Club Races
Eldridge Wins at Polkemmit
Polkemmit Road, Sunday 15th February 2009

	Tom Eldridge

With all entry and prize money going to the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal, a field of 14 Grampian Vets riders tackled the often windy Polkemmit Road course last Sunday.

Although the forecast the night before had predicted light winds, most riders will tell you it was quite a bit stronger, and made for a tough haul back to the finish in the later stages of the 54 kilometer race.

Riding off 15 minutes, limit riders Meg Parnaby, Les Power and Bridget Lang were first away, making good use of the tail wind start.

The 6 minute riders Tony Lloyd, Shauna Heard, Mark Uebergang, and Tom Eldridge also got off to a flying start, and worked hard to overtake the limit riders with about 12 kilometers to go.

Further back, the 3 minute riders Peter Blair, Leon Gibson and Drew Heard were struggling to make up ground on the 6 minute riders, and were joined by the scratch riders Steve Monks, Harvey Lang, Peter Parnaby and Alan Barnett with 8 kilometers to go. These two bunches combined, and soon caught the limit riders, but the 6 minute bunch still had a commanding lead.

Over the closing stages of the race, the large chasing bunch had done too much work earlier and were running out of leg power, and never looked like reeling in the 6 minute riders, who crossed the line a good 500 meters clear.

Tom Eldridge took line honours and a well earned win, followed by the in form Shauna Heard, with Tony Lloyd third.

Harvey Lang beat Steve Monks home to record the fastest time of 1 hour, 27 minutes, after both had ridden excellent races.