Club Races
Rob Phillips takes out Combine
Learmonth, near Ballarat
Sunday 11th October 2009

Grampians Vets travelled to Learmonth last Sunday for a combine with the Ballarat Eueka Vets. A field of over twenty cyclists line up for the fifty-five kilometer event.

Warm (for Ballarat!!) and sunny conditions made for pleasant riding as the groups completed three laps of the Learmonth windmill circuit.

Marilyn Morley and Bill Groome were first away with a twenty five minute start on the back makers. Meg Parnaby left seven minutes later and caught the front makers after one lap only to be consumed by the next bunch just after her difficult chase had being accomplished.

Gary Blood had a two minute start on Ron Larkin, Phil Cochrane and Ian Summers who were riding well with their fourteen minute handicap. Further back in the field the seven minute bunch of Danny Monaghan, Terry Collie and Alan Barnett was riding hard and eventually caught the ten minute group.

These two combined groups captured all of the front makers with eight kilometers to go and looked like taking out the race. However the three minute bunch of Peter Kiel, Rob Phillips, Sean Prins and Andrew Rushton was really flying and caught the race leaders three kilometers from the finish.

In a bunch sprint it was Rob Phillips who took out line honors ahead of Andrew Rushton in second place followed by Peter Kiel, Peter Mayo and Danny Monaghan.

Doug Garley put in an amazing effort crossing the line a few seconds later to take out fastest time after riding solo on the last lap.