Club Races
Drew Heard Powers to Victory
Fyans Creek Rd Handicap - Sunday 30th March 2008

	Drew Heard

A gradually strengthening north westerly and cool conditions greeted the 14 cyclists who fronted for the 44km Fyans Creek Road handicap.

Limit riders Meg Parnaby and Les Power set off first, with 7.5 minute riders Tania Walter and Stuart King in hot pursuit. They reeled in the limit markers just past McCrackens Hill, but shortly afterwards were caught by 3.5 minute riders Leon Gibson, Tony Lloyd and Peter Blair.

Meanwhile the back markers Ian Blackie, Allan Barnett and Frank Kean put in a mighty effort to catch the 1.5 minute riders Gerard O'Brien, Daryl Elliott, Drew Herd and Dean Hayward before McCrackens hill.

This combined group then mowed down all the rest, hitting the front at Mt Dryden, then forging onwards dropping the weaker riders along the way.

With 5km to go, the surviving riders were Gibson, O'Brien, Herd, Kean, Blair, Elliott. Frank Kean lifted the pace on several occasions, testing those who were left, and making sure no one was resting up for the sprint, creating some very tired legs in the process.

click to enlarge

Left to right Frank Kean, Gerard O'Brien, Drew Heard and Peter Blair

With 200m to go, Kean darted to the other side of the road, but Heard caught his wheel and powered on to take line honours. Gerard O’Brien managed to slip into second place ahead of Peter Blair in third.

Frank Kean clocked the fastest time of 1 hour 10 minutes 22 seconds.