Archie Vernon and Madison Cooper win Danger 1000
A dominant Jim Wall Iron win made it three-from-three for Archie Vernon. And here is how the Torquay-raised star is planning to win again at the Pier to Pub.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
In-form Ironman Archie Vernon is planning to stick to a winning formula and go out “very quickly” as he hopes to add the Pier to Pub to his summer of dominance.
Torquay-raised Vernon triumphed on his home beach on Sunday, claiming the Jim Wall Iron after winning all three eliminator races.
In each of those races he pushed himself to lead from the jump and stretch his opponents, a tactic he is hoping to repeat in Lorne on Saturday.
Vernon said he was “a little nervous” about the Pier to Pub despite winning swims at the Rip View Classic and Danger 1000 before Jim Wall.
“I don’t normally do open water swims but now that I have won a few of them this year, it is a bit of pressure,” he said.
“There are a lot of good swimmers in (the Pier to Pub) but I will definitely be trying to play to my advantages, I will definitely be having a red-hot crack at it.
“I will definitely by trying to take it out very quickly … I am going to try and go out very hard and try and hold on.”
Now based in Surfers Paradise, Vernon soaked up a chance to race on his home beach, winning in front of a contingent that included some mates, his brother and sister and parents.
Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club’s Mia Cook won a thrilling female event, just getting home in the final race in a sprint up the beach.
The Iron Event puts competitors to the test through a 300m swim, 600m board paddle and 800m ski paddle, with the field of 30 reduced down to a 10-athlete final.
“I really wanted to win the Jim Wall, it was definitely the one I wanted to take out,” Vernon said.
“I was trying to do everything right to get it done. I was over the moon.”
After celebrating the win on Sunday night, Vernon was set for a couple of days of rest before warming up again for Saturday’s showpiece swim.
He said he would get back in the water to go through 4-6km swims multiple times this week in preparation.
Archie Vernon, Madison Cooper scoop Danger 1000
The Pier to Pub is firmly in Archie Vernon’s sights after the Torquay-raised swimmer’s golden run continued over the weekend.
After saluting in the Rip View Classic before the new year, Vernon cruised home in the Danger 1000 on Saturday, finishing the race in a time of 12:45, 17 seconds before second-placed Brenton Ford.
The form carried on the next day, with Vernon winning the swim leg to kickstart the Jim Wall Iron on Sunday.
Having come down from the Gold Coast, where Vernon is a budding Ironman, the swim ace has geared his summer towards Lorne’s Pier to Pub, which will be held on Saturday.
“That is my goal next weekend, it would be good to go well in that,” he said.
“We don’t get to practice open water swimming all that much on the Gold Coast, so it is quite a very niche window to train for.”
A regular on the podium without winning events in past summers, Vernon said he is relishing taking out top spot.
“It feels nice, it is very hard to describe it but it kind of sucks when you are training so many times a week and you are wondering if it is even going to pay off,” he said.
“It is nice to have a bit of success. It does make it a little bit worth it and puts me in good stead for next weekend.”
Vernon said the surf at Jan Juc was “pretty choppy” but made for good conditions, as he rolled in to the beach on the waves to close out the race.
Madison Cooper was the first female home, in a time of 14:12, followed by Dominique Hart and Caitlin Huell.
Noah O’Donnell and long-distance dominator Dakoda Mathers won the 5km event, Owen Leggett and Zoe Jennings claimed the 2.5km swim.
Jennings backed it up to win the 500m race, while David Hughes won the open male 500m, with more than 1000 swimmers jumping in the surf for the annual race thanks to the work of 150 Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club volunteers.
“It was pretty choppy out there, a lot of wind up,” Vernon said.
“I went out pretty hard and enjoyed the last half of it, on the way back I could kind of swim with the waves and enjoy the current.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Archie Vernon and Madison Cooper win Danger 1000
Cats VFL sensation’s brave act, stunning win at draft combine
Ajang Kuol mun took out a test at the state combine, but his later events were even more remarkable pushing through a painful setback. Plus, the Anakie revelation opens up on his playing future.
Why premier local footy ruckman sought new challenge
One of local footy’s most dominant ruckman has found a new club after winning six premierships with his former team. He details his reasons for the move.