Nutri-Grain ironman series: Mitch Morris joins brother Zach in next series, Jake Morris chasing spot

There’s plenty of sons of guns in surf lifesaving but never before have there been three brothers in the professional ironman series. That could be about to change.

Mitch Morris won the Next Gen series

Family connections are big in surf life saving with some of the most famous names in the game watching their sons and daughters compete in the professional ironman and ironwoman series over the years.

Trevor Hendy and Grant Kenny both watched sons TJ and Jett compete with Darren Mercer coaching his daughter Jordy during her time in the ironwoman ranks.

And while there’s been brothers and sisters like Nathan and Kristal Smith and brothers including Shannon and Caine Eckstein competing together over the years, there’s never been twins and never been three brothers racing against each other.

That could be about to change in the next Nutri-Grain ironman series.

With the top 10 finishers in the 2022/23 series confirming their spots for the next series in the final round on Sunday, northern beaches young gun Mitch Morris did the same thing just a few hours earlier.

Mitch Morris won the Next Gen series

Teenager Morris beat twin Jake, a talented Australian paddler, for the one spot on offer in the Next Gen Series for the 2023-24 event.

Jake’s form indicates he could be joining his brother in the series courtesy of trials later this year while older brother Zach finished ninth overall in Nutir-Grain ironman which concluded at Kurrawa on Sunday to secure his spot beside Mitch.

“It has always been my No.1 goal to make the series and I am so happy that I did,’’ and elated Morris said after securing the Next Gen spot.

“It was tough racing over the three days to qualify. I just made sure that I did lots of recovery in between races, drank lots of water and tried to rest and recover.

“It is pretty exciting to know that I will likely be racing with my brother Zach in the series next year and hopefully Jake can qualify so all three of us could be in the series.

“That would be really special.”

Morris recently relocated to the Gold Coast to race for Northcliffe.

Ruby Meehan won the Next Gen series

Clubmate Ruby Meehan secured the Gen Next spot in the 2023-24 Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series.

“I just wanted to try my best, I knew I could get up there in each race and I did that I’m so happy,’’ she said.

“As soon as I started Nippers I looked up to all the other girls (Nutri-Grain Ironwomen) and now I train with a bunch of them and they are all so inspirational. I’m so glad I’m finally there (in the Series),” she said.

NEXT GEN IRONMAN - OVERALL RESULTS

1. Mitchell Morris - Northcliffe (60 points); 2. Jake Morris - Northcliffe (55 points); 3. Joel Piper - Maroochydore (53 points); 4. Kai Harland - Northcliffe (49 points); 5. Zach King - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (47 points); 6. Ryan Green - Currumbin (45 points); 7. Callum Brennan - Currumbin (41 points); 8. Ky Howell - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (39 points); 9. Taj Crelin - Northcliffe (33 points); 10. Mitchell Stitt - Maroochydore (31 points)

NEXT GEN IRONWOMAN - OVERALL RESULTS

1. Ruby Meehan - Northcliffe (59 points); 2. Kalani Ives - Northcliffe (49 points); 3. Charlize Menefy - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (47 points); 4. Analise Kibble - Newport (46 points); 5. Gemma Smith-Welch - Sunshine Beach (44 points); 6. Chelsea Jentz - Southport (39 points); 7. Charlotte Cross - Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (37 points); 8. Kimberley Doyle - Newport (35 points); 9. Yve Warren - Maroochydore (26 points); 10. Summer Rolston - Alexandra Headland (31 points)