Breakthrough wins at Newcastle State League

Last Updated: Monday, 20 April 2015 09:22

Georgia Jones announced her arrival in the adult ranks with a surprise win in State League 4 at Newcastle on Sunday.

16-year-old Georgia (Uringa) is in her first year running for NSW in the National League junior division and recorded an impressive ninth placing at the big Easter carnival in South Australia. She followed up that impressive performance by knocking off Newcastle's three-time JWOC rep Nicola Blatchford (albeit by just 14 seconds) in the W20A class at Balickera.

In W45AS, Barbara Dawson (GO) made it a double, winning Sunday's long distance event by one second from Sharon Burgess (NC).

We also note new Bennelong recruit Alitia Dougall taking out W21AS on each day. Alitia is originally from Queensland and is just getting back into the sport after a 10-year break.

And how wonderful it was to see local Carolyn Chalmers winning W70A just a fortnight after a serious car accident en route from Easter to Adelaide airport. Rumour has it Carolyn is off overseas this week!

In the men's classes, ACT's Andrew Barnett won a close tussle with Josh Blatchford in M21A over 12km.

SHOO's Angus Shedden, the individual medal winner in MetrO League division 2 last year, took out M35A on both days. And Bjorn Mella (NC) inflicted a rare defeat on Eoin Rothery (BF) in M55A.

Thank you to Newcastle for another great weekend.

We ask all participants to fill out the very brief course setter surveys, and remind everyone that entries close on Sun May 3 for the next SL weekend near Orange on May 16-17.