The weather was finally kind to the starters at the Monthly handicap event conducted by Maning Valley Cycle club last Saturday afternoon. A good field set out for the 30 km event on the Central Lansdowne road. Limit riders Stephen Nicholson & Belinda Crossingham seemed to have an uncatchable start with 25 minutes lead over the scratch bunch of Beau Harper, Glen Mathiske, Phil Knowles & Lloyd Ninham. The scratchies only hope was to catch the chopping block bunch of Graham Norris, Matt Worth, Michael Cross & work together to bring them back. The group of Tanya Cross, Ian Budden, Don Worger & visiting rider, Ed Ninham looked good & would be hard to catch off the 10 minute mark. Another group to watch would be the John Hawkins, Gary Piper,Kelle Nicholson & Russell Davis group with 12 minutes start. The threat from this bunch dissipated quickly when Davis punctured early & Pipers gears malfunctioned. The 10 minute bunch lost Worger early & Ninham Snr on the second lap but hooked up with Kelle Nicholson & John Hawkins & looked to have a good lead. Meanwhile the 17 minute bunch of Amber Piper, Mary Frost, Tyler Nicholson & Matthew Blick had all dropped out of contention with the heat of the afternoon. Stephen Nicholson was picked up on the final lap by Tanya Cross who at this stage was alone & going for the win. However, the scratchies had picked up chopping block & driven on by the exuberant Beau Harper were flying & picked up Tanya in the last couple of  kilometres. In a last minute move, Harper attacked & went clear & norrowly held on from the fast finishing Glen Mathiske & Phil Knowles in third. Harper also took fastest time. Final results were;

1st Beau Harper

2nd Glen Mathiske

3rd Phil Knowles

4th Lloyd Ninham

5th Graham Norris

6th Michael Cross

7th Greg Walmsley

8th Anthony Cross

9th Tanya Cross

10th Ian Budden