Bonnie Hancock conquers wild conditions to claim huge victory at Cronulla surf event

BONNIE Hancock has scored one of the biggest victories of her career, battling a huge swell and some tough competition in the ironwoman event at Cronulla.

Bonnie Hancock scored one of the biggest victories of her career.

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LATE call-up Bonnie Hancock has body surfed her way through wild conditions to one of the biggest victories of her life two seasons after glandular fever and chronic fatigue almost ended her surf lifesaving career.

The younger sister of former Nutri-Grain and Australian champion Courtney, Hancock, 26, pulled off a massive upset at the ironwoman race at the Sydney International Beach Festival at Cronulla.

Sally Fitz congratulates Hancock on the win. Picture: Brett Costello

“I just can’t believe it, really I can’t,’’ Hancock said.

“That was just incredible out there. It was like a washing machine.’’

In 2.5m surf, Hancock held herself steady in the whitewash to claim the $5000 first prize and a massive confidence boost for her comeback season in the surf.

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Hancock admitted her fitness still needed work and she had hoped the conditions at Cronulla would call on surf skills rather than pure speed and strength.

Overshadowed for years by her highly successful older sister, Hancock said she could not remember the last time she has beaten Courtney, who finished fourth in Sunday’s ironwoman eliminator.

“Racing in the under 10s at the Sawtell Nippers maybe,’’ she said.

Hancock is hoping her surf renaissance will enable her to qualify for the three-day Nutri-Grain series, also at Cronulla, from February 24-26.

Manly youngster Naomi Scott and Currumbin’s Karly Nurthen finished second and third in the Cronulla race on Sunday.

The ironwoman invitational was organised by Fitzgibbons as major part of her beach festival which was held for the first time to compliment the Sydney International Women’s pro surfing event.