Club Races
Crash Mars Scratch Riders Day
Fyans Creek Rd, Halls Gap, Sunday 12th October 2008

	Meg Parnaby

Mild temperatures and a very light northerly made for excellent cycling conditions, as the 18 strong field lined up for the Grampians Vets 44km Fyans Creek Road handicap last Sunday.

Two minute riders Harvey Lang, Tony Lloyd, Peter Parnaby, and Frank Kean set off at a great rate, catching three and a half minute riders Steve Monks, Peter Mayo, Stuart King, Danny Monaghan and Shane Clark after about 12km.

This combined bunch then set out in pursuit of the limit riders, who started off the 14 minute mark.

However, the limit riders were making good time, with Meg Parnaby, Trevor McDonald and Les Power combining well together, and with 8km to go were still unsighted by the following bunches.

Scratch riders Alan Barnett, Leon Gibson, Drew Heard, Mark Uebergang, Gerard O’Brien and Ian Blackie rode hard all the way, but were only slowly making up ground on the combined 2 and 3 minute riders in front.

With 4kms to go, disaster struck the scratch bunch. Two riders tangled and in the chaos that followed several riders went down. Fortunately no bones were broken, but with all riders stopping to help their mates, this ended the scratch riders day.

Meanwhile, the limit riders were still well clear when they entered the long finishing straight, and Meg Parnaby took off to cross the line first ahead of Power second and McDonald third.

The combined 2 and 3 minute riders came in shortly after, with Frank Kean recording the fastest time of the day of 1 hour 9 minutes.