Club Races
Power Breaks Away
Stawell Race Course, Sunday 22nd February 2009

	Les Power

Continuing his great run of form, Grampians Vets rider Les Power broke away with 5km to go to take out the Stawell Race Course 56km handicap, held last Sunday.

Riding off 16 minutes, Power and Frank Stokes combined to reel in the limit riders Meg Parnaby and Bridget Lang at the Mokepilly turn, about two thirds of the way through the race.

This group of riders still held a commanding lead over the 8 minute riders Sean Prins, Sean Blackie and Peter Mayo, who in turn were still well clear of the 4 minute riders Leon Gibson, Daryl Elliott, Gerard O’Brien and Tony Lloyd.

Scratch riders Drew Gray, Frank Kean and Harvey Lang rode like demons to catch the 2 minute riders Alan Barnett, Drew Heard, Wayne Krauss and Peter Parnaby a few kilometers before the Mokepilly turn. This group combined to soon bridge the gap to the 4 minute riders, making a large and powerful chasing bunch.

They overtook the 8 minute riders Prins and Blackie with about 10 kilometers to go, but Meg Parnaby and Les Power were still well clear. Having lost Bridget Lang up an earlier hill, Power made his move up the first of the final hills with 5 kilometers to go, pulling away from Parnaby and charging on to score a well earned victory.

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Left to right - Meg Parnaby, Les Power and Drew Heard

Meg Parnaby managed to hang on for second, while Drew Heard came home strongly to claim the big bunch sprint and third place.

Harvey Lang rode well to take out the fastest race time for the day.