Club Races
Lang Leads all the Way
Rifle Butts Short Course, Sunday 1st February 2009

With another hot day forecast, Grampians Vets riders set off at 8am last Sunday, for the 46km Rifle Butts handicap at Horsham.

However, the temperature was already 29 degrees when lone limit rider Bridget Lang set off with a 24 minute start. Riding in only her second race, Lang set herself a steady pace, and managed to maintain it the whole way.

At the other end of the field, the scratch riders were determined to make it their day, with Frank Kean, Tim Schneider, Alan Barnett, Harvey Lang and Peter Parnaby combining well to reel in the 2 minute riders Leon Gibson, Drew Heard, Stuart King, Shaun Prins, Daryl Elliott and Mark Uebergang soon after the half way point.

This large group combined to then chase down the 8 minute riders, Meg Parnaby, Tom Eldridge, Les Power, Shauna Heard and Kerryn Prowse, catching them with about 10 kilometers to go, but shedding a few tired riders along the way.

With only Bridget Lang still out in front, the main bunch of riders kept up the pace, but Lang held her form to cross the line one minute clear, claiming her first race win!

In the sprint for the minor placings, Tim Schneider got up to take second place and also claim fastest time, followed by Daryl Elliott and Harvey Lang.