Over 500 days.
That is how long it has been since a team other than the Kiama Coasters has been in first place on the South Coast Interclub ladder. In fact, at no time during the short history of the event has a team other than the Kiama Coasters been on top.
During ICS01, the Kiama Coasters took control at the Berry Duathlon in Round 1 and didn’t relinquish control all season long. It looked like it might be the same this season, as once again the Coasters took control at Berry and forged on as South Coast Interclub leaders.
That was until this past weekend at the Callala Triathlon when the Jervis Bay Dolphins produced another spirited club performance to score their second MAX OUT of the season to take a nine- point lead into the Christmas Break.
A candidate for athlete of the season so far and Club President, Rod Rose, once again led the charge for the Dolphins with another age group victory. He wasn’t alone a top of the podium as John-Paul Hilton, Robert Duffy and Mandy Meredith also won their age groups for the Dolphins.
Annette Sampson, Tony Lim, Kendall McMaster, Jessica Rosskelly, Bill Stahlhurst, Ben Moore and Gray Parkes secured podium places to push the Dolphins on towards the elusive MAX OUT.
Kim Waterhouse, Scott Rankin and Darryl Callaghan were the other Dolphins who chipped in with Performance Points.
The Illawarra Cannons produced the best performance of the season so far to bring themselves back into the title conversation as they scored a very impressive 20.5 points to finish second. They remain fourth overall but are now just 5.5 points behind second and 14.5 off the Dolphins in first.
Age group victories for Lucy Cliff, Lauren Myers and Kye Robinson were the highlights but they weren’t the only Cannons firing as Alex Pozzer, Angus Waddel, Ross Schuback, Ryan Fleming, Sile Crowe and Paul Beaumont all secured Performance Points for Illawarra.
Sile Crowe and Kye Robinson in particular, have been in great form all season long and the continued form of both could be key to the Cannon’s success over the remaining four rounds.
The Shellharbour Mariners were third at Callala as they press on as the most consistent club in the competition this season. They are yet to be out of the top three at any event this season and look set to be part of the title that looms at Round 8 in Forster at the Triathlon NSW Club Championships. The recent announcement that the event will be held at Main Beach has upped the ante and will mean points will not be as easy to come by!
Rob Spicer and Tanya Fraser each secured 2 Performance Points for the Mariners with their age group victories, with Luke Heckenberg and Zara Jobson contributing 1.5 points each as they finished second and third respectively.
Reiner Mangulabnan, Tony Fraser, Ron Lake, Damien Ryan, Rebecca Ryan and Scott Jobson were the other Shellharbour athletes to race to top 10 finishes and Performance Points.
The Kiama Coasters finished fourth on the day at Callala with the wonderful Cherryl Freeman once again winning her age group, as Ben Hartley finished fourth in his.
The Coasters slip to second overall but are just 9 points behind with four events remaining. If they are to go back to back and claim a second South Coast Interclub title, then the Mariners, Cannons and especially the Dolphins, are going to make them work very hard for it.
The Highlands Shaggy Cows and Eurocoast Nomads didn’t trouble the scorers at Callala and remain in fifth and sixth overall. Both find themselves currently outside of the title race, but it isn’t out the question that both could drag themselves back into it.
Up next for the South Coast after a short break is Big Husky weekend which promises to be points galore for all clubs involved. The Performance Point earning race in the Long Course (Ultimate) distance.
