Danielle upstages big names at Qld Lifesaving titles 

(posted 03.03.10)

Remember the name Danielle Allen. The plucky Alexandra Headland 15-year-old has upstaged some of the biggest names in surf lifesaving to win the open board final at the Queensland titles on the Gold Coast this month (March 7).

Most pundits were left asking “Danielle who?” after she came from the clouds to come home ahead of established Gold Coast competitors Alyce Bennett and Bonnie Hancock.

She said she now had her eyes firmly set on next year’s Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series, after the Alexandra Headland teenager was this year barred from entering the event because of event age restrictions.

“I wanted to have a go (at the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain) this year but I wasn’t allowed to because you’ve got to be 16 to enter,” she said.

“Next year I’ll definitely have a go at the trials.”

It was a stellar weekend for Allen who also finished first in the under-17 ironwoman and second in the under-17 board.

She said that her appetite to win the board was whet during the recent Ocean’s 38 championship during which she also qualified for the final.

However the race and carnival were abruptly called off because of concerns over stingers in the water.

When taking the line, she said she was trying to not to think about the big names like Hayley Bateup, Rebecca Creedy, Alicia Marriott and Courtney Hancock who were standing right alongside her.

“I wasn’t expecting a medal at all,” she said.

“I was happy to make the final yesterday.

“I think I was really lucky.”

(Danielle is a Year 11 student at Matthew Flinders Anglican College and the recipient of a General Excellence Scholarship.)

- story Steve Zemek, Sunshine Coast Daily

Sunshine Coast Daily story

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