Matt Bevilacqua and Courtney Hancock cruise into Queensland Surf Life Saving ironman and woman finals

Kurrawa’s Matt Bevilacqua will go into tomorrow’s Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships ironman final as favourite after securing a dominant win in one of the most taxing titles of racing. Courtney Hancock is also on track to defend her women’s crown.

Kurrawa’s Matt Bevilacqua will go into tomorow’s Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships ironman final as favourite after securing a dominant win in one of the most taxing titles of racing.

The 2015 champion looked in red-hot form as he cruised through the early round to book a spot in tomorrow morning’s semi-finals.

Bevilacqua said it was the perfect way to kick-off his state campaign, but was cautious of getting too far ahead of himself.

“It’s been a big day with all the team events and I’m a bit tired, but it was good to have heats this morning, and have a chance to get used to the course and get used to the conditions here at Broadbeach,” he said.

Matt Bevilacqua won his ironman heat of the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships. Picture credit: Harvpix.

“But it’s another story altogether come tomorrow; those finals are 200 per cent of what these heats are, and it’ll be game on.

“I reckon States is probably one of the biggest weekends for us in terms of racing, because you’re back-to-back-to-back the whole time and you don’t get much recovery between heats and finals.

“You’ve got to be really efficient, save as much energy as you can in those heats, and just make sure that you’re 100 per cent and ready to go when you put your foot on the line for finals, because that’s where it all matters,” he said.

It’s been a mixed season of racing for Bevilacqua, who won his fourth Molokai to Oahu paddleboard world title before finishing 7th in the recent Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.

However, he’s hoping a good result this weekend will provide the perfect set up for a tilt at the Australian Championships next month.

“I’d love a win in the iron this weekend; my first real win in the opens was a Queensland state title a few years ago,” he said.

“It’s a really good step up for Aussies and you want to go there feeling good.

“I had a bit of bad luck in the (Nutri-Grain Ironman) Series this year and didn’t race as well as I should be, so this weekend will be a good little jumping block into Aussies,” he said.

Meanwhile, defending ironwoman champion Courtney Hancock remains on-track to win her fourth title, and become the only woman in history to go back-to-back on two separate occasions, after qualifying for tomorrow’s final.

Hancock said it was great to make it through after a tough qualifying race.

Courtney Hancock won her ironwoman heat of the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships. Picture credit: Harvpix.

“I think the semi-final of the iron is one of the most nerve-racking races because it’s everyone’s favourite event and everyone wants to make it through, so I’m glad that’s done and it’s great to be into the final,” Hancock said.

“It was quite a tough semi-final, they only take eight through and there wasn’t really a big gap between the top eight and nine so I’m glad to get through all of that ahead of tomorrow.

“It would be amazing to win tomorrow and to get my fourth title would be unreal. But there’s a lot of work to do to get there, and it’s going to be super tough.

Hancock will face tough competition, with the likes of Brielle Cooper, Georgia Miller, Lana Rogers, and Maddy Dunn also set to line up in tomorrow’s final.

The 2019 Queensland Championships have seen more than 1,700 competitors from across the state put their skills to the ultimate test at Broadbeach.

The competition wraps up tomorrow with a full day of finals action.