Club Races
Kean Leaves Field in his Wake
Laharum, Sunday 17th May 2009

	Frank Kean

Threatening weather appeared to discourage veteran cyclists on Sunday, and a small contingent of only nine riders tackled the 65km Laharum circuit.

The early morning drizzle gave way to a fine morning, but a stiff south-westerly breeze ensured the outward legs would be a true test of strength.

Drew Heard set off with Alan Barnett, Peter Mayo and Les Power with a 5 minute 30 seconds advantage over the scratch bunch, but this group appeared to struggle on the flat stretch towards Wonwondah and were in sight of the scratch bunch shortly after turning south on the Henty Highway.

With Frank Kean pulling strong turns and driving fellow riders Danny Monaghan, Gerard O’Brien, Leon Gibson and Dean Hayward, the scratch bunch reeled in the limit markers just before the Brimpaen turn off.

As the riders approached Woodstock Fields , Kean launched an attack that caught out several riders, and he managed to split the field, in company with Monaghan and Heard.

The race then settled down to a chase by the second group to get back on terms, but despite desperate riding from Gibson, O’Brien and Barnett, Kean’s strength enabled his group to maintain their advantage, and he went on to take out the race ahead of Monaghan and Heard, with O’Brien heading the chase bunch on the line.