Championships can be decided by just a few points. If you ever needed proof of this, all you need to do is look at the final ICLO3 Forager South Coast Triathlon League standings. Just three and a half points separated the Champions, the Jervis Bay Dolphins and the runners up, the Kiama Coasters.
In a back and forth battle all season long, it came down to the final round in Forster to determine the destination of the trophy. It headed back home to Jervis Bay for the second time in two years following on from Kiama’s victory during the inaugural season.
These two giants of the South Coast have embraced the interclub concept with open arms and have reaped the rewards for doing so. The Interclub has given Jervis Bay something to build around, something to strive towards as a collective unit. Under the stewardship of Rod Rose, the club has come on leaps and bounds in a very short period of time. The same can be said about the Kiama Coasters who continue to grow from strength to strength on and off the field of play. Both have a renewed vigour these past few seasons and both will have their eyes on the South Coast title again in ICL04.
The rivalry that has developed between Jervis Bay and Kiama is becoming legendary and will become even more richer following on from an inevitable ICL04 tussle.
Little Husky is round one for the Forager South Coast Triathlon League in ICL04 followed by the Callala Triathlon just before Christmas. From here we head to Batemans Bay in early February, before the jewel of the calendar is upon us, Big Husky in late February. The Wollongong Triathlon is the penultimate round before we head north to Foster and the final showdown at club champs, which as always remains a double point round.
Round one and two will shake up the pack, rounds three and four will remove the pretenders, rounds five and six will reveal our champion. A slow start is a killer as momentum is always key, come the end of the Callala Triathlon we will be able to rule a few clubs out of contention for sure. Whether or not we had to Club Champs and the final round with two teams separated by just a few points again remains to be seen, but it is very possible.
The Jervis Bay Dolphins will quite rightly start the season as the club to stop. They have earned that right with two titles in two years, meaning that they are the firm favourites heading into the season.
The Kiama Coasters came oh so close last year and will be more motivated than ever to get their hands back on that South Coast title. Keep an eye on a reinvigorated Illawarra Cannons however, the largest club in the region has yet to really make a push at the South Coast title but it appears but that this may be the season that they really make their mark.
The Shellharbour Mariners will improve once again as they always do with their young outfit maturing mixed with their experienced talent leading the way, which should make this title race a four club battle royal.
The Eurocoast Nomads and the Highlands Shaggy Cows are doing all the right things off the field. They are both investing time and energy in implementing the basics that will allow their clubs to grow. Although they will both enjoy moments of success this season, these two will battle it out for the wooden spoon this season as they are not quite ready for title pushes.
Triathlon NSW predictions
It is hard to stay on top forever and we see the Jervis Bay Dolphins slipping back this year to finish 4th overall, not through a dip in form but due to the improvements of the clubs around them. Last season’s agonising finish for the Kiama coasters will motivate them all the way to reclaiming the South Coast title this season. They will be pushed all the way by the Shellharbour Mariners who will fall just short and end up runners up. The Illawarra cannons will piece together their best Interclub season to finish third overall. The top 4 will be separated by just 30 points come the end of the season in what will prove to be the most enthralling competition within NSW this season. Both the Eurocoast nomads and the Highland Shaggy Cows will both improve on recent seasons, with the Eurocoast Nomads just edging out the Highlands Shaggy Cows to finish 5th overall. TNSW.
