The long hours in training are paying off for Gunnedah cyclist Nathan Browne.
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Browne finished fifth at Sunday’s 100km Nemingha-Nundle-Nemingha Handicap – a race he described as considerably easier than his last attempt at the same event.
Aiding his efforts are the daily 40km pushes he’s been undertaking in readiness for the 2015 Keegan Downes Memorial Sundowner Handicap on June 20.
The Sundowner is an annual 100km handicap event from Coonabarabran to Gunnedah and regularly attracts some of the country’s best riders.
But as good as Browne’s Nemingha-Nundle result was in a field of about 70 riders, it wasn’t without its challenges.
“I was doing all the hill work with another bloke from Armidale,” Browne said.
“There were about 5-6 riders in my group.
“One lady pulled away but we caught her with about 5km to go.
“It was pretty satisfying.”
First place went to 53-year-old veteran rider and experienced campaigner, Mal Nash.
A few places back and not nearly as experienced was Browne, who has only been riding competitively, off-and-on, for about the last four years.
Also in the hunt from Gunnedah was Garry Turner and triathlete Pete Loveridge.
Turner described Browne as a “quiet achiever” and said his top-five result was thoroughly deserved for a job well done.