Club Races
O'Brien Wins at Stawell Racecourse
Stawell Racecourse - Sunday 8th July 07

Slightly damp wintry conditions greeted the small field of riders who tackled the 62km Racecourse circuit, starting and finishing at the Stawell Racecourse, just out of Stawell on the Pomonal road. However, the recent cold, wet and windy conditions meant that some riders were not as well prepared as usual!

Gerard O'Brien

Limit riders Larry Bales, Frank Stokes, Tania Walter and Les Power headed off with a 17 minute head start, and were making good time until the flooded causeway at Mokepilly forced the group to take a soft gravel road detour.

More drama unfolded when they reached the Halls Gap Road. The energetic Les Power turned right at Fyans Creek Road, planning to go around both lakes.  It took some loud vocal persuasion to call him back, preventing him from embarking on the unnecessarily long Paris Roubaix alternate route.

Middle markers Stuart King and Gerard O'Brien riding off 11 minutes decided to go straight through the half metre of flood water. King  wisely kept his shoes clipped into the pedals, although it crossed his mind to release his feet and free-wheel through the water (and get stuff half way!!!). The middle markers caught the limit riders in the Halls Gap - Pomonal road hills before leaving them behind at the Pomonal corner.

The second scratch bunch of Allan Barnett, Jamie Bennett and Daryl Elliott, riding off 6 minutes, also went through the freezing Mokepilly. Bennett, suffering from wet, numb toes, suggested riding to Halls Gap for coffee to thaw out. The idea was tempting but scratch rider Ian Blackie was hot on their heels. Blackie, 2006 Club Rider of the Year, was in great form and caught most the riders 10 kilometers from home. He then surged away to chase down O'Brien and King.

The very fit O'Brien looked comfortable flying up the last hills. He had worked well with King and deservedly took first place. Blackie crossed the line in second place and took out fastest race time, followed by King in third place. Barnett courageously hung on to Blackie's slip stream the longest to push him ahead of the rest  of the field and into fourth place.