Surf Life Saving 2021: Senior and Masters State Championships from Tugun
The SLSQ Senior State Championships are in the books and Coast athletes were among the big winners in the headline events. SEE THE RESULTS AND READ THE RECAP.
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QUEENSLAND’S best surf life saving athletes again hail from the Gold Coast, if results from the third and final day of the SLSQ Senior State Championships are anything to go by.
The headline acts of the championships, the highly-anticipated ironman and ironwoman finals, were run and - mostly - won by local athletes at Tugun.
Of the six irons finals contested on Sunday, four were won by Gold Coast athletes and all six featured at least one on the podium.
In the Open Ironman and Ironwoman, Gold Coast clubs had a podium cleansweep.
Northcliffe’s Georgia Miller claimed her first-ever Queensland Ironwoman title, while Ky Kinsela (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) came from the clouds in the swim leg to win the Open Ironman in a thrilling finish.
Of the 18 podium places on offer across the iron events on Sunday, 14 were claimed by Gold Coast athletes. See below for the full list of podium placings.
Iron Podium Placings
U17 Ironwoman: Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Jamie Perkins (Northcliffe), Charlotte Cross (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
U17 Ironman: Jacob Dickey (Alexandra Headland), Joel Piper (Maroochydore), Callum Brennan (Currumbin)
U19 Ironwoman: Tayla Halliday (Alexandra Headland), Emma Woods (Alexandra Headland), Lucy Derbyshire (Northcliffe)
U19 Ironman: Finn Askew (Surfers Paradise), Connor Peabody (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Joe Collins (Northcliffe)
Open Ironwoman: Georgia Miller (Northcliffe), Brielle Cooper (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Danielle McKenzie (Northcliffe)
Open Ironman: Ky Kinsela (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Ali Day (Surfers Paradise), Matt Bevilacqua (Northcliffe)
>> Senior State Championships Full Results
>> Masters State Championships Full Results
EARLIER: Thrilling finish to U19 Ironman final at Tugun
SURFERS Paradise newcomer Finn Askew has edged out Coast rivals Connor Peabody and Joe Collins to win the U19 Ironman final at the SLSQ State Championships at Tugun on Sunday.
Northcliffe’s Collins, who finished third in the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series last month, rounded the final can in the lead and appeared poised for a gritty victory.
But Askew – and Peabody – picked a better line in the swim back to the beach, in an impressive display of racing smarts and physical resilience.
“I’m ecstatic,” Askew said post-race.
“It was such an awesome race battling the whole way against so many good mates.
Me and Joe Collins, we were both in the Nutri-Grain this year, the youngest ones there, and we were battling the whole way around. I just took a better line on the way in and came out on top.
“I’m just stoked.”
Earlier, Alexandra Headland’s Tayla Halliday pipped clubmate Emma Woods and Northcliffe’s Lucy Derbyshire to win the U19 Ironwoman final.
U19 Ironman Final:
1. Finn Askew (Surfers Paradise)
2. Nathan Peabody (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
3. Joe Collins (Northcliffe)
4. Adam Palmer (Maroochydore)
5. Kaan Karaday (Northcliffe)
U19 Ironwoman Final:
1. Tayla Halliday (Alexandra Headland)
2. Emma Woods (Alexandra Headland)
3. Lucy Derbyshire (Northcliffe)
4. Dominique Stitt (Maroochydore)
5. Zara Sharman (?)
EARLIER: Stunning upset in Qld Ironman final at Tugun
KY KINSELLA has shocked Nutri-Grain Ironman Series champion Ali Day to win the final of the Open Ironman at the SLSQ State Championships at Tugun on Sunday.
Day looked home and hosed in the final swim leg, before Kinsela caught a runner on the way back to the beach and flew into the lead.
Known as one of the best body surfers in the sport, Kinsela solidified that notion with the stunning move at the death to snatch the Queensland crown from Day.
Open Ironman Final:
1. Ky Kinsela (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
2. Alastair Day (Surfers Paradise)
3. Matt Bevilacqua (Northcliffe)
4. Max Beattie (Surfers Paradise)
5. Hayden Cotter (Maroochydore)
EARLIER: Northcliffe star crowned Qld Ironwoman champion
SOME swim leg magic from Georgia Miller has netted the Northcliffe athlete her first Open Ironwoman State Championship crown in a thrilling all-Gold Coast podium finish at Tugun on Sunday.
Fresh from a runner-up up performance in the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series, Miller claimed her maiden Queensland Ironwoman title ahead of Brielle Cooper (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) and Northcliffe clubmate Danielle McKenzie.
“I’ve never actually won a Queensland Ironwoman State title before,” a jubilant Miller said post-race.
“It’s an awesome one to tick off the list.
