Twenty-seven riders took part in the Porongurups Handicap, an 86km race to the Porongurup Tearooms and back – a really good test of endurance for any rider, young or old.

As the first riders left the start line, the lone scratch rider, Rowan Burton, waited 25 minutes before he was released.

Unfortunately the 90-second gap to chopping block would eventually prove too much for him.

On the long road out, most of the groups stayed intact, only Mark Luscombe, Greg Newton, Matt Puzey and Murray Thornton were able to catch the riders in front of them and form a large chase group just before the turn-around.

As the course is out-and-back, they could see they had some serious chasing to do.

The two front groups had not merged, but Graham Forte, Ralph Flowers, Pat Elms and Dean Thornton had not only lost Kees Glorie, but picked up Corrine Bracknell and still had a handy lead.

On the return journey, the backmarkers put the pace on, passing all but the group of Forte, Flowers, Thornton, Elms and Bracknell and by the time they reached Baker’s Junction, the lead was cut to 50 seconds.

Here the pressure rose further and many riders were dropped in the last few kilometres.

The backmarkers managed to get tantalisingly close, but it was all in vain and they missed out by just three seconds.

It was a great teamwork victory as Flowers won from Dean Thornton, with Elms third, Forte fourth and Bracknell fifth.

Greg Newton had the fastest time of 2hours 22minutes 13seconds.

– Greg Connell.