Hardworking ironwoman Jemma Smith up for 20 Beaches paddle, interbranch surf life saving titles
It’s a weekend of racing that is exhausting just to think about but it isn’t fazing hard-working Umina ironwoman Jemma Smith.
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Ironwoman Jemma Smith could be the hardest working athlete in the country this weekend as she races two different sports and a multitude of events.
Less than a week after she raced the third round of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series for an eighth place, Smith will hit the road again this Saturday for the 20 Beaches surf ski and SUP classic.
“It will be my first time and I am really excited about doing it,’’ said the Umina surf lifesaver of the event raced from Palm Beach to Long Reef, or vice versa depending on conditions.
“If I have time I will try and get down to Bulli again to race a few events at the interbranch championships.
“If not I’ll come down on Sunday and do the teams events.’’
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The 20 Beaches ocean classic boasts $75,000 in prizemoney with some of the best paddlers in the country competing, including a number of Smith’s rivals from the ironwoman series.
Smith said the workload is manageable and good preparation for the fourth round of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series on the Sunshine Coast on December 15.
Smith is currently in fifth place overall and still in with a shot at being on the podium at the series finale at North Cronulla on January 17.
Queenslander Lana Rogers leads the series from Georgia Miller and Danielle Mckenzie with Lizzie Welborn fourth and Smith in sixth.
Matt Poole leads the men’s series from Kendrick Louis and Matt Bevilacqua.
The weekend’s interbranch championshjips will be contested by athletes from the 11 branches across NSW at Bulli Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday and Sunday.