“I love being part of (Northcliffe) and have such great support here.”
Miller hit the beach after the ski leg behind both Cooper and McKenzie, but powered past her rivals in the swim leg to claim gold.
“I tried to have a good first board leg and it didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to,” she said.
“I used my ski leg to get back in a good spot. I knew the swim last would hurt a lot of people … it’s my strength, and it was a nice long swim that played in my favour.”
Open Ironwoman Final:
1. Georgia Miller (Northcliffe)
2. Brielle Cooper (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
3. Danielle McKenzie (Northcliffe)
4. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore)
5. Tayla Halliday (Alexandra Headland)
EARLIER: Coast’s best in irons action on Day 3 of State Champs
THE THIRD and final day of the SLSQ Senior and Masters State Championships is under way at Tugun, with a thrilling slate of events on offer.
The Open Ironman and Ironwoman finals are the headline acts of the day, beginning at 2pm, though there is plenty to whet the appetite before then.
The single ski and board race finals will be run and done on Sunday morning, before attention shifts to the Ironman and Ironwoman heats and subsequent finals in the afternoon.
EARLIER: Queensland’s top surf boat teams on fire at Tugun
QUEENSLAND’S champion Surf Boat teams have been recognised at the State Championships at Tugun on Saturday.
Gold Coast clubs were well represented among the gold medallists.
Tallebudgera were champions in the Masters 180 race.
Noosa Heads claimed the U19 girls medal.
A photo finish created plenty of drama at the line in the U19 boys before Maroochydore were established as winners in a thriller over Currumbin Vikings.
Marty Fletcher’s Mermaid Beach crew took out the Open Men’s event.
In the U23s, Dickie Beach overcame Noosa in a photo finish in the females while Northcliffe were similarly pushed by Alexandra Heads.
In the Masters 220 event Maroochydore’s stacked team of former National Champions showed their class to outlast Kurrawa.
EARLIER: Queensland’s best beach sprinters crowned at Burleigh
THE ENVIABLE title of Queensland beach sprint champion has gone to Northcliffe athlete Jackson Symonds, following a neck-and-neck final at the SLSQ Senior State Championships at Burleigh Heads on Friday.
Symonds beat out Northcliffe clubmate Jason Gough and Kieran Gordon (Currumbin) to claim the Open Male Beach Sprint crown, in an all-Gold Coast podium finish.
In the Open Female Beach Sprint, Kurrawa’s Chloe Mannix-Power emerged the victory ahead of Stephanie Welsh from Northcliffe and Currumbin’s Elizabeth Forsyth in third.
The action continues into Friday evening as the U17, U19, Open and Masters beach sprint and beach relay winners are crowned.
EARLIER: Beach sprint heats hot up as Day 1 draws to a close
DAY 1 of the Surf Life Saving Queensland Senior and Masters State Championships is almost in the books and the most thrilling action has been saved for last.
Burleigh Heads plays host to the U17, U19, Open and Masters male and female beach sprints and relays, with Queensland’s best surf life saving athletes on show.
Follow the link below to watch the livestream as the battle for finals placings heats up:
EARLIER: Ironwomen clubmates battle it out in teams finals
IRONWOMAN Series runner-up Georgia Miller’s Northcliffe Team A has edged out fellow series competitors Maddy Dunn and Danielle McKenzie’s Northcliffe Team B to win the Open Female Rescue Tube Rescue final at Tugun on Friday.
Miller’s team, consisting of Georgia Laird, Jaime Roberts and Madeline Thomson, pipped clubmates Madisyn Armstrong, Mackenzie Duffy, Dunn and McKenzie to the post in a thrilling final.
Northcliffe’s one-two podium finish continued a strong opening day for Coast clubs at the SLSQ Senior and Masters State Championships.
Day 1 of the championships continue on Friday afternoon with sprint and relay finals, beginning at 2.45pm.
EARLIER: Nutri-Grain Ironman Series star Joe Collins leads Coast club to upset win
NUTRI-GRAIN Ironman star Joe Collins has led Northcliffe Team A to an upset win over pre-race favourites Maroochydore to win the U19 Male Rescue Tube Rescue final at Tugun.
Reigning champions Maroochydore, known for their prowess in the Rescue Tube, looked the ones to beat through the heats but were upset by the Northcliffe team of Collins, Flynn Basalo, Thomas Scott and Corbin Zahn in a dramatic final.
In the U19 Female Rescue Tube Rescue final, last-minute entrants Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park shocked the competition to win the final ahead of Maroochydore Team A and Northcliffe Team C.
EARLIER: Legend wins masters ironman at SLSQ Senior State Champs
AN Australian surf legend has won gold in the Queensland Senior and Masters State Life Saving Championships at Tugun.
