Club Races
Grampians Riders Do Well in Combine.
Lake Learmonth - Sunday 26th July 2009

A large field of thirty-five cyclists competed in the Eureka Veteran Cycling Club combine held at Lake Learmonth, near Ballarat. Thirteen riders from the Grampians Veterans Club combined with Eureka for the forty-eight kilometre handicap event.

Fine but cold (5 degrees!) conditions greeted riders as they lined up for the start, but riders soon warmed up during the three lap circuit around the Lake Learmonth district. Undulating hills across the back section of the course, reminiscent of Sandbar Road near Lake Lonsdale, made for an interesting race.

Marilyn Morley with a twenty seven minute handicap held off the chasing bunches for two laps. Meg Parnaby, Sue Parker and Phil Cochrane were driving the fifteen minute bunch but were soon captured by Bob Morley, Shauna Heard, Tania Walters, Tony Rathgeber and Ron Larkin.

These two groups combined and worked well holding off the chasing bunches until three kms from the finish.

Further back in the field the eleven and eight minute bunches of Tony Geor, Rob Parker, Brett Caddy, Peter Parnaby, Peter Mayo, Tony Lloyd, Alan Barnett and Rob Kina had all combined and were making up ground quickly. The four and a half minute second scratch bunch of Drew Heard, Dean Hayward, Gerard O'Brien and Andrew Rushton had all of the riders in front within sight but just missed out on catching them before the finish line.

The five man scratch bunch made up of seasoned locals including Peter Kiel and an injured and very courageous Doug Garley were unable to catch the main field by thirty seconds.

Rob Kina took out line honors after breaking free with 300m to go, after nobody opted to chase him down. Peter Mayo was first out of the bunch for second place followed by Brett Caddy ahead of Peter Parnaby and Alan Barnett.

Ken Heres led the scratch bunch out for the fastest time prize, however it was the master Doug Garley who again took the money.

Many thanks to the Eureka club for the great BBQ afterwards, and for hosting the event.