QLD Cyclones Victorious at the Interstate Championships

The QLD Cyclones put an end to NSW's four year dominance of the Interstate Championships yesterday, taking victory in the state team competition held at Homebush and Queenscliff. Not only did QLD take out the overall Championships, they also took out the Pool, Ocean and Handicap pointscores.

BMD Northcliffe Members Kristyl Smith, Liz Pluimers, Dev Lahey, Stefaan Demopoulos and QLD Cyclones Coach, Barry Newman, all contributed to the success with some impressive results.

In day 1 of competition at Homebush Aquatic Centre, Stefaan Demopoulos took out two individual events, U17 100m Manikan Tow with Fins and U17 200m Super Lifesaver. Dev Lahey won the Open 200m with Obstacles and the Open Line Throw.  

In day 2 of competition, the ocean specialists hit the beach with Liz Pluimers claiming victory in the Open Board and Kristyl Smith with victories in the Open Ski and Ironwoman events. Dev Lahey also backed up with a win in the Open Male Surf Race.  

For all the results from the Interstate Championships click here.

BMD Northcliffe Duo Claim KNG Crowns

BMD Northcliffe's Shannon Eckstein & Courtney Hancock took out their overall series KNG crowns at Noosa Last weekend. While both finished with only a 5th placing in the final round at Noosa, it was enough to secure Shannon's 6th KNG Ironman crown and Courtney's maiden Ironwoman Series crown.

Noosa Beach provided small clean waves which allowed for fast, close racing.  Despite torrential rain and thunder storms, thousands of brave spectators stuck around for the action packed racing.

In the Men's race, which was reduced from 5 races to 3 races due to lightning, BMD Northcliffe's Zane Holmes became the only male this season to notch up 2 race wins after also winning round 4 at Portsea. The win also gave him 3rd place overall for the series.

In the women's race, BMD Northcliffe's Elizabeth Pluimers claimed her 4th race victory of the season. In the overall in the series Elizabeth finished 2nd behind Courtney with club mate's Kristyl Smith finishing in 4th and Bonnie Hancock in 10th. The top 10 in both the mens and womens gain automatic qualification into the 2011/12 series.

For detailed results go to http://surfironmanseries.com/

PORTSEA DELIVERS FOR ROUND 4

Portsea didn't dissapoint when it came to providing some swell, action and carnage for Round 4 of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series on the weekend. The athletes were put to the test with big seas and chilly water tempretures. 

BMD Northcliffe's Zane Holmes proved he was back in form, winning 2 of the 3 races to take the overall win for the day. Clubmate, Shannon Eckstein, finished 3rd which was enough to claim back the black leaders singlet heading in to the final round.

In the women's race, series leader Elizabeth Pluimers copped the brunt of the ocean damaging two skis and a board in the two ironwoman races and in the process, relinquished her overall series lead to clubmate, Courtney Hancock. Courtney, who hasn't finished off the podium all series continued on with her consistency placing 2nd which was enough to secure the overall series lead.

There's no rest for the athletes who head to Noosa this weekend for the final round of the series. The eliminator format and expected flat conditions should provide some exciting, close, fast racing.