Tallebudgera’s Guy Andrews, the 1993 Australian Ironman Champion, took victory in the 45-49 male ironman, consisting of a board, ski and then swim.
Andrews was followed by David Bear and Stuart Hogben.
In the 40-44 division it was Currumbin’s Jeremy Cotter who won gold, ahead of North Burleigh competitor Joshua Meer and Michael Bush (Currumbin).
EARLIER:
Perfect conditions have greeted Queensland’s best surf life saving athletes at Tugun for the opening day of the three-day Senior and Masters State Championships.
Board and Tube Rescue events are on the agenda early on Friday beginning at 8am, with the Belt Race and Mixed Double Ski disciplines set to run after 12pm.
The afternoon will be all about the Beach Sprints, with both relays and single sprints beginning from 2.45pm.
Stay up to date with all the results as they trickle through right here.
U17 Male Surf Board Rescue Heat 1:
1st – Currumbin SLSC Team A
2nd – Northcliffe SLSC Team B
3rd – Mermaid Beach AEME SLSC Team A
4th – Maroochydore SLSC Team B
5th – Southport SLSC Team A
6th – Metropolitan-Caloundra SLSC Team A
DNF – Northcliffe SLSC Team C
U17 Male Surf Board Rescue Heat 1:
1st – Northcliffe SLSC Team A
2nd – Maroochydore SLSC Team A
3rd – Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC Team B
4th – Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC Team A
5th – Currumbin SLSC Team B
6th – Kurrawa SLSC Team B
7th Sunshine Beach SLSC Team A
RECAP: Coast athletes dominate at SLSQ Junior State Championships
NORTHCLIFFE’S Ryley Harland and North Burleigh’s Jasmine Rayward have been crowned the U15 Ironman and Ironwoman champions in a thrilling end to the third and final day of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships at North Kirra.
Harland beat out Currumbin rival Riley Brennan and Taj Andrews of Tannum Sands in the final – also claiming the Matt Barclay Memorial Trophy in the process.
Earlier, Rayward outlasted Cyra Bender of Northcliffe and Chelsea Wood from Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park to win the Ironwoman.
It capped a hugely successful weekend of surf life saving action by Gold Coast athletes.
EARLIER:
NORTH Burleigh’s Taj Murray has won a thrilling beach sprint finish to claim the U12 Male Surf Board Final at North Kirra on Sunday.
Taj and his Currumbin rival Cooper Rana-Smith were neck-and-neck when they hit the beach in the final, but a stumble from Cooper opened the door for Taj to take line honours and claim another first-place finish for North Burleigh.
WATCH THE STREAM: Surf Life Saving Queensland
EARLIER:
GOLD COAST clubs have started Day 3 with excellent individual showings in the Surf Board finals at North Kirra.
Currumbin’s Lily Moana won the U11 Female Surf Board final ahead of Milla Seaton from Tugun and Zoe Staffarod from Tallebudgera, while Mitchell Frost from North Burleigh took first in the U11 Male Surf Board final, followed by Riley Macartney of Alexandra Headland and North Burleigh’s Alexander Frost.
EARLIER:
THE THIRD and final day of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships has opened with a bang at North Kirra.
The action began with the Junior All-Age Relay, and visitors Met-Caloundra upsetting Gold Coast clubs Tweed Heads Coolangatta and North Burleigh in the final.
Day 3 continues with the traditional March Past, followed by a thrilling afternoon of action in the water finals and Ironman and Ironwoman events.
FROM DAY 2:
AN EVENTFUL Day 2 at the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships has drawn to a close, with the Irons finals the talk of the beach at North Kirra.
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park’s Max Imrie was one of the stars of the show, winning the U11 Male Ironman ahead of Elliot Heads’ Aarj Day and Jesse Fydler from North Burleigh.
All the action continues tomorrow on the third and final day of the Youth Champs.
EARLIER:
MOTHER Nature has turned it on at North Kirra for Day 2 of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships, with blue skies greeting the best young athletes in the state on Saturday.
The Day 2 slate includes U12, U14 and U15 Board Rescue Finals, which are fast approaching as the last of the heats wrap up.
Follow the SLSQ livestream below to catch all the action, with finals not far away:
EARLIER:
TWEED Heads Coolangatta has opened Day 2 of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships with a stirring win in the Junior All-Age Beach Relay at North Kirra.
The 10-strong team of Connor Davidson, Caillie Eriksen, Addison Free, Samuel Gould, Jobe Keith, Patrick Morrison, Ryan Muggeridge, Brock Osborne, Shelby Osborne and Molly Rogers brought home gold for THC ahead of Met-Caloundra and Tugun on Saturday morning.
