MANLY MEN AND FRESHIE GIRLS TO STAR AT BRANCH CHAMPS

Sydney Northern Beaches, February 6: Manly, with champion ski paddlers Murray Stewart and Nick Dawe and Ironman Jonno Stock at the helm, will take its first steps towards retaining NSW State Surf Life Saving supremacy at this weekend's Streets Sydney Northern Beaches Branch Championships at Palm Beach

The sky blue caps, under the direction of coaching staff Sean Kenny and Trent Herring, were the toast of the State in 2008 when they upset longtime rivals Cronulla's 10-year reign.

They are up for the challenge again with depth across all areas, which started in the boat and lifesaving area at last weekend's opening day of the Branch titles.

The club's open A and juniors have already scored a rare boat double while Mel Pelly continued her decade of domination in the Champion Lifesaver competition.

Manly has its sights squarely on a successful defence of the NSW Championship pointscore at the State titles at Blacksmith's Beach, Swansea Belmont from February 26 to March 1.

Club president and former Australian champion surf swimmer Robbie Williams knows what it takes to win.

"You have to be strong in all areas and that is something we have spent many years building up - our craft and water area has always been strong, but you have to be competitive in Lifesaving, on the beach and in the boats," said Williams.

"It' s exciting when you have ski paddlers like Murray Stewart and Nick Dawe, an Ironman like Jonno Stock and brilliant all-rounder Flo Epper combined with a string of kids like Trent Klousal, Sam Speer, Liam Kelly and Adam Crerar," said Williams.

"They are all going great guns and form the basis of what we hope will be another successful year - and it all starts at the Branch Championships."

But Manly won't have things all its own way when the action in the Open and Masters events gets underway at 7.30am this morning, with the Streets Junior Championships tomorrow.

Freshwater, who defeated Manly by one point when it hosted the second day of the Australia Day Long Weekend carnivals a fortnight ago, along with Collaroy, Queenscliff and the emergence of Newport as a real force will ensure a competitive weekend all round.

And while the men of Manly have been in dominant form it's been the "Freshie girl power" that has led the way for the maroon and whites.

Champion under 19 Ironwoman Alisha Miller, who was virtually unstoppable during the Manly-Freshwater carnivals, will again lead the Freshwater charge.

Miller will contest the open and under 19 Ironwoman, surf race and board events and will play an intricate part in the club's Taplin relays, board relays, board rescue and surf teams with fellow Australian champion partner Rachel Crerar, sister Brooke, Shannon Cooper and ski specialist Kim Low.

Freshwater's Competition Manager Michael Kirkby said the club had set its own goals for 2009 and so far they were on track.

"We want to go top two this weekend at the Branch, make it to the top five in the State and top ten at the Australian Championships," said Kirkby.

"We have had a great season all ready and our aims at the Branch Championships is to have a big club weekend - for competitors to go in every event.

"Freshie has built up a good close knit group of competitors and we spent the off-season and early part of the season bonding our guys together, taking them away on camps and competitions and all going on the club bus.

"That's an important part of our structure going forward."

Collaroy will be without their number one boy, Australian under 19 Ironman champion Kendrick Louis, who like Manly's world Ironwoman champion Naomi Flood, will be competing for the Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers in this weekend's rounds of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series at Coolum.

But brother Bart and outstanding ski paddler Mitchell Trim along with beach speedster Michael Kember will have the red caps of Collaroy very much in the frame.

Queenscliff's strength on the beach has been a stand out feature, with Laura Shorter unbeaten in open beach sprint competition all season.

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