Club Races
Scott Returns to Form
Quarry Road, Sunday 20th July 2008

	Chris Scott

Horsham cyclist Chris Scott showed he is rapidly regaining his old form by taking out the Grampians Vets Quarry Road 47 km handicapped last Sunday.

Cold conditions with a slight northerly wind greeted a hardy bunch of riders.

The dominating group on the day were the second scratch riders, starting off 1 minute 45 seconds. This group was made up of Chris Scott, Dean Hayward, Leon Gibson and Stuart King.

They caught the 5 minute 15 second riders Peter Mayo, Tania Walter and Tom Eldridge along the Illawarra Road. The 8 minute 45 second riders Sean Prins and Shauna Herd were also scooped up by second scratch while descending the Sandbar Hill.

This combined working group of Scott, Hayward, Gibson, Walter and Mayo maintained their momentum, as they set off to catch the lone limit rider and keep the scratch riders at bay.

Solo limit rider Linda Howlett from Ararat, riding off 19 minutes 15 seconds, rode solidly in her maiden race with the club, to keep the other riders at bay until the Mt. Drummond Road turn off 7 kilometers from the finish line.

With the scratch riders Gerard O'Brien, Daryl Elliott, Alan Barnett and Drew Heard still out of sight, and out of mind - Stawell rider Dean Hayward used the quarry road hills at the 42 kilometer mark to launch a vicious attack on his team mates. Hayward left most riders breathless; but not quite all - Chris Scott made a determined dash to keep Hayward within reach.

Gibson rode intelligently to make up ground and catch the break, leaving the trio to fight out the last 4 kilometers.

Click to enlarge

Left to Right - Dean Hayward, a stuffed Chris Scott and Leon Gibson displaying his new racing knicks!! (have to enlarge to see)

In a sprint finish Scott overpowered Hayward stealing a well deserved win. Gibson was second across the line followed by Hayward in third place. Scott also recorded the fastest time of 1 hour, 13 minutes 30 seconds.