There was some great sportsmanship in the U11 Female Beach Relay final, after a North Burleigh competitor tripped in the final leg while in the lead. Her teammates and competitors were immediately by her side to console her – fantastic camaraderie by all.
FROM DAY 1:
THE OPENING day of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships is in the books, with a heap of Gold Coast athletes hitting the podium at North Kirra.
The North Burleigh foursome of Alexander Frost, Mitchell Frost, Jesse Fydler and Hugo Webber capped a standout day for their club – which dominated the placings in the team events – by winning the U11 Male Cameron Relay.
North Burleigh was the frontrunner in the teams events on day one, but the love was spread across a host of Gold Coast clubs in a stellar day of top results for our talented surf lifesavers.
SLSQ Surf Sports Manager Stuart Hogben said it was great to see the nippers’ skills in action across the first day.
“We had favourable surf conditions for racing throughout the morning, which saw plenty of close finishes in the finals,” he said.
“So far North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club have shown their dominance in the water, with multiple podium finishes.”
North Burleigh Male and Female Under 12s were unstoppable throughout the day, taking first place in the Surf Teams, Cameron Relay and Board Relay.
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Female Under 11s proved too strong in the water for their competitors, claiming gold in the Surf Teams, Cameron Relay and Board Relay.
The surf sport action continues across the weekend at North Kirra, with another two big days of racing ahead.
Day 2 highlights are set to include the Under 12, Under 14 and Under 15 Board Rescue Finals.
All the action resumes at North Kirra on Saturday morning.
EARLIER:
BURLEIGH Heads Mowbray Park have headed rival Gold Coast clubs Currumbin and Tugun to claim the U11 Female Surf Board Relay on the opening day of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships at Kirra.
The team of Taylah Birch, Jessica Conrad and Layla Wiper finished ahead of Currumbin’s Ivy Artz, Sena McCabe and lily Moana, and Tugun’s Halle Flint, Mia Hokins and Milla Seaton.
The BHMP trio of Birch, Conrad and Wiper joined clubmate Margaret Cooper to win the final of the U11 Female Surf Team.
North Burleigh’s Team A, consisting of Alexander Frost, Mitchell Frost and Jess Fydler, claimed the U11 Male Surf Board Relay crown ahead of North Burleigh Team B, with Kai Brindley, Jacob Locke and Hugo Webber.
Zarah Farrington, also of North Burleigh, was the pick of the athletes in the U12 Female 1km Beach Run, while in the U12 Female Cameron Relay it was the North Burleigh Team A of Allie Cameron, Meika Locke, Abbie Morrison and Ryne Spence who came out on top.
The good news continued for North Burleigh in the U12 Female Surf Board Relay, with Meika Locke, Isabelle Rasmussen and Ryne Spence winning a hard-fought final ahead of Tallebudgera and Sunshine Beach teams.
It was much the same in the U12 Female Surf Team final, with Zarah Farrington, Meika Locke, Willow Murray and Ryne Spence claiming another final win for North Burleigh Team A.
Tugun’s Hunter Anderson pipped Taj Murray of North Burleigh and Zac Moir of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park to win the U12 Male 1km Beach Run.
In the U12 Male Cameron Relay it was again North Burleigh Team A to come out on top, with Kobi Daniel, Noah Lynch, Taj Murray and Lachlan Zlatic leading the way ahead of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park and Maroochydore.
The U12 Male Surf Board Relay also went to a North Burleigh team, consisting of Noah Lynch, Jake Mail and Taj Murray, ahead of the BHMP rivals before, you guessed it, North Burleigh’s Chase Harris, Noah Lynch, Jake Mail and Taj Murray went on to win the final of the U12 Male Surf Team.
In the U13 Female 1km Beach Run, Tugun’s Sienna Bush claimed line honours ahead of Bianca Rayward of North Burleigh and Kurrawa’s Ashley Plane.
North Burleigh was back on top in the U13 Female Cameron Relay, with Team B’s Emma Landrigan, Frankie Leonardi, Amy Newton and Chelsea Smyth pipping Tugun Team A and Alexandra Headland to the post.
Newton, Smyth and Eadie Sangston were again on top in the U13 Female Surf Board Relay, leading North Burleigh to the title ahead of Tugun and Maroochydore.
Tweed Heads Coolangatta’s Lily Alford, Indiana Crawford, Amy Cronk and Caillie Eriksen won the U14 Female Beach Relay, and Alford backed up to claim the U14 Female Beach Sprint soon after.
Jake Stanborough of Rainbow Bay was too strong in the U14 Male Beach Sprint final.
In the U15 Female Cameron Relay, the Northcliffe Team A of Caitlin Allred, Cyra Bender, Zara Richters and Kaia Sugars bested Burleigh Heads and Metro Caloundra.
