ALICIA AND CANDICE FORM PERFECT PARTNERSHIP FOR CITY OF PERTH

Scarborough, WA, March 16: Australian Ironwoman champion Alicia Marriott has teamed with one of the sport's glamour girls as she aims to farewell her home state in winning style.

The 23-year-old will be out to defend her title at next week's 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Scarborough Beach before moving to Queensland's Sunshine Coast next season.

As well as trying to make it two Ironwoman titles in a row, she will also lead some strong teams from the City of Perth club, which now boasts high-profile former North Bondi star, Candice Falzon among its ranks.

Falzon, who moved to Perth last year to be with her boyfriend, West Coast Eagles player Brent Staker, joined with Marriott and a host of other City of Perth stars to win gold medals in the open Taplin relay, open board relay and the open surf teams at the recent WA Championships.

Those three medals were among a host won by Marriott, who also claimed gold in the Ironwoman, surf race, board race, ski relay and double ski.

Falzon, says she is loving the chance to train alongside Marriott under the guidance of coach Ric Turner.

"It is fantastic to be in a club like City of Perth with so many good athletes and so many strong teams," she said.

"It is a real thrill to race in the team events with Alicia because she is the Australian champion and she is just so good.

"To finish second to her in the Ironwoman at the WA Championships is something I'm very proud of."

For years Falzon's high-profile personal life has drawn attention away from her achievements in the surf and she is making the most of the move to the other side of the country and away from the spotlight.

"Sometimes it's a good thing to pick up and change things in your life and it has certainly worked out well for me," she said.

"Ric Turner has been a breath of fresh air; he takes us for everything - swimming, craft, running - and he's a real inspiration.

"We're all really looking forward to the Aussies  and doing really well in the team events because they are what we've been training for all season."

Falzon's arrival in Perth has helped increase the depth of the City of Perth squad, which dominated the women's events at the WA Championships.

She and Marriott were joined in the board relay by Lara Taylor, who also paddled with Marriott in the ski relay.

The other paddler in City of Perth's ski relay was none other than Lisa Russ, who won a kayaking bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games last year.

Marriott, Falzon and Taylor formed the victorious Taplin relay team which beat clubmates Russ, Michelle Graham and Shinade Whitehead into second place.

Shinade and her younger sister Jade, along with Graham, head the younger generation starting to make their mark at City of Perth.

Both Whitehead girls were stars at the WA Championships and they combined for an upset win over Marriott and Falzon in the open board rescue final.

Jade was also part of the winning open board relay and surf teams and added to those medals with other wins in the Under 19 and Under 17 age groups.

All up at the WA Championships she won nine gold medals, two silver and one bronze, including finishing third behind Marriott and Falzon in the open Ironwoman and second to Marriott in the open board race.

Shinade was no less busy, claiming seven gold medals, three silver and two bronze.

"Both girls have been competing really well and Jade especially had a great state championships," Falzon said.

"She was with Alicia and me in the board relay at state and we're really hopeful of being able to win a medal at the Aussies.

"It would be nice to match it with the Queensland girls who are always so good."

For live results throughout the Whereis® 2009 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

http://www.aussies.slsa.asn.au/2009/

Photographs: http://www.harvpix.com/