DARREN MERCER SAYS POOLE CAN MATCH IT WITH THE BEST
Coolum, February 6: Ironman legend Darren Mercer believes Mooloolaba's Matt Poole could well be one of the young guns to match it with the stars as this year's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Iron Man Series hots up at Coolum this weekend.
The biggest names in surf sports, led by Zane Holmes (Telstra Southern Qld Sunfish) and Shannon Eckstein (Telstra Southern Qld Sunfish) in the men and Kristyl Smith (Express Glass Southern NSW Blue Fins) and Hayley Bateup (DHL Southern Ice) in the women will converge on the Sunshine Coast this weekend for rounds three and four of the $200,000 Series.
The final will be held at Sydney's Coogee Beach on Sunday, February 22.
Poole (Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers) originally hails from Sydney Northern Beaches Club, Queenscliff and spent a season a Northcliffe on the Gold Coast in 2008.
He was automatically drafted into the Series last year after winning the Under 19 Australian Ironman Champion in 2007 and finished 17th in his debut season.
But a change from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, a new surf club and a new coach in Michael King also sees Poole with a new lease of life.
He is sitting in fourth place on 28 points behind Eckstein (35), Holmes (34) and DHL Southern Ice's Pierce Leonard (32) after the opening two rounds.
Mercer, now the Development Officer at Mooloolaba Surf Club and also an expert commentator with Channel Seven's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series coverage, has followed Poole's progress since he arrived on the Sunshine Coast some 12 months ago.
The winner of the Australian Ironman titles in 1995 and 1997, a prolific Kellogg's Iron Man Series winner and the 1993 Coolangatta Gold winner, Mercer knows ironman talent when he sees it.
"Matt's growing in confidence all the time and I think that's a big thing when you are only 20 and you line up against the big names," Mercer said today.
"It's important not to worry about names and just believe in your own ability - Matt's got plenty of that and he's just got to relax and get on with the job.
"Even talking to him this week he is pumped - he just wants to get in and do it.
"He's big and strong and is doing some great work with coach Michael King and I'm tipping a big future for him and a host of the other young guys coming through.
"Pierce Leonard is also going great guns as well and has shown in the past that he can match it with the big boys."
Poole says the move to King has been a major turning point in his career.
"I believe in myself and I believe I can match it with these guys - I was intimidated last season and it played on my mind," said Poole.
"Now all I am doing is training as hard as I can and concentrating on doing the little things right and not making any mistakes - consistency is the key.
"I love training under Kingy - he has really changed my career for the better."
DON'T BE LATE FOR BREAKFAST
Competition for a slice of the action around the dinner table has been just as competitive as on the beach this week.
Poole and former Torquay Ironman Jack Hansen (DHL Southern Ice) are two regular housemates living in the Newbiggin household with the family's Series contenders, brother and sister Gemma and Dylan Newbiggin (Citizen Northern QLD Lightning).
But this week they have been joined by an "intruder" in Collaroy carpenter Kendrick Louis (Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers) who has made a guest appearance in the lead up to the Coolum rounds.
"It's been a busier week than usual that's for sure...keeping them all fed...but it's a lot of fun," said mother of the house Helen Newbiggin.
A case of..... Kellogg's Nutri-Grain all round.....