Club Races
O'Brien Wins Easter Handicap
Concongella, Sunday 12th April 2009

	Gerard O'Brien

Grampians Vets cyclist Gerard O’Brien took out the club’s Easter Handicap last Sunday, after breaking clear on the final hill.

With many riders competing in the South Pacific Veterans Championships in Maryborough over the Easter break, only a small field of ten riders tackled the 46km course at Concongella.

Ideal calm conditions made the going easier for the limit riders Meg Parnaby, Tom Eldridge and Les Power, who took full advantage of their 10 minute start to set up a good lead.

Next away were Gary Howden, Gerard O’Brien and Peter Blair, riding off 1 minute 30sec. They set off at a steady pace but were caught after only 10 kilometers by the flying scratch riders, Danny Monaghan, Sean Prins, John Lacey and Dean Hayward, who were determined to gain reinforcements as soon as possible.

This combined bunch then set out after the limit riders, who were still riding strongly with a 6 or 7 minute lead.

Once the limit riders hit the hills on the Navarre Road, they lost the out of form Meg Parnaby, and the chasing bunch had closed to within 2 minutes. However Eldridge and Power put up a great fight, and maintained their lead until 3 kilometers to go, when they were swallowed up by the chasing bunch.

With 800 meters to go, half way up the final hill, O’Brien made his move, and caught the rest of the field napping. By the time they had decided they should respond, O’Brien had broken well clear, and managed to hold them off to take out first place.

John Lacey was second with Peter Blair third. Lacey also recorded the fastest race time of 1 hour 11 minutes and 45 seconds.