But Burleigh Heads got their revenge in the U15 Female Surf Board Relay, with the team of Sienna Jones, Jayda Kempton and Kaela McAtamney outlasting clubmates Charlotte Hart, Aleira Usher and Chelsea wood in a thrilling one-two finish for the club.
The U15 Female Surf Team final went to North Burleigh’s Mikayla Bird, Luka Leonardi, Tara Newton and Jasmine Rayward, while Northcliffe’s Ryley Harland, MJ Lowe, Samuel Perry and Jackson Westphal won the U15 Male Surf Team.
Currumbin Team A, consisting of Riley Brennan, Jay Hyland, Beau Lester-Sutherland and Jack Stringer claimed the U15 Male Cameron Relay final, and the Burleigh Heads team of Harrison Broue, Fraser Leadbetter and Taj Payne won the U15 Male Surf Board Relay.
Tugun duo Mia Hokins and Milla Seaton capped a successful day in the U11 Female Surf Board Rescue by winning the final ahead of Currumbin and club rivals Tugun Team B.
EARLIER:
NORTH Burleigh have been among the big winners on the opening day of the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships, taking out the under-13 female surf team final.
Frankie Leonardi, Amy Newton, Bianca Rayward and Eadie Sangston combined to win the race.
Tugun’s Piper Anderson has won the under-11 female 1km beach run while Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park’s Alex Simpson won the under-11 1km beach run.
The Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park crew of Jessica Conrad, Katelyn Palmer, Sofia Payne and Layla Wyper combined to win the under-11 female Cameron Relay.
It was North Burleigh’s Alexander Frost, Mitchell Frost, Jesse Fydler and Hugo Webber who won the under-11 male Cameron Relay.
EARLIER:
THE BEST young surf lifesaving talent in the state will descend on North Kirra for the annual Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships beginning Friday.
The three-day event promises to be one of the biggest in its history, with more than 1600 junior athletes in action.
Friday’s competition: Competitors ranging from under-11s through to 15s will battle it out in a range of beach and surf events.
Among the highlights of Day 1 will be the under-11, 12, 13 and 15 Board Relay Finals and Cameron Relay Finals – 16 in total, as well as beach events across two age groups.
The Bulletin has compiled a list of the top 10 local hopes who have trained for months to make their state championship dreams a reality.
1 Ethan Callaghan (U15)
North Burleigh SLSC
2019 results: 1st Iron, 2nd Board
2 Ava Usher (U14)
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC
2019 results: 1st Flags, 3rd Sprint, 1st Iron, 3rd Swim
3 Ethan Wentworth (U15)
Southport SLSC (QLD)
2019 results: 2nd Iron, 4th Board
4 Milla Jansen (U14)
Northcliffe SLSC
2019 results: 2nd Iron, 2nd Board, 1st Swim
5 Jasmine Rayward (U15)
North Burleigh SLSC
2019 results: 8th Iron
6 Ryley Harland (U15)
Northcliffe SLSC
2019 results: 6th Iron, 1st Swim
7 Riley Brennan (U15)
Currumbin SLSC
2019 results: 7th Swim
8 Allie Hughes (U14)
Tugun SLSC
2019 results: 2nd 1km Run, 4th Iron, 1st Board, 4th Swim
9 Benjamin Cervenak (U14)
Tallebudgera SLSC
2019 results: 5th Iron
10 Lily Alford (U14)
Tweed Heads Coolangatta SLSC
2019 results: 4th Flags, 2nd Sprint
MORE SURF LIFESAVING NEWS FROM 2021
Georgia Miller praises ‘class above’ Rogers, promises to return bigger and better
From February 28, 2021 – Callum Dick
THE SCRIPT WRITERS got a little lazy with the finish to Sunday’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series, but that didn’t make it any less thrilling.
Only a day after Georgia Miller and Lana Rogers captivated the crowd at Kingscliff with a neck-and-neck beach sprint to the finish, the pair put on a repeat performance for the final round in what was a fitting end to an incredible series.
On Saturday it was Miller who pipped her rival to the line but in the final round, with her series win secured, Rogers claimed line honours just ahead of Miller, with Lizzie Welborn again not far behind in third.
“Lana has been incredible. She’s been so consistent over the past two years and we’ve been tussling it out the whole way,” Miller said.
“I’ve won some; she’s won a few more, but it’s been really tight. We’ve all been so consistent and that’s shown in the point scores.
“I already can’t wait for next year. So many things I really want to work on.”
Miller’s two round wins both came in beach sprint successes against Rogers.
After Saturday’s victory Miller declared she “does love a sprint finish” and had to laugh at how the final round played out.
“Can you believe it they just keep on coming and they get harder and harder each time,” Miller said.
