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Brielle Cooper second teenager to win Nutri-Grain ironwoman race

SURF young gun Brielle Cooper has tamed wild conditions and the biggest names in the surf lifesaving game to become the second unvaunted teenager to win a leg of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series.

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SURF young gun Brielle Cooper has tamed wild conditions and the biggest names in the surf lifesaving game to become the second unvaunted teenager to win a leg of the Nutri-Grain ironwoman professional series.

In another telling indication the 2017/2018 surf season will see a major changing of the guard in women’s racing, the unheralded Gold Coast 18-year-old claimed the race honours at Coolum on Sunday while Ali Day claim victory in the men’s race.

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Last month Central Coast 18-year-old Jemma Smith caused a massive upset when she won the opening leg of the series at Queenscliffe while on a break from her HSC exams.

“I can’t believe it, I am so happy. I am so shocked,’’ Cooper said.

“I didn’t make the final last round and I just wanted to do better.

Brielle Cooper crosses the finish at the Ocean6 Nutrigrain Series
Brielle Cooper crosses the finish at the Ocean6 Nutrigrain Series

“We are showing the older girls we can take it up to them now, it’s really exciting.’’

On Sunday Cooper survived cutthroat eliminator racing and big, messy surf to take the line honours on a day a number of the established names of the sport failed to fire.

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Multiple series champion Courtney Hancock, winner of the recent Coolangatta Gold, and Jordan Mercer were two surprise early victims of the sudden-death racing at Coolum along with Lizzie Welborn, who finished second last round.

Jordan Mercer failed to make the podium.
Jordan Mercer failed to make the podium.
Courtney Hancock was an early casualty.
Courtney Hancock was an early casualty.

By the end of the war of attrition Cooper had claimed the biggest win of her budding career from defending series champion Harriet Brown, with New Zealand ironwoman Danielle McKenzie third.

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While the women’s racing threw up a new face, it was situation almost normal in the men’s racing with multiple winner Ali Day back to his best but Shannon Eckstein missing the podium after losing his ski.

Ali Day produced a great race in the tricky conditions at Coolum.
Ali Day produced a great race in the tricky conditions at Coolum.

Day beat young star Max Brooks with former Nutri-Grain series winner Matt Poole third.

“It was a bit of a personal victory for me to win in those conditions,’’ Day said.

“It was big, pretty messy and wind blown. Difficult.

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“To turn up, keep my head and race well was a real victory for me.’’

The next leg of the Ocean 6 and Nutri-Grain series will be at North Wollongong on December 16-17.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/swoop/brielle-cooper-second-teenager-to-win-nutrigrain-ironwoman-race/news-story/5b57df15a22922098bd0d0594c3ed055