Lennox Head-Alstonville leads the way for NSW
Northcliffe clubmates Zane Holmes and Hayley Bateup were the toast of surf lifesaving in October when they won the Coolangatta Gold and have returned to the Gold Coast in style by taking out the blue ribbon events on day two of the East Coast Championships yesterday — a day which saw Lennox Head-Alstonville finish as the top-placed NSW club.
And the star pair will return to Kurrawa today in Queensland colours as they line up against New South Wales in the second Warriors on Water, looking to claim the trophy the Blues won at Port Macquarie last season.
Holmes trailed for much of the final, after Pierce Leonard (Northcliffe) and Luke Nisbet (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) set the pace by picking up a crucial wave on the opening swim leg. After Holmes closed the gap in the ski, the unpredictable shore break slowed the frontrunners enough to make it a race in three. Holmes then powered to the line for another victory in what is proving to be a great season for the World Club Champion after moving to Northcliffe from Kawana Waters.
In the Open Ironwoman, Hayley Bateup led from start to finish, positioning herself well throughout the race to make the most of her transitions. While she was pushed hard from behind, Bateup showed the skill and experience she is renowned for to collect the $2000 first prize from clubmate Sheree Merryfull and Allira Richardson (Maroochydore). The victory was signalled a return to form for Bateup, who since her Coolangatta Gold victory has been plagued by illness, injury and bad luck.
The top competitors from each State over the course of the East Coast Championships have earned places in today’s Warriors on Water, which will see NSW defend their 2005 crown against the highly fancied Maroons.
Courtney Hancock pulled off one of the upsets of the day in the U19 Surf Race, defeating Australian Open Surf Race Champion Meagan Nay (Kurrawa), while sister Bonnie made it a family affair by taking our the U17 Surf Race.
NSW rep Kendrick Louis (Collaroy) continued his good 2006/07 form by taking out the U17 Ironman/Surf Race double, while Tanyn Lyndon (Lennox Head-Alstonville) did the same in the U15s.
Jacob Lollback (Yamba) took out the U19 Ironman, and the 18-year-old will be eyeing off a strong result in the Open Board final tomorrow after accounting for national champion Bruce Taylor (North Burleigh) last weekend in Sydney.
Northcliffe (384pts) hold an unassailable lead after day two of the East Coast Championships from Mooloolaba (276) and North Burleigh (244). Lennox Head-Alstonville (92) are the leading NSW club in ninth.
Final team lineups will not be known until tomorrow, with the final Board events being carried over to Sunday morning. While most of Queensland’s big guns will take their place in the lineup, some have been drafted back into the NSW team including former-Cronulla representative Kristyl Smith, former NSW Athlete of the Year Amanda White and ex-Byron Bay ski paddler Kane Battese.
The top NSW performers on day two were:
Open Male Surf: 2nd Ethan Whiteman (Manly), 3rd Ben Allen (Bulli)
Open Male Flags: 3rd Jay Coburn (Swansea Belmont)
Open Female Sprint: 1st Anna Heasman (Caves Beach)
Open Female Flags: 2nd Jamie McKee (Cronulla), 3rd Nicki Jones (Cronulla)
Open Female 2km Beach Run: 1st Catherine Harvey (Byron Bay), 2nd Rique Sharman (Byron Bay)
U19 Ironman: 1st Jacob Lollback (Yamba)
U19 Male Surf Race: 2nd Hayden Allum (Wanda)
U19 Male Ski: 1st Pat Norton (Byron Bay)
U19 2km Beach Run: 2nd Matt Laverty (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U19 Male Surf Boat: 3rd Wauchope-Bonny Hills (Daniel Hollis, Dylan Eggins, Ian Larkins, Nathan Monaghan, Rex Larkins)
U19 Female Surf: 1st Courtney Hancock (Sawtell)
U19 Female Ski: 3rd Brea Bailey (Cudgen Headland)
U19 Female Sprint: 2nd Jamie McKee (Cronulla)
U19 Female Flags: 1st Jamie McKee (Cronulla)
U17 Ironman: 1st Kendrick Louis (Collaroy), 2nd Saxon Bird (Queenscliff), 3rd Liam Jackson (Avoca Beach)
U17 Male Surf: 1st Kendrick Louis (Collaroy)
U17 Male 2km Beach Run: 2nd Troy Ham (Swansea Belmont)
U17 Ironwoman: 2nd Kayla Russell (Sawtell)
U17 Female Surf: 1st Bonnie Hancock (Sawtell), 3rd Hannah Julius (Cudgen Headland)
U17 Female Board: 2nd Bonnie Hancock (Sawtell)
U17 Female 2km Beach Run: 1st Jade Nelson-Chapman (Byron Bay), 2nd Sarah Walker (Sawtell), 3rd Riley Harrison (Byron Bay)
U15 Ironman: 1st Tanyn Lyndon (Lennox Head-Alstonville), 2nd Mitchell Allum (Wanda)
U15 Male Surf: 1st Tanyn Lyndon (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U15 Male 1km Beach Run: 2nd Tanyn Lyndon (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U15 Ironwoman: 1st Amy Nurthen (Terrigal), 3rd Brooke Miller (Freshwater)
U15 Female Surf: Jessica Davis (Avoca Beach), 3rd Brooke Miller (Freshwater)
U15 Female Board: 3rd Brooke Miller (Freshwater)
U14 Male Surf: 3rd: Hayden Thomas (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U14 Male Board: 3rd Daniel Booth (Redhead)
U14 Male Flags: 3rd Robert McIntyre (Copacabana)
U14 Male 1km Beach Run: 2nd Daniel Booth (Redhead), 3rd Blake Polverino (Port Macquarie)
U14 Ironwoman: 2nd Emily Chaffey (Cooks Hill)
U14 Female Board: 2nd Emily Chaffey (Cooks Hill)
U13 Ironman: 2nd Michael Barnett (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U13 Male Surf: 1st Oliver Hulbert (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U13 Male Board: 3rd Oliver Hulbert (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U13 Male 1km Beach Run: 1st Michael Reilly (Cooks Hill)
U13 Ironwoman: 2nd Ellie Leaver (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
U13 Female Board: 3rd Ellie Leaver (Lennox Head-Alstonville)
