Gilbert's Victory Marks A `new Era In Career'
Illawarra Mercury
Monday December 18, 2000
Ironwoman Karla Gilbert marked a ``new era" in her career with her first National Surf League victory as she spearheaded Queensland's crushing win in the second round of the series at Mooloolaba Beach yesterday.
Gilbert, 25, had to mow down first-round winner Kristy Munroe (SA) and former world champion Kerri Trevor (WA) in the final board leg to snatch victory.
``That's a brand new feeling - and it feels fantastic," Gilbert said.
``It's a new era in my career."
The Marlins led for the entire event, winning seven of the 16 races to finish with 223 points, well clear of the three-way tie for second between South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand on 201.
Queensland also won one other event - the IRB mass rescue - but was disqualified for modifying the motor.
The defending champion goes into the third round at Surfers Paradise on January 14 leading the series with 14 points, five clear of WA.
NSW, SA and Victoria are all equal third on eight points, with NZ on six and Tasmania on three.
The Marlins started the program with wins in the IRB assembly and men's beach sprint (Andrew Jackson) and finished with a win in the lifesaver relay.
But captain Mark Williams' win in the surf race was the most inspirational.
Williams has been bedridden with chicken pox since he won the first-round surf race two weeks ago.
The other standout winner was ironman Zane Holmes, who made amends for his worst surf league performance two weeks ago.
Holmes, who won four of the five races last season, led from start to finish and said ``patience" was the key to holding off a fast-finishing Steven Meredith (SA) and Dean Mercer (NSW).
``In the first race I was back in the field and panicked so I had nothing left," Holmes said of his seventh in the opening round.
``I'm not used to being there. I talked to my coach and his last words were for me to have patience and not panic if I'm behind."
Holmes' victory was overshadowed by controversy with only three of the 14 ironmen ruled to have completed the correct course - Nathan Smith 10th, Larn Darragh 13th and Stephen Short 14th.
The 11 who didn't lost two points each.
NZ's best results were wins in one of the two women's surf boat races - being held for the first time in the history of the series - and the mixed board rescue (Cory Hutchings and Gabby Moses).
They also placed third in the lifesaver relay, men's surf race (Dane Hurst), IRB mass rescue and men's ski (Paul Green). NSW, which lost ironwoman Lilli Miller (appendicitis) and beach competitor Kip McFarland (hamstring) before the event, had one of its worst results, finishing fifth.
© 2000 Illawarra Mercury
