Club Races
Prins Proves to be a Powerhouse
Concongella Handicap, Sunday 22nd June 2008

	Sean Prins

A smaller field of Grampians Veteran Cyclists tackled Stawell’s undulating 46km Concongella circuit on Sunday.

Cool conditions and light winds greeted the riders, many of which had ridden a hard race into strong head winds the day before, taking part in the Stawell Great Western Cycling Club’s Anniversary Handicap.

Limit markers Les Power, Sean Prins, Peter Mayo and Meg Parnaby attacked the course from the start to take full advantage of their nine minute handicap.

However, the early pace proved too much for Power and Parnaby, both suffering from tired legs from the day before, leaving Mayo and Prins to build up what would prove to be an unassailable lead.

Scratch markers Peter Parnaby, Gerard O’Brien, Allan Barnett and Leon Gibson worked well together, and soon after the Joel Joel turn had picked up Daryl Elliott, Drew Heard and Harvey Lang.

The combined bunch then maintained high speeds on the run home, picking up Power and Meg Parnaby several kilometers after Greens Creek, but never sighting the two leaders.

In the sprint to the line, a rather weary Sean Prins took victory with Peter Mayo second. In the battle for third place, O’Brien broke free of the rest of the field at the top of the last hill, taking Peter Parnaby and Barnett with him. Parnaby held out Barnett to take the minor placing and fastest race time of 1 hour, 12 minutes and 17 seconds.