BERG LEADS QUALIFIERS INTO KNG TRIAL FINAL

September 18: One of Australia's longest serving Ironmen Wes Berg has turned the clock back in search of a contract in this year's Kellogg's Nutri Grain Ironman Series with an impressive showing in today's Trial heats at Tugun.While in the women's Trial it was former Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist Rebecca Creedy who showed she means business with two impressive wins.

Berg, 30, showed he has lost none of his skill and racing ability which has seen him mix it with the best over the last decade and half.

He leads the top 20 qualifiers for tomorrow's final from a Series which attracted over 60 starters after two wins from two starts in today's geats.

Berg relished the testing 1.5m dumping Tugun wave zone in the 40 minute M shaped course for ski, board and swim with arduous 800m runs in between.

The former Illawarra star, now the head coach at North Burleigh, qualified for his first professional series when he was 16 and has twice finished second in previous Series' - once to Ky Hurst and another to Zane Holmes.

"I have had two years off and missed last season with glandular fever so it would be great to get back and be part of it again," said Berg.

"It is great to have so many competitors lining up to be part of the Series and tomorrow's final will certainly test everyone trialling for just eight places - I'm looking forward to it."

He showed he is still capable of mixing it with his younger rivals, including several of his emerging stars he coaches at North Burleigh.

But after today's racing the hottest competition will come from Sunshine Coast foursome Alex Tibbits, Matt Poole and Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba) and 17-year-old Mitch Miller (Noosa Heads).

The top 20 qualifiers for tomorrow's men's final are: Wes Berg (North Burleigh), Alex Tibbits (Mooloolaba), Matt Poole (Mooloolaba), Mitch Miller (Noosa Heads), Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba), Cory Hill (Northcliffe), Mark Simpson (Cronulla), Sam, Hamilton (Tugun), James Stewart (Nth Burleigh), Ben Squiers (Wanda), Michael Janes (Kurrawa), Tom Atkinson (Queenscliff), Jack Hansen (Mooloolaba), Michael Booth, Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe), Josh Minogue (Mooloolaba), Trent Martin (McMasters Beach), Daniel Moors (Kurrawa), Thomas Trembath (Nth Burleigh), Tim Schofield (Terrigal).

Meanwhile Creedy from Metropolitan Caloundra, won both her heats and showed she is really starting to mature as an all-round Ironwoman with a great swimming base, which saw her become of Australia's leading international sprinters, winning relay gold alongside Suzie O'Neill and Sarah Ryan.

After a disappointing Series last season, due to illness, she wants to atone with another crack at the best Ironwomen in the country.

All she has to do is re-produce her form from today.

"I feel I have some unfinished business to attend to after getting sick last season before setting myself for the Aussies where we unfortunately didn't get to race," Creedy said.

"But I feel like I am becoming more of an all-round athlete and I'm getting confident in this kind of surf, which I don't really mind at all."

Among the qualifiers chasing 10 places in the Series tomorrow will be Maroubra's Tara Coleman, daughter of South Sydney NRL great Craig Coleman and Jordan Mercer, the daughter of Ironman legend Darren Mercer, who is the youngest finalist at 16.

The top 20 for tomorrow's Ironwoman final are: Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra), Sheree Merryful (Northcliffe), Gemma Newbiggin (Mooloolaba), Harriet Brown (Northcliffe), Brodie Moir (Nth Burleigh), Bonnie Hancock (Northcliffe), Tara Coleman (Maroubra), Amy Nurthen (Terrigal), Danielle Allen (Alexandra Headlands), Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe), Allira Richardson (Mooloolaba),  Miranda Davies (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Jordan Mercer (Noosa Heads), Kelly-Ann Perkins (Metropolitan Caloundra), Alyce Bennett (Nth Burleigh), Casey Leo-Litzow (Northcliffe), Maddison Prior (Warilla Barrack Pt), Joanna Baxter (Terrigal), Stephanie Cronin (Metropolitan Caloundra), Tatum Lawler (Northcliffe).