Coffs win as final day drama looms

The Coffs Harbour Rockets picked up their first victory of the season in emphatic fashion this past weekend at the bcu Coffs Triathlon.

The Rockets have performed excellently over the second half of the season to propel themselves into title contention and now sit just one point off the lead with one round to go.

Thirty-nine Coffs Harbour athletes picked up Performance Points with top ten finishes as they ‘Maxed Out’ with 25 points from the event. It was the first time Coffs have ‘Maxed Out’ this season.

Julie Darlow and Isaiah Koopmans in great form to win their AG’s for the Rockets. Pim Heaney, Kate Marsden, Shannon O’Hara, Jan Rooney and Michael Singleton also in fine form picking up 2^nd place in their AG’s. Melanie Silvester, Peter Giddins and Joanne Ferguson the other Rocket’s who podiumed on home soil as they all finished 3^rd.

The other Rockets who secured Performance Points were as follows;

Alira Bayndrian, Shaun Bayndrian, Phil Benoit, Tina Benoit, Peter Birch, Dave Blandford, Stephen Boyd, Michael Brennan, Patrick Brennan, Craig Busby, Ian Fergusson, Trevor Fidge, Haylee Fuller, Mark Garner, Tom Handel, Ian Howchin, Dennis Jeff, Lois Oliver, Patricia O’Loughlin, Fiona O’Meara, Leon Petrohelos, Melissa Shaw, Charles Stockton, Sue-Anne Swindon, Peter Timothy, Janine Watson, Collin Williams and Jennifer Williams

Second on the day at bcu Coffs and also ‘Maxing out’ were the Port Macquarie Pelicans. With their great performance at bcu Coffs, Port find themselves in 4^th overall and off the foot of the ladder for the first time this season.

They are just 11.5 points off the lead but will need a lot of things to go their way if they are to be crowned North Coast Champions in Byron in May.

Alison Appleton, Harry Jones, Belinda Johnson, Margaret Lawn and Julie Parish ensuring it was a great day for Port as they all won their respective AG’s. Brett Weick, David Carter and Michelle McDonald producing great races to finish on the podium.

Georgia Abbey, Vanessa Bailey, Greg Brooks, Belynda Carrall, David Craddock, Michael Cutting, Rachael Goodwin, Julie Parish, Tanya Porto, Georgia Taylor and Patti Turnham were the other Pelicans to secure Performance Points.

Third at bcu Coffs were the Clarence Valley Stingrays and drop to third overall in the process. They find themselves just 2.5 points behind Coffs in second and 3.5 points off the lead.

It was the usual suspects for the Stingrays as Darren Adams, Kim Elvery and Jason Culton once again won their AG’s. Lindsey Wall and David Lovell both finished 2^nd, with Brendan Wall 7^th.

Another good day for the Stingrays and they have every reason to believe that come the end of the Byron Triathlon in May, they will be crowned the first ever Champion of the North Coast.

Fourth at bcu Coffs were the Hat Head Hammerheads as they clung on to top spot overall by the narrowest of margins.

Stephen Parnell the star for the Hammerheads as he won his AG to secure 2 precious Performance Points.

Andrew Kirby, Pauline Kirby and Trudi Needs all managed 5^th placed finishes, with Michael Kemps storming around to a 6^th.  Madison Sinclair, Mike Stevenson and Dean Irving also finishing with top 10’s for the Hammerheads.

A fantastic first season for the club will conclude at Byron. Whatever the outcome, Hat Head have been brilliant and look set to establish themselves very quickly as one of the most vibrant clubs in the state.

The Byron Breakers finished fifth at bcu Coffs and sit fifth overall. They find themselves 17.5 points off the lead now which is likely to be too big of a gap to bridge in the final event.

They should finish strongly though, with a podium still within reach.

New Breaker Nik Howe finished with a 4^th, as did Alan Rowe and Danielle Van Zuylen. Club President, Deb Fuller showing incredible resolve to battle through for a 7^th, with Claire O’Meara adding further points with an 8^th.

The smallest club in the competition have been mixed it with the bigger clubs time and time again this season. To be in the mix after 6 events is testament to the culture of the club that has been established.  As they attract more members, Byron are sure to be title contenders in years to come.

Ballina led overall as the North Coast Interclub hit the Christmas break but have slowly fallen down the ladder to find themselves sixth with one event to go.

20 points off the lead means that a title victory is still mathematically possible but highly unlikely. They will however finish the season on a high at Byron and will enter as one of the favourites for event glory.

Kim Churchill and Gary Simes in good form at bcu Coffs to take Performance Points home to Ballina as the Seahorses finished sixth on the day.

A great day at bcu Coffs means that all clubs can still be crowned Champions come the Byron Triathlon.

Hat Head Hammerhead to be crowned Champions of the North Coast at the Byron Triathlon if –

• Concede less than 1 point to the Coffs Harbour Rockets,
• Concede less than 3.5 points to the Clarence Valley Stingrays
• Concede less than 11.5 points to the Port Macquarie Pelicans
• Concede less than 17.5 points to the Byron Breakers
• Concede less than 20 points to the Ballina Seahorses

Coffs Harbour Rockets to be crowned Champions of the North Coast at the Byron Triathlon if –

• Score over 1 point more than the Coffs Harbour Rockets
• Concede less than 2.5 points to the Clarence Valley Stingrays
• Concede less than 10.5 points to the Port Macquarie Pelicans
• Concede less than 16.5 points to the Byron Breakers
• Concede less than 19 points to the Ballina Seahorses

Clarence Valley Stingrays to be crowned Champions of the North Coast at the Byron Triathlon if –

• Score over 3.5 points more than the Hat Head Hammerheads
• Score over 2.5 points more than the Coffs Harbour Rockets
• Concede less than 8 points to the Port Macquarie Pelicans
• Concede less than 14 points to the Byron Breakers
• Concede less than 16.5 points to the Ballina Seahorses

Port Macquarie Pelicans to be crowned Champions of the North Coast at the Byron Triathlon if –

• Score over 11.5 points more than the Hat Head Hammerheads
• Score over 12.5 points more than the Coffs Harbour Rockets
• Score over 8 points more than the Clarence Valley Stingrays
• Concede less than 6 points to the Byron Breakers
• Concede less than 8.5 points to the Ballina Seahorses

Byron Breakers to be crowned Champions of the North Coast at the Byron Triathlon if –

• Score over 17.5 points more than the Hat Head Hammerheads
• Score over 16.5 points more than the Coffs Harbour Rockets
• Score over 14 points more than the Clarence Valley Stingrays
• Score over 6 points more than the Port Macquarie Pelicans
• Concede less than 2.5 points to the Ballina Seahorses

Ballina Seahorses to be crowned Champions of the North Coast at the Byron Triathlon if –

• Score over 20 points more than the Hat Head Hammerheads
• Score over 19 points more than the Coffs Harbour Rockets
• Score over 16.5 points more than the Clarence Valley Stingrays
• Score over 8.5 points more than the Port Macquarie Pelicans
• Score over 2.5 points more than the Byron Breakers

Top 3 questions answered from the bcu Coffs Tri

1. Can the new kids on the block, the Hat Head Hammerheads hold on to top spot?

The can by the smallest of margins. It will be a tense finale. 

2. Can Byron earn enough points to keep themselves in the running before their home event?

It was a great effort by the Breakers but they might be a but too far back now to win the title on home soil. 

3. Can Port maintain their form to drag themselves back into title contention?

They can. Another MAX OUT for the Pelicans but it might not be enough for title glory. 

For more information about the Byron Triathlon, or to enter, click here