NEXT GENERATION MERCER ON TRIAL AT TUGUN
September 9: The daughter of an Ironman legend, two daughters of former NRL stars and a host of old and new faces will line up in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Trial at Tugun on the Gold Coast on Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19.Over 100 trialists will be chasing valuable positions in this year's $300,000 five-round Series, which kicks off at Currumbin on November 21.
Two rounds will be conducted on Saturday with the top 20 placed competitors from the accumulative points in rounds 1 & 2 proceeding to Sunday's M-shaped final (approximately 40 minutes). The results in the final will determine the athletes that will qualify for the 2010-11 KNG Ironman Series.
Among the names trialling for up to eight positions in both the men's and women's Series will be Jordan Mercer, 16-year-old daughter of Ironman legend Darren Mercer.
Jordan, who was named as Competitor of the Carnival at the 2009 Australian Championships in Scarborough, WA, is a specialist board paddler who is keen to follow in her famous family footsteps.
"We've only been on the ski for a couple of months and she's coming along OK, but he board, the swim and the running is fine but like most girls Jordan's age it's a strength thing but she was keen to have a go, put her name down and we'll see how she goes - she's got as good a chance as anyone I guess," said Darren Mercer, who is coaching his daughter as part of the Noosa Heads squad.
Young Mercer will be joined on the start line by Sydney girls Tara Coleman (Marboura) and Devon Halligan (Manly) - Coleman the 19-year-old daughter of former South Sydney half-back and coach Craig Coleman and Halligan the 17-year-old daughter of former Canterbury Bulldog and NZ Test winger Daryl Halligan.
Coleman qualified to race in last year's Kellogg's Ironwoman final at North Cronulla and is regarded as one of NSW's rising stars while Halligan has this year transferred from Freshwater to the Manly club on the Sydney Northern Beaches as she too chases a Series contract.
Among the other entries are:
Round four winner in 2009 Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) - who is among 12 entries from Mooloolaba and 19 from the Sunshine Coast.
Mooloolaba brother and sister combination Dylan and Gemma Newbiggin, who have been synonymous with the Series in recent years.
Another brother and sister combination of Josh and Hannah Minogue - Josh from Mooloolaba and Hannah representing Bulli.
The Booth brothers Michael from Northcliffe and Daniel from Swansea Belmont.
Sixteen entries from the champion Northcliffe club among 30 from the Gold Coast - including last year's contracted pair Cory Hill and Sheree Merryful.
Metropolitan Caloundra's former Commonwealth Games swim star and the winner of last year's Trial Rebecca Creedy.
2009 contracted Ironwoman, Candice Falzon, who has returned to Sydney to join the Bondi club after two seasons with City of Perth.
Returning former South Africa Ironman champion Wade Krieger, who is back chasing a place in the Series after a two-year layoff with Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
Lennox Heads connection from the NSW North Coast, Michael Barnett, Hayden Thomas, Nadi Canning and Tanyn Lyndon, who will compete for Northcliffe and;
South East Queensland based New Zealanders Madison Boon (Northcliffe) and Aimee Berridge (Kawana Waters).
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SIX MEN AND SIX WOMEN have already pre-qualified for the Series - defending champion Shannon Eckstein, who will be joined by Hugh Dougherty, Ky Hurst, Rhys Drury, Ali Day and Corey Jones in the men and defending champion Alicia Marriott as well as Liz Pluimers, Kristyl Smith, Hayley Bateup, Courtney Hancock and Naomi Flood in the women.
Former Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Champion Flood has indicated to SLSA she will not contest the Series this season after being named in the Surf Life Saving Australia and Australian Canoe Kayak teams for this year's respective World Championships Flood is concentrating on these events and her canoe kayak career.
In accordance with SLSA and Event Organiser Trial guidelines: "Should any of the qualified athletes or any athlete who qualified as part of the trial withdraw from the series, the replacement athletes will be based on the results at the trial."
In regards to wildcard entries for the series there will be a further six males and six females which may or may not be used at the Event Organiser's discretion following the trial.
In the case where the wildcards are not used by Even Organisers, the positions would then be filled by referring back to the results from trial.
SATURDAY RACING
SUNDAY RACING The top 20 placed competitors from the accumulative points in rounds 1 & 2 will proceed to the final - The results in the final will determine the athletes that will qualify for the 2010-11 KNG Ironman Series. |