Club Races
Peter James Takes Out Memorial
Greg Smith Memorial Handicap
Sunday 2nd May 2010

	Peter James

Visiting Ballarat cyclist Peter James made the trip to Horsham worth while last Sunday, sprinting to victory in the Grampians Vet’s annual 62 kilometre Greg Smith Memorial Handicap.

After starting on the Three Bridges Road, 5 kilometres out of Horsham, James, along with fellow 12 minute riders Meg Parnaby, Les Power and Damian Rabl had caught 15 minute riders Tom Eldridge and John McIntyre along the Wonwondah Toolondo Road, about half way around the course.

With the addition of these two riders, they soon reeled in the limit markers, Karen James and Shirley Hetherington, about 6 kilometres later along the Rifle Butts Road. However the side wind along the Rifle Butts Road stressed the weaker riders, and several dropped off.

Further back the scratch riders Tim Schneider and Frank Kean had caught 3 minute riders Daryl Elliott and Drew Heard early on, and by the half way mark were close behind 5 minute riders Rod Hetherington, Gerard O’Brien and Alan Barnett. These riders combined soon after turning onto the Rifle Butts Road, and reduced their 7 minute deficit over the leading bunch to just under 4 minutes over this tougher side win section of the course

However, on the return leg along the Lower Norton Nurrabiel Road, the leading riders took full advantage of the assisting wind to still lead by two and a half minutes over the chasing riders at the turn onto Three Bridges Road, with only about 4 kilometers to go.

With the line in sight, Tom Eldridge led out early, and looked to have a good advantage, but faded just before the line, allowing Peter James to just edge out Les Power for first place, with Eldridge third and Meg Parnaby fourth.

Frank Kean recorded the fastest time of 1 hour and 36 minutes.

Photos taken on the day - Click images for a larger version.