“Lizzie and Lana came down that wave and I was lucky enough to get the inside run, but Lana was two steps ahead of me.
“All credit to her, she’s had an incredible series and it’s an honour to be on the podium beside her.
“Lana was definitely a class above to win four of the six rounds I just incredible. I’m lucky that I got two of them and I’ll take those this year and hopefully come back stronger next year.”
The BMD Northcliffe ironwoman’s second-place on Sunday meant she edged out Welborn for second overall.
“Things weren’t looking great after that first round. I’m really proud of myself to pull it back and end with a second overall,” said Miller, referencing her eighth-place finish in the opener.
“In the past 16 days we’ve raced eight days on the beach. That’s a huge three weeks we’ve had. I’m really looking forward to a week off from training, that’s for sure.”
Rogers’ success puts her in elite company, joining just five other ironwomen to have won the series more than once.
“I just wanted to be a great ironwoman,” the two-time series champion said.
“Watching (Jordan Mercer) go around, watching Liz (Pluimers) go around, and still watching Courts (Courtney Hancock) go around – I just wanted to be one of you guys.
“I’m here now, a two-time Nutri-Grain Ironwoman champion. This series means so much to me. I’m so thankful.
“I just want to keep doing as best I can. I want to keep improving … keep getting better and keep going on this journey.”
A new queen of beach sprints emerging at Kingscliff
From February 27, 2021 – Nic Darveniza
GEORGIA Miller outsprinted rivals Lana Rogers and Lizzie Welborn to claim the win in the most dramatic finish of the Nutri-Gran Ironwoman series thus far on Saturday.
Series leader Rogers appeared set to coast to another event win when she caught a runner off the last can at Kingscliff but her wave fizzled out as Miller and Welborn rounded the corner.
All three arrived on the beach near simultaneously, setting an hour of racing down to the final seconds.
Miller took the inside track and found her second wind to outrace and out-heart her competitors across the line.
“It was the tightest finish we’ve had the whole series,” a breathless Miller gushed after the race.
“It was so exciting.
“Lana and I went into the last leg together on the ski and I watched her the whole way round.
“Lizzie, her and I finished together on the beach and I had the inside run.”
Miller said she was no beach sprinter but after winning two events with a burst to the finish line it was time to reconsider her stance.
“I do love a sprint finish,” she said.
“I find my second wind so maybe that is becoming my forte.
“I would love to be further out in front so I can enjoy it more (going forward) so we’ll see how that goes.”
Miller took special pride in pipping Rogers at the post after the Alexandra Heads’ clubbie’s strong start to the season.
“We kind of got caught off-guard in the first few rounds when she blew out of the gates,” she said.
“We’re definitely taking it to her (now).
“These conditions really suit her because she’s so fit she can power through these swells.”
With a third day of competition looming on Sunday Miller has strapped into a hi-tech ice vest before an ice bath, with careful nutrition, hydration and massage essential parts of her recovery.
’RELAXED AND HAPPY’ BROWN BRINGS HER BEST TO CLAIM SECOND
A “RELAXED and happy” Harriet Brown is a dangerous Harriet Brown and the BMD Northcliffe ironwoman proved that with a stirring second-place finish in Round 4 of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series at Kingscliff on Friday.
Brown saw off Lizzie Welborn and Northcliffe clubmate Georgia Miller to cross the line behind leader Lana Rogers and make her first podium of the series.
“I’m really happy,” Brown said post-race.
“The first three rounds I was up there but just off the podium. I was a little bit disappointed (with the results) last time and my goal today was to battle it out and get on that podium.”
Brown, 30, entered Friday in fourth position behind Rogers, Welborn and Miller and played out an enthralling battle with the first two for much of the race.
Rogers dominated the previous Endurosurf format in Round 1, but the reigning champ did not have it all her own way on Friday as Brown and Welborn kept the pressure on the series leader throughout the 40-minute event.
“Lana just got away I think in that second leg and we were just trying to catch up to her. Every time we would get close she would pull away,” Brown said.
“Lana was just too far ahead to be able to reach her. She’s so fit at the moment it is going to take something special to get up there (and beat her).”
Brown has improved her position in each race since finishing sixth in the opening round and, with confidence restored, appears primed to challenge Rogers in the final two rounds.
“They weren’t poor performances last time, but I didn’t feel great,” she said.
“I enjoy racing so much more when I’m relaxed and happy and feeling good. My aim for this weekend was to try and enjoy it a bit more.”
Rogers (79 points) will take a seven-point lead over Welborn (72), Miller (69) and Brown (67) into Saturday’s penultimate round at Kingscliff.
Beyond the results, Brown was thankful to be able to compete at all this year.
