Surf ironwoman Lizzie Welborn thriving in new environment with podium in Nutri-Grain series
One was “over the moon’’ but another Sydney surf star says there is more work to be done ahead of the NSW round of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman and ironman series.
Manly
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A seachange and sharpening her racing skills against some of the top male racers in Australian has helped Sydney ironwoman Lizzie Welborn to her first podium finish of the 2019/20 Nutri-Grain ironwoman series at Burleigh Heads.
Welborn, who lives at Maroubra but travels to Newport to train with top northern beaches surf lifesavers, was just pipped for victory by a fast finishing Lana Rogers in round two of the series on Sunday.
It was a top result for Welborn who finished a disappointing 15th in the opening round of the series, last month’s Coolangatta Gold endurance test.
Welborn said she has opted for a low key lead-in to the event in the hope of producing a better result.
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“I set my expectations really low so to have that race, I am so over the moon’’ she said.
“I wasn’t expecting much. I was really nervous being in a new club with a new program but it worked.’’
Welborn opted for a switch from her North Bondi Club to Newport this season to freshen her training and has been working alongside some of the best male talent in the state including Australian champion Max Brooks.
“It’s been so amazing to be training with all the boys,’’ she said.
“It’s just a different environment and it really helps.’’
Queenslander and former ironwoman champion Harriet Brown finished third with northern beaches ironwoman Georgia Miller, living and training on the Gold Coast, fourth in the 40 minute swim, board ski ironwoman.
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Veteran Kendrick Louis was the best played NSW athlete in an ironman dominated by former northern beaches star Matt Poole.
Poole, now competing for Kurawa on the Gold Coast, won the men’s race after breaking from the pack on the board leg and finished ahead of Queenslanders Tanyn Lyndon and Ben Carberry.
Louis was fourths, a result he is delighted with given he was second last in the field after a bad start.
“It’s a keeper so you have to be happy with that,’’ he said.