Club Races
Elliott Wins at Polkemmet
Polkemmet Road Handicap
Sunday 13th February 2011

	Daryl Elliott

Horsham cyclist Daryl Elliott took out the tough Grampians Vets 54km Polkemmet Road handicap last Sunday, in an eventful race which left a trail of riders along the road.

Light winds greeted the riders at the start, but increased as the race went on, adding an extra degree of difficulty, particularly to the stretch along Lake Road past Lake Natimuk.

Les Power and Merv Thompson headed off with a 19 minute lead over scratch, pursued by Meg Parnaby and Peter Mayo five minutes later.

These two groups came together 38 kilometres later, with Parnaby and Mayo breaking free soon afterwards to make a bid for home.

Six minute riders Tony Lloyd, Tom Eldridge, Andrew Reid and Damian Rabl found the head wind stretch past Lake Natimuk testing, allowing the 3 minute riders Crystal Wemyss, Daryl Elliott and Peter Parnaby to gain rapidly. Shortly afterwards, these two bunches came together at about 30 kilometres into the race, becoming a larger and much more powerful group.

Further back, the scratch riders had suffered the loss of powerhouse Sean Prins early due to a puncture, leaving an impossible task for Peter Wemyss and Drew Heard to reel in the riders ahead.

Turning back onto Polkemmet Road for the return journey, the combined 3 and 6 minute riders worked well together until Lloyd punctured crossing a stretch of road under repair, then gradually riders dropped off over the hills to leave a small group of Elliott, Eldridge, Crystal Wemyss and Peter Parnaby bearing down on Meg Parnaby and Peter Mayo, who were still out in front.

The two leading riders were finally overtaken with about 10 kilometres to go, with Daryl Elliott going on to take out the sprint from Tom Eldridge and Crystal Wemyss.

Elliott also recorded the fastest race time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, an average of 36kph.