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Club Races
Monaghan is Back!
Natimuk Noradjuha Handicap
- Sunday 13th April 2008
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Danny
Monaghan |
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With only 2 weeks of training on the
mountain bike after his return from the USA, Danny
Monaghan had no trouble taking out last Sundays Grampians
Vets 52km handicap, held around the Natimuk Noradjuha
circuit.
Only a small field of 12 riders fronted,
even though the fine conditions and light winds made
for good riding conditions.
Riding off 11 and a half
minutes, the strong limit bunch of Monaghan, Dan Heard,
Shauna Heard and Meg Parnaby set off 5 minutes ahead
of the unlucky Peter Blair, who had just returned after
injury and was paired with the very much in form Leon
Gibson. This ensured that Blair had a very uncomfortable
ride just trying to keep up.
Next away off 3 and half
minutes was Allan Barnett and Drew Heard along with
an invitational rider. This bunch caught Gibson and
Blair at Norajua but then the combined bunch was quickly
reeled in by scratch markers Ian Blackie, Frank Kean
and Steve Monks.
Ian Blackie attacked the Norajua hills
hard and left most of the other riders scrambling to
hang on. Allan Barnett rode away with Blackie in pursuit
of the limit bunch who had still not been sighted.
Meanwhile the limit riders were making good time, with
Monaghan making light of the work.
With 5 kilometres
to go, the limit bunch could not see any riders behind
and eased up slightly, only to find that 3 kilometres
later the scratchmen were suddenly in view and closing
very fast.
Monaghan and Dan Heard poured on the
power to get to the finishing line first and second,
leaving a gap to Shauna Heard and Meg Parnaby, who
still managed to hold off the fast finishing pair of
Blackie and Barnett. Ian Blakie took out the honours
for fastest time.
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