The lads in blue and gold got a rude shock this morning, when Ms P powered her way around the ‘train of pain’ course to finish at the top of Yaralumla with the lead pack.

 A clearly delighted Ms P was just as surpirsed:  ‘I was hoping to make Qestacon, but just kept rolling through’.  Even running over a possum on Canberra Avenue wasn’t going to stop Ms P.  She just powered on, taking advantage of an unusually large bunch.  

Another rider, believed to have connections with Ms P, was said to have thought about dropping off the back for an extended cool down.  But on filtering his way though the pack was amazed to see Ms Patterson still riding hard – right past his sorry behind.  Spurred on by a need to restore dignity, he struggled back to the front, joining a Mr Big for the final fling around the lake and up through Yarralumla.    

At the post ride coffee, conversation went in all directions, seeking to avoid the obvious – a girl had made the ride all the way to the station.  But in the end, this triumphant ride was acknowledged as an impressive, and quite possibly, first-time occurence