“We’re all just so happy to be able to race, with the late start due to COVID and things like that – just to have the series back and the organisers giving us the platform to race on live TV (has been great),” she said.
“I love our sport. It’s great for ironman racing to be there for everyone to watch.”
Rogers’ deadly focus with 10th Ironwoman round win on offer
From February 25, 2021 – Callum Dick
HER closest rivals are lining up to knock her down, but Lana Rogers says she hears none of the noise as the 2019-20 Nutri-Grain Ironwoman champion prepares to defend her title at Kingscliff this weekend.
Rogers, 24, was denied an opening weekend triple crown by Georgia Miller in Round 3, but the reigning champ remains a heavy favourite to make it back-to-back series wins when Round 4 resumes on Friday.
“I’m not focused on Georgia or the other girls, what they’re saying or going to do, only what I’m going to do,” said Rogers, who boasts a five-point lead over second-ranked Lizze Welborn heading into the final three rounds this weekend.
“I know how fit I am and how mentally prepared I am for this year’s series. Now it’s just about putting it all together.”
The competition leader would not be drawn on any race win proclamations or potential title talk – her focus solely on repeating the superhuman feats from the opening two rounds that had pundits and rivals wondering who, if anyone, might catch the Alexandra Headland ironwoman.
“Mentally and physically you have to be prepared and if you’re not ready to get the job done, you won’t come out on top. I’m switched on, now it’s just about putting it all together,” Rogers said.
It was in the M-Shape Endurosurf that Rogers announced herself as the early season favourite, leaving the rest of the field in her wake with a dominant display on February 12.
The format returns for Round 4 and a repeat performance could well put Rogers beyond reach of her rivals.
Eyeing an incredible 10th Nutri-Grain Series round victory, Rogers sounded a warning to her rivals in declaring the M-Shape one of her favourite formats.
“The Coolangatta Gold is my favourite race of all time … I like the long distance events and formats, so I’ll enjoy the M-Shape regardless of where I finish,” she said.
“We’re at the make-or-break point of the series now, the halfway point, and I’m pretty excited about that.
“What will be will be.”
‘It haunts me’: Big hurdle in Miller’s Ironwoman Series run
From February 24, 2021 – Callum Dick
LANA Rogers is beatable.
Georgia Miller’s stunning Round 3 victory, denying the reigning Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series champion an opening weekend triple crown, proved that to be true.
Instead it’s Miller’s disappointing Round 1 result which the 2018-19 champion admits might keep her from claiming a second series title.
The BMD Northcliffe athlete ended the opening weekend of competition with a bang, placing second and first in rounds two and three respectively to catapult her into third overall.
Miller’s incredible finish to pip Rogers for top spot in Round 3 was the talk of the weekend, and set tongues wagging that perhaps the reigning champ would not have it all her own way after all.
“Whether it’s me, Lizzie (Welborn) or Harriet Brown, I really believe someone can (catch Rogers),” Miller said.
“I think me winning that third round really proved it’s possible.”
Hanging over Miller’s head however is a disappointing – by her lofty standards – eighth-place finish in Round 1, which she knows could rule her out of the overall race.
“I think that eighth place will come back to haunt me,’ she said.
“But there’s nothing I can do about it now. I just have to leave that one in the past and really focus on the positives from that weekend.
“I raced really well (in rounds two and three) and in the Shannon Eckstein Classic.
“I’ll go into Friday’s race really confident with how I’m going and that’s all I can do.”
With a “whatever it takes” mindset, Miller has exorcised the demons of her opening round and has plans for a comeback series win to cement her legacy as one of the greats of the sport.
“To win it would be the ultimate, and to do it in a comeback kind of way would make it an even more memorable moment – especially to take out my second title,” she said.
“I want to cement myself in the sport and leave a legacy. One (title) is awesome, but two is something people can’t take away from you.
“I’ll be doing everything I possibly can (to win) – even if it kills me.
“I’ve put in so much work for this and I don’t want it to go out in a bad way and have to wait a whole other year to give it another shot.”
Hancock stuns rivals to win $20k Shannon Eckstein Classic
From February 20, 2021 – Callum Dick
COURTNEY Hancock drew on all of her 15 years’ experience as an ironwoman to ride a $20,000 wave to victory in the Shannon Eckstein Classic at BMD Northcliffe on Saturday.
In what the 32-year-old Surfers Paradise SLSC ironwoman labelled “one of the hardest races” she’s ever had to complete, Hancock hit the beach ahead of Lizzie Welborn, Brielle Cooper and Danielle McKenzie to take out the richest surf lifesaving race in the country.
“I was really disappointed last week with my Nutri-Grain (Series performance). I’d been training so well and just couldn’t put it together. I think I lacked a little bit of confidence and sometimes as athletes we do in our career. (Today) I just tried to make my own luck out there,” Hancock said.
