9.12.09

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Trial


Seven more BMD Northcliffe athletes qualified through the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series at the trial held over three grueling rounds at Tugun on the weekend. The top 11 highest point scorers after the three rounds in both male and female earned themselves a birth into the professional ironman series.

In the women's field Flora Manciet was the highest of the BMD Northcliffe girls in 3rd, with Sheree Merryfull in 4th, Bonnie Hancock in 7th, Terri Sullivan in 8th and Katie Graham in 10th. These 5 girls will join the 3 BMD Northcliffe girls that automatically qualified through from last season's series - Kristyl Smith, Elizabeth Pluimers and Courtney Hancock.

In the men's trial, we had two BMD Northcliffe athletes to qualify through for their first ever Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series with Cory Hill in 6th and "Kiwi" Dan Moodie in 9th. These two youngsters will join automatic qualifiers, Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes, Pierce Leonard and Nathan Smith. Unfortunately, after placing 4th in Round 1, veteran Dean Mercer was forced to pull out with a calf injury after the heat of Round 2, leaving his hopes resting on the wild card position into the series being picked by selectors.

After the weekends results, BMD Northcliffe will have a strong representation in the series which kicks off with Round 1 on the Gold Coast, January 16 with 14 of the 34 competitors.

The dates and venues for the series are below.

Round 1 - 16 January 2010 - Kurrawa
Round 2 - 17 January 2010 - Kurrawa
Round 3 - 6 February 2010 - Alexandra Headland
Round 4 - 7 February 2010 - Alexandra Headland
Round 5 - 21 February 2010 - North Cronulla

Click here for series race formats and prize money