CYCLONES INTERSTATE SURF SWEEP IN BLUES BACKYARD

January 25: The Queensland Cyclones has swept all before them at Surf Life Saving's 2011 Interstate Championships, following a tight battle with defending champions New South Wales at Queenscliff on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Looking to end New South Wales' dominance, Queensland came into the final day's competition holding a marginal 28 point lead over NSW after the Day One Pool events at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. By the end of the surf and beach events on day two, the lead had increased to over 40 points.

It was enough to give them the Overall Pointscore Trophy, named after Surf life Saving Australia Life Governor Alan Whelpton AO as well as the Handicap Points Trophy, the Pool Rescue Trophy and the Ocean Events Trophy.

The Queensland team, which featured stars Matt Poole, Liz Pluimers and Kristyl Smith, finished the two-day event on 845 points, just clear of NSW on 803.5 points with Western Australia third on 519 points.

It has now steeled Australia's leading competitors in the countdown to this year's Australian Surf Life Saving Championships "The Aussies" at Kurrawa from April 2-10.

The Interstate win was a long-time coming for Queensland who have finished second to NSW for the past four years running. Former New South Welshman Poole was ecstatic to finally stand atop the Interstate Championships podium on his former beach.

 "It's great to be part of a winning team and to finally get one over NSW. They've dominated this event for the past few years so we were really determined to beat them this time," said Poole, who cut his teeth at Queenscliff in his early years.

"I think the key for us was how we performed as a team; everyone was committed and put in 100 percent. There was a great team atmosphere within the camp and I think that showed in the results.

"There were a few great individual performers for us over the two days, Miranda Bell and Molly Redwood were standouts in the pool, as was Dev Lahey.

"They laid a really good platform for the team coming into the surf events today."

In today's marquee events, NSW's Kendrick Louis took out the Open Ironman title ahead of Queensland's Mitch Miller, while in the Open Ironwomen Queensland's Kristyl Smith defeated fellow Ironwoman Series competitor Amy Nurthen from Terrigal, NSW.

Queensland coach Barry Newman, another former Northern Beaches star who represented both Freshwater and Queenscliff in his day, believes a greater focus on the pool events was a key factor in his team's victory.

"I was really proud of the whole team over the two days. We put a greater focus on the pool events and I think that's where we really improved on last year's performance," said Newman.

Like Poole, Newman was quick to praise the performance of Maroochydore's Bell, but was also impressed with the younger generation of athletes coming through.

"I was really pleased with some of our younger competitors, particularly Alexandra Nolan and Kurt Kavanagh in the under 15s and Molly Redwood in the under 17s, I think they're athletes to look out for in the future."

Despite losing their title, New South Wales star Tom Atkinson, who was proud to lead the Blues on his home beach, said his team mates could still be proud of their performances throughout the event.

"It's disappointing to lose our title, I guess there were just a few small mistakes over the weekend that cost us in the long run," Atkinson said.

"But overall, I think the team should be really proud of themselves - there were some great team and individual performances."

One of the day's most intriguing contests came in the Open Women's beach sprint and beach flags double, with Queensland's Melissa Howard and NSW's Laura Shorter sharing the spoils. Howard won the beach flags event, while Queenscliff's Shorter came away victorious in the beach sprint.

In the previous day's competition at the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre, Queensland showed they're equally adept in the pool as they are in the surf, with Australian representatives Stephanie Ballantine, Bell and Lahey establishing an early lead for the Queenslanders.

Maroochydore's Bell was the star of the pool competition, taking out four individual events including the Open Women's 200m super lifesaver and the 100m manikin carry with fins.

Joining Bell with four victories was team mate Redwood, who dominated the under 17 competition.

Queensland didn't have it all there own way though, with New South Wales and Victoria each producing some outstanding displays.

New South Wales youngster, Keelan Bridge, impressed all those in attendance with four individual victories in the under 17 competition, while his team mate Jayke Rees also took out four events in the under 15 competition.

Final Pointscore

Combined/Overall - The Alan B Whelpton AO Perpetual Shield

1. Queensland 845
2. NSW 803.5
3. WA 519
4. Victoria 439.5
5. South Australia 435
6. Northern Territory 352
7. Tasmania 302

Handicap Pointscore Trophy

1. Queensland 870.7
2. Western Australia 831.1
3. Northern Territory 815.9
4. NSW 803.5
5. Tasmania 791.9
6. Victoria 754.6
7. South Australia 729.8