In incredibly tough conditions at BMD Northcliffe, Hancock navigated the final ski leg the best of her rivals to cross the line about 30 seconds ahead of Newport’s Welborn and 2020 Shannon Eckstein Classic winner Cooper.
“Through the week I was talking to my partner and just reflecting … it’s my 15th year in the series this year … and I would have to say this year has been one of the strongest fields I’ve ever raced against,” Hancock said.
“For women in sport at the moment, and in surf lifesaving, it’s incredible.”
Northcliffe’s Georgia Miller finds ‘killer instinct’ in stunning chasedown
From February 14, 2021
NORTHCLIFFE ironwoman Georgia Miller conquered the mental demons that dogged her return to competitive racing with a spectacular sprint to the finish line on Sunday, denying superstar Lana Rogers a triple crown at Kingscliff.
Miller opened up on the battle with nerves she fought for the first time on Friday.
Her ordeal hampered her preparations and left friends and family concerned for her headspace.
The 24-year-old finished a respectable eighth in her return to Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series competition, well below her usual standards, which lit her fire to rebound with a second and first place respectively in the weekend’s final events.
“I can’t believe it myself,” Miller said.
“I’m actually proud of myself coming back from eighth. Eighth isn’t a bad result in the scheme of things but I put a lot of expectations on myself to do better.
“When training this hard you want to see better results. To get a second and first has me over the moon and given me a lot of confidence into these next three rounds.”
Her elation is a far cry from the emotional rollercoaster Miller endured on Friday.
Usually all smiles and laughter on the starting line, Miller cut a different figure in her first race since the COVID-19 pandemic smashed apart her plans for 2020.
“I felt slack on Friday and I can’t pinpoint it to anything,” she said.
“I was extremely nervous on Friday having not raced professionally in some time.
“Normally I’m pretty good – pretty go with the flow, love a laugh and smile. I try to conserve my nerves so the only ones who see it are mum (Jenny) and Riley, my partner.
“He knows when I’m off and they could see it Friday and that’s saying something.
“I had a good hard look at myself and was disappointed.
“I went to bed shaking it off and wanted to wake up and put out there what I could do.
“The difference (on Saturday and Sunday) was believing in myself. I’ve learned so much about myself in these last three days and belief in myself is the biggest.
“I put in so much work, so believing in that and not letting things get into my head was incredible.
“I really focused in and now I’ve found that killer instinct.”
Miller proved it with an incredible chasedown of series leader Rogers, tailing the 2019-20 ironwoman champion before pipping her on the final wave on the ski.
It was a comeback to remember, for the race and the Kingscliff event but even more so for Miller, with the new-found confidence that will serve her well through the rest of the series.
NORTHCLIFFE DUO LEFT FEELING ‘FLAT’ AFTER IRONWOMAN OPENER
NORTHCLIFFE ironwomen Harriet Brown and Georgia Miller were left scratching their heads after a tough start to the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series that belied their preparation.
Brown and Miller, who finished fourth and second respectively in last year’s series, crossed the line in sixth and eighth at Kingscliff today – not the start the pair hoped for or expected.
As reigning champion Lana Rogers made it look easy out in front, going on to record a comfortable opening round win, the chasing pack featuring Brown and Miller found the going much harder.
“Sometimes that happens; it’s just not your day,” Miller, 24, said.
“As professional athletes you can’t feel good in every race, but it’s a bit disappointing for us.
“It’s one of those days where Lana just got away and there was no coming back from that.
“Harriet said the same thing. We’ve had a really great block of training, feeling great and had some awesome races leading up to this weekend and expected to come out all guns blazing, but we just didn’t click into our normal race flow.”
In “pretty hot and flat” conditions, Brown, 30, said she struggled to get into her groove throughout the Endurosurf event.
“The main thing you want to do when racing is feel good and get out there feeling like you can push and today that felt hard. I felt flat,” Brown said.
“This one was really hard and I would have loved to have done better, but I think it’s a fair placing.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow, to a reset, having a rethink and hopefully feeling a bit better.”
Northcliffe had four athletes feature in the top 10 on Friday – Danielle McKenzie and Maddy Dunn joining Brown and Miller in the upper reaches of the standings.
Returning clubmate Hannah Sculley finished just outside the top 10, in 11th.
With little time to lament the disappointing – by her standards – start to the series, Miller was already focused on Saturday’s Super Sprint.
“If we’re still getting these places and not feeling our best, that means maybe we can push towards the front,” she said.
“We’ll get moving again tomorrow and make sure we’re going fast again. It’s definitely there, it’s just about bringing it out. I’m sure tomorrow will be a better day.”
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