Nutri-Grain surf series: Bella Williams making ironwoman debut beside idol Courtney Hancock

She sings, she dances and performs in musicals. Now this rising star of surf life saving is hoping to be a big hit when she makes an unexpected debut in the Nutri-Grain iron surf series on Friday.

When Bella Williams was nine she went to her local beach and posed for a photo in a pair of Nutri-Grain swimmers given to her at a kids surf life saving clinic.

Now 10 years on she will be lining up beside the women she was pretending to be after a late call-up to the series she’s has dreamed of racing since she was a Nipper.

The Newcastle 19-year-old from the Swansea Belmont club will line up against 19 of the top ironwoman in the country - including her idol Courtney Hancock - when the 2022 series kicks off on Friday with the first of three rounds at North Bondi.

Bella Williams posting as a nine-year-old.

Courtney Hancock is Bella Campbell’s idol.

“It’s a dream,” said Williams, who also has a passion for musicals and is studying nursing at Newcastle University.

“I’m quite excited but really nervous because this has been on my goal list for quite a while.

“Years ago Courtney Hancock and Matt Poole came to my old club, Cooks Hill, and did a training session with us and I got some swimmers.

“I have a photo of me posing just like they used to which I have on my wall. It’s been a big motivator for me over the years.”

Courtney Hancock and sister Bonnie Hancock regularly wore pink ribbons when racing.

Hancock, a former series champion from Sawtell, will be racing after qualifying for the series in a recent trial Williams also raced.

“I still wear pink ribbons because of Courtney Hancock … that was her thing. I wanted to be like her so bad,’’ Williams said.

“I raced her for the first time at the trials and I was next to her in a heat. I was shell-shocked.’’

Williams earned her call up when former series champion Georgia Miler was forced out of the field due to a heart condition.

Williams said Miller was also an ironwoman she followed and admired over the years because she also hails from NSW although is now based on the Gold Coast.

Rounds one, two and three of the series will be at North Bondi on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NUTRI-GRAIN IRONWOMAN FIELD 2022

1. Lana Rogers (Alexandra Headland)

2. Georgia Miller (Northcliffe) OUT #

3. Lizzie Welborn (Newport)

4. Danielle Mckenzie (Northcliffe)

5. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore)

8. Tayla Halliday (Alexandra Headland)

9. Naomi Scott (Manly)

10. Harriet Brown (Northcliffe)

11. Lucy Derbyshire (Northcliffe)

12. Maddie Spencer (Newport)

13. Courtney Hancock (Surfers Paradise)

14. Brielle Cooper (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)

15. Britney Pierce (Wanda)

16. Lily Finati (North Bondi)

17. Hannah Sculley (Northcliffe)

18. Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)

19. Olivia Corrin (Northcliffe)

20. Aly Bull (Alexandra Headland)

#Georgia Miller to be replaced by Bella Williams.