Seahorses off to a flyer on the North Coast

The NX Sports Ballina Triathlon attracted high class athletes from all over Australia as many used it as a last-minute hit out before the 2018 ITU Age Group Triathlon World Championships on the Gold Coast, making for an excellent display of sprint racing.

It also attracted high class athletes from several North Coast Clubs who were looking to get their clubs off to the best possible start in the inaugural North Coast Interclub Series.

It was the Ballina Seahorses who made home advantage count. A superb club effort was well rewarded as they claimed 24.5 points, just shy of the 25 available on the day and sit in 1^st place after Round 1.

Victories for Shane Flannery and Philip Cook in their respective AG, a 2^nd place for Kim Churchill and a 3^rd for Millie Cooke were the highlights for a united and highly motivated Seahorse outfit.

Georgia Davis and Max McGovern both came away with 4^th place in their AG, with David Crosby in 5th keeping the points rolling in for Ballina.

Steve Gasbarrone, Wade Davey, Annie Whitton, Joshua Wiggins, Henk Scholtz, Lee Thomas, Alan Foley, Steve Fisher, Bradley Heard, Nico Van Wyk and Club President, John Fullerton all secured top 10’s resulting in the Ballina Seahorses announcing themselves as serious contenders for the North Coast title.

Second place on the day went to the new kids on the block, the Hat Head Hammerheads.

Rebecca Kings headlining for the Hammerheads with a 1^st place finish in her AG. Paulene Kirby also had a great day out as she finished as runner up in the 55-59 AG. Andrew Kirby, Madison Sinclair and Anne Kirkwood ensured that it was a debut to remember for Hat Head as they all returned home with top 10 finishes to their name.

Another new club, the Byron Breakers, also announced themselves as one to watch on the North Coast stage owing largely to a 1^st place finish for Alan Rowe, a 3^rd for Georgina Inwood and an 8^th for Jason Trisley. Byron are 3^rd on the ladder, just a point behind Hat Head.

Joint third on the day were the Coffs Harbour Rockets. Phil Benoit, Isaiah Koopmans and Michelle McBurney finishing on the podium in their AG, with Matt Moffatt, Michael Ylinen and Michael Singleton narrowly missing the podium in theirs. Tracy Singleton, Reuben Van Wyngaardt, Chris Hodge, Alira Bayndrian and Shaun Bayndrian finishing with top 10’s making the long drive home for the Rockets a sweeter one.

Just 1 point behind the Rockets and Breakers, were the Clarence Valley Stingrays inspired by a great day out for the Adams family, with dad, Darren, finishing 2^nd and son, Jay, 4^th. Jason Culton started the season well with a 3^rd, as did David Lovell and Veronica Baker who both finished 5^th to cap off a promising start for the Stingrays.

The Port Macquarie Pelicans not featuring this time around.

For a refresher on the point system, click here

For information on Round 2, click here

For information on all things Sydney North, click here

North Coast 01

#	Club	Total	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7
1	Coffs Harbour Rockets	114.5	13	13.5	12.5	21	8	25	21.5
2	Hat Head Hammerheads	114	14	25	7.5	25	6.5	16	20
3	Byron Breakers	98	13	15.5	13.5	14.5	7	13	21.5
4	Yamba Stingrays	97.5	12	25	10	25	0	18.5	7
5	Port Macquarie Pelicans	82.5	0	19.5	0	25	13	25	0
6	Ballina Seahorses	82	24.5	17	13.5	0.5	11	7.5	8

Round 1 is now in the books and teams will head to Yamba in November for Round 2.

Ballina will be hoping to extend their lead in the North Coast Interclub Series whilst the chasing pack will want to close the gap. Who is going to emerge as the main challengers for the Ballina Seahorses?

Yamba is home to the Clarence valley Stingrays and they will have this event circled on their calendar as one they must take full advantage of if they are to have serious title aspirations.

Round 3 in Kingscliff closely follows the Yamba Triathlon so heading into the Christmas break we should have a clear idea of which clubs are going to challenge for the title come the seasons end.