Club Races
Monaghan is Back!
Natimuk Noradjuha Handicap - Sunday 13th April 2008

	Danny Monaghan

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.