Club Races
Power Adds Another Win to List
Polkemmet, Sunday 19th April 2009

	Les Power

A glorious autumn morning greeted Grampian cyclists as they tackled Horsham’s Polkemmet circuit on Sunday morning.

However, as the race progressed, the light southerly breeze shifted to the east and strengthened, ensuring the homeward bound leg would be a true test of stamina.

Danny Monaghan appeared to be well handicapped on 6 minutes 30 seconds, having recently returned from ski-instructing and mountain bike riding at altitude in Colorado.

He set off at a solid pace, in company with Alan Barnett and Stuart King in an attempt to reel in the 11 minute 30 second markers Meg Parnarby, Tom Eldridge, Les Power and Peter Mayo, who were working well together over the undulating circuit.

As the race progressed, the hard-riding scratch bunch of Frank Kean, Steve Monks, Tim Schneider, Daryl Elliot and Drew Heard had claimed second scratch markers Dean Hayward, Gerard O’Brien, Leon Gibson and Peter Blair on the approach to Natimuk Lake, after this bunch had lost Gibson earlier on due to a puncture.

The combined group maintained a high pace on the homeward leg, but failed to close within sight of the leaders. Approaching the finishing line, the limit markers had to pull out all stops to hold off the flying Danny Monaghan, with Les Power taking out the sprint ahead of Mayo and Monaghan.

Tim Schneider took fastest time honours in 1 hour 24 minutes and 30 seconds.