GEORGIA'S GOT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS ON HER MIND AT SWANSEA

Sydney Northern Beaches, February 20: Georgia Miller spent last weekend on patrol at a windswept Freshwater Beach, occasionally venturing into the water to test out the conditions.

This weekend the youngest of the talented Miller sisters from Freshie will swap her red and yellow patrol cap for her maroon and white Freshwater competition cap.

The budding young junior ironwoman will again spearhead her spirited team mates at this weekend's 2009 Westpac NSW Age Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmith's Beach, Swansea Belmont,

It's a career which started in earnest for Georgia at the 2004 NSW Championships at Shellharbour on the NSW south coast when she was just eight years of age and won the wade and led the Freshwater team to gold in the wade relay.

Over the next four years Georgia proved to be one of the dominant forces in her age group, racking up an impressive list of gold and silver medals in iron woman, surf races, board races, board rescue and board relays with her team mates.

But it's the surf race which has been her specialty and victory in the 13 years surf race on Sunday will give her a hat-trick of State Championship wins and carry on an extraordinary family tradition which has seen her sisters Brooke and Alisha win major surf and ironwoman races at the same age.

At the recent Sydney Northern Beaches Branch Championships at Palm Beach, Georgia won an amazing five gold medals - in the iron woman, surf race, board race, surf teams and board relay with her team mates, including Nicki Stirton and Lara Dragasevich.

And if she has her way she would love nothing more than to add to her collection when 4000 junior lifesavers swarm to the Blacksmith's Beach today for the three-day event.

Cronulla is the perennial winner of the NSW Pointscore but can expect plenty of stiff opposition from Sydney Northern Beaches clubs Manly, North Curl Curl and Freshwater.

Manly won the SNB Branch pointscore from North Curl Curl, Freshwater, Queenscliff and big movers Newport.

Sydney Northern Beaches Competition Manager Michael Bate is excited about the first of the NSW Championship weekend's with the Open and Masters events at Blacksmith's next weekend.

"It has already been a huge season for Sydney Northern Beaches competitors in all age groups from the juniors to the opens - we proved that in winning the NSWS Inter-Branch Championships," said Bate.

"I see no reason why all our clubs can't continue to put pressure on clubs like Cronulla and Wanda. They may not win the pointscore but they sure will continue to keep them honest."

And look out for Georgia Miller to continue a family tradition which has seen her two big sisters lead a female revival in surf sports on the peninsula.

"Georgia is one of many talented kids who are been nurtured in a sport which has so much to offer youngsters on the northern beaches - you've only got to look at her sisters to see that," said Bate.