Lilli In Tears Over Brother's Super Effort

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday October 24, 2000

with TIM KEEBLE

North Wollongong ironwoman Lilli Miller was moved to tears after watching teenage brother Greg qualify for the 2000-01 Uncle Tobys Super Series last Sunday.

Greg, 19, will make his UTSS debut this season after finishing third in a highly competitive qualifying race at Mooloolaba.

The siblings have long dreamt of competing on the same professional circuit, but those plans have been put on hold after Lilli's controversial switch from Uncle Tobys to the Kellogg's-sponsored National Surf League two months ago.

Greg, who recently transferred to North Curl Curl with close friends and fellow UTSS ironmen Wes Berg and Drew Cairncross, was confident of finishing among the top nine qualifiers.

He said his 21-year-old sister got caught up in the emotion when he crossed the line in third.

``Lil was crying at the end of it. She gets more nervous than me and she really wanted me to make it," he said.

``I went into it confidently because I'd put in five months of solid training and I felt physically and mentally prepared. But you never know what the outcome will be so I'm over the moon.

``I was just aiming to make the top nine or 10 to qualify ... I'm pretty rapt to come third.

``The downside is that Lil and I have always said we wanted to be in the same series together and, now that I've qualified, that's what we would've been doing if she hadn't swapped over.

``Fortunately we're both still fairly young, so we'll probably have other opportunities to make that come true."

The region could ultimately have another representative competing in the UTSS if Daniel Shade switches camps as expected.

North Wollongong's Nick Little finished 10th at Mooloolaba and will be awarded the final qualifying berth if Shade is ineligible.

Former Bulli boy Rhys Drury qualified sixth, while Illawarra's Ben Squiers, Andrew Wood and Louis Whant were unplaced in the final.

Miller said he will look to Berg and Cairncross for advice throughout the five-race series.

``Wes and Drew are two of my best mates so I'll try and pick up anything I can from them," he said.

``They were real happy for me. The three of us can't wait for the series to start."

The first race of the UTSS will be held at Newcastle on November 12.

Bulli's Kristie-Lee Ogilvie finished sixth in the women's trial to qualify for the second straight season.

Top nine men's placings from the UTSS trial: Shannon Eckstein, Kane Huessner, Greg Miller, Glenn Cowdrey, Rhys Drury, Brett Tyack, Andrew Mosel, Luke Richmond, Leon Hay (reserves: Nick Little, Chris Wood)

Top 10 women: Nicole Moffatt, Candice Falzon, Carly Reid, Kirsty Bowlay, Kelly Graham, Kristie-Lee Ogilvie, Marissa Mills, Lisa Nayler, Naomi Flood, Katie Graham.

***

A serious shoulder injury has ruined Carly Lawrence's season before it even started.

The North Wollongong ironwoman was keen to have a serious crack at the Uncle Tobys circuit by contesting last Sunday's qualifier at Mooloolaba.

But Lawrence, who initially suffered the injury at swimming training six weeks ago, will undergo a full shoulder reconstruction later this week.

The 22-year-old finished 17th in last year's corresponding trial and was confident of improving this year.

``The timing is bad because I was really hoping to do well in the trial," she said.

``I tried to manage it and train through it but I couldn't board paddle and it affected my training.

``I wasn't nice to live with, but I've gone through all the down stages. It's still frustrating, but I've got to get it done so there's no use feeling sorry for myself."

In the meantime, Lawrence will slip into beach bum mode.

``It looks like I'm back to being a bikini girl for a while," she said.

***

North Wollongong is staging its regular four-year reunion between November 17-19.

Former Test cricketer Mike Whitney will be guest speaker on the Saturday night at the surf club.

For bookings and other inquiries contact Mark Rouffeil on 42293355.

***

Bellambi will host the Illawarra Branch's first carnival of the season on Saturday. The carnival is a combined senior-junior event.

© 2000 Illawarra Mercury

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