Treloar Shield Final: UTS Norths claim four of the five titles

18 December 2022

Treloar Shield Final: UTS Norths claim four of the five titles

UTS Norths claimed their seventh Treloar Shield title as they dominated the finals, winning four of the five age divisions. The Treloar Shield, first held during the 2013/14 season, and not held during the last two seasons due to COVID, only Wests in 2016/17 have lowered their colours.

Interclub competition has been held since the 1924/25 season, with UTS Norths emerging as a threat in the 2000s with a win in 2004/05, during a decade dominated by Illawong. But the 2010s decade certainly belonged to UTS Norths, winning nine of the 10 on offer. They now continue that dominance into the 2020s.

OPEN

After the six rounds of the premiership season UTS Norths had dominated the year with six weekly wins and 2352 points. Cherrybrook were next best with Sydney University close behind.

But the final would mean a clean slate for all teams, but in the final two events, UTS Norths accelerated away to victory.

Flying in from her home on the Gold Coast, Sydney Uni’s, world championship semi-finalist in the 100m hurdles Michelle Jenneke led from the front, taking the first track event, the 100m in style, from joined NSW 100m champions Monique Quirk and Olivia Inkster, clocking 11.97 into a strong headwind. There were quality individual performances from Georgia Winkcup (UTS Norths) 1500m 4:23.78, Alyssa Lowe (Sydney Uni) long jump 6.06m and Vanessa Apel Hills District) high jump 1.75m. Michelle Jenneke’s was a real team player for her club competing in the 100m, long jump, shot and on relay duty.

In the men, Alec Diamond was everywhere for UTS Norths, competing in four field events (shot, discus, long jump and high jump) and winning three of them.

There were strong marks from Matt Crowe (UTS Norths) 400m 47.92 and Luke Boyes (UTS Norths) 1500m 3:53.21.

With two events to score, 4.5 points separated UTS Norths and Sydney University, but with wins in the men’s and women’s 1500m and a strong mixed 4x200m relay performance, where they had the firepower of World U20 Championship finalist, Connor Bond and World U20s 200m semi-finalists, Olivia Inkster, UTS Norths placed second, easily sufficient for the overall team title by 21.5 points.

1) UTS Norths 439 points, 2) Sydney Uni 417.50, 3) Sydney Pacific 354, 4) Wests T&F 326.50, 5) Westfields 300.50, 6) Illawong 264.50, 7) Cherrybrook 222, 8) Hills District 162, 9) Campbelltown 99

UNDER-18s

In the six premiership rounds, four clubs had won weeks, including Campbelltown the most with three, but Wests Track and Field claimed the overall best score with 2023.5 points, from Cherrybrook, Illawong and Campbelltown. Three other clubs were also in striking range – UTS Norths, Sutherland and Trinity.

The final was a classic with five clubs in contention for the podium going into the last few events. But UTS Norths snuck home the winners over Illawong with Wests third. Less than 10 points separated the medallists.

1) UTS Norths 444.50 points, 2) Illawong 438, 3) Wests T&F 434, 4) Cherrybrook 409, 5) Sutherland 147.50, 6) Campbelltown 40

UNDER-14s

Through the six rounds of the Treloar Shield, Westfields Athletics Club were the most consistent on Premiership points, while Illawong outscored them on points. Cherrybrook placed fourth. But in the one-off day of competition, in the final, Cherrybrook won with 360 points from Westfields (340.5 points) and Illawong (317 points).

Cherrybrook won on a very strong all-round performance after they won just three events: Joel Moresi high jump 1.55m, Samuel Price shot put 13.78m and Aliyah Bennett 1500m 5:16.63.

1) Cherrybrook 406 points, 2) Westfields 387.50, 3) Illawong 385, 4) Sutherland 330, 5) Hills District 325, 6) Campbelltown 262.50

MASTERS-50s

UTS Norths dominated the six rounds, claiming four weeks, while Wests and Balmain won the other weeks. They also doubled any other club on the points score.

In the final, UTS continued their supremacy. In the women’s, Illawong won the throws, and track events 400m and up, while UTS Norths were strong in the sprints and jumps. In the men’s Balmain probably scored the most points winning the sprints and three of the four field events, but overall UTS Norths got home winners from Balmain and Hills.

1) UTS Norths 465 points, 2) Balmain 440, 3) Hills District 334, 4) Illawong 324, 5) Wests T&F 272, 6) NSW Masters 241

MASTERS-35-49s

UTS Norths overshadowed all clubs winning four of the six premiership rounds and were well ahead on of overall points. The only competition was from Hornsby who won two of the rounds and was the closest on points.

In the final, Hornsby pushed UTS Norths. Across the track events, UTS Norths dominated winning all but one event. They were also unstoppable in the women’s field events. One of the keys to Hornsby’s strong showing, was their second athlete scoring well.

1) UTS Norths 526 points, 2) Hornsby 474.50, 3) Balmain 352, 4) Hills District 219, 5) Canterbury 161, 6) Illawong 127.50

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: UTS Norths winners of the open competition. (Image courtesy of David Tarbotton)