Northcliffe’s swimmers celebrate club’s great eight
Surf Life Saving Australia, April 16, 2015: THE Shannon Eckstein-led reign of Northcliffe in the Open Men’s Surf Teams will continue for another year.
Eckstein crossed the line in second place in yesterday’s final, behind Olympic swimmer Tom Fraser-Holmes, to lead yet another dominant performance from the powerhouse club.
His team-mates Caine Eckstein, Jordan Harrison and Sam Sheppard all finished in the top 11 to lose just 22 points, and win ahead of Mooloolaba (57 points) and the Northcliffe B team, which was tied with Elouera and Manly but won bronze on a countback.
It was the eighth consecutive triumph in the Surf Teams for Northcliffe, with Eckstein present for every triumph since 2006.
“You look back through who has been in the teams – Jeremy Cotter, Zane Holmes, Pierce Leonard have been in them, Caine has been in a lot – so it’s pretty special to be part of this,” the Ironman champion said.
“I get quite nervous before this event. It means a lot to us.”
It might have been eight years since Fraser-Holmes’ last swam in a serious surf race but he is quickly getting rid of any rust and showed with his speed across the bank he will be right in the mix for Saturday’s Open Surf Race final.
Even by Northcliffe’s lofty standards the finish of the Open Women’s Surf Teams final was a terrific achievement.
As the leading swimmers emerged from the surf it was a wave of maroon and white with the club filling the first six places and taking the first two spots in the final placings. Noosa Heads was third.
Kristyl Smith, swimming for the B team, crossed the line first, followed by the A team quartet Eliza Smith, Courtney Hancock, Rebecca Creedy and Harriet Brown.
Sixth place was filled by 17-year-old C team swimmer Greta Petersen, who then stepped onto the start line for the under-19 final and placed second to lead her team to victory.
“I really didn’t expect to come sixth in the open race,” Petersen said.
“Those two swims are my best at an Aussies so far. I think I’m a lot fitter and stronger this year.
“I’m really positive for the next couple of days competing in the Surf Race in Opens and under-19s.”
Northcliffe’s under-19s finished ahead of Mooloolaba and City of Perth, while the club made it a golden trifecta when it took out the under-17 Surf Teams from Manly and Mooloolaba.
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