Liz Pluimers says Coolangatta Gold upset on cards if Allie Britton within striking distance on run

COOLANGATTA Gold champ Liz Pluimers says Allie Britton can upset the race favourites if she is within striking distance heading into the final run leg.

Coolangatta Gold champion Liz Pluimers says clubmate Allie Britton could cause an upset if she’s within striking distance on the run. Picture: Luke Marsden.

COOLANGATTA Gold champion Liz Pluimers says North Burleigh clubmate Allie Britton can upset race favourites Courtney Hancock and Rebecca Creedy if she is within striking distance on the final run leg.

Pluimers, who won the event three times in succession from 2013-15 and is the only woman to have conquered the long course, will watch from the sidelines tomorrow after retiring from racing.

Hancock heads into the race as favourite having won in 2011 when the women’s race was held over the shorter course, while Creedy has finished on the podium for the past two years.

But with no other elite ironwomen in