Club Races
First Win for Richards
Stawell Racecourse Handicap
Sunday 18th September 2011

	Geoff Richards

Stawell cycling powerhouse Geoff Richards used his time trialling abilities to help propel the 6 minute riders to victory in the Grampians Vets 55 kilometre Stawell Racecourse handicap.

Combining with Drew Heard, Stuart King, Peter Parnaby and Les Dunn, Richards used his great strength to the bunches’ advantage, putting in some long sustained efforts out in front to ensure the pace stayed high.

With the limit riders loosing an unwell Tony Lloyd early on, Damian Rabl, Peter Mayo and Meg Parnaby did well to hold off the 6 minute riders until the final 10 kilometres, when they flashed past at high speed.

Further back the scratch riders Peter and Crystal Wemyss, Dean Hayward, Sean Prins and Frank Kean were also riding strongly but were running out of time to catch the leading riders.

With 600 metres to go Peter Parnaby started to wind up the pace but Geoff Richards soon charged to the front with Drew Heard on his wheel. Stuart King missed the jump but worked hard to get back but Richards went on to take out his first win the club, from Heard and King.

The 6 minute riders rode well above their expected average, resulting in the scratch riders coming in some time after.

Peter Wemyss was first of the scratch riders in and recorded fastest time of one hour, twenty-five minutes and forty-one seconds, an average speed of 38.5kph.