian Blackie rode hard all the way, but were only
slowly making up ground on the combined 2 and 3 minute
riders in front.
With 4kms to go, disaster struck the
scratch bunch. Two riders tangled and in the chaos
that followed several riders went down. Fortunately
no bones were broken, but with all riders stopping
to help their mates, this ended the scratch riders
day.
Meanwhile, the limit riders were still
well clear when they entered the long finishing straight,
and Meg Parnaby took off to cross the line first ahead
of Power second and McDonald third.
The combined 2
and 3 minute riders came in shortly after, with Frank
Kean recording the fastest time of the day of 1 hour
9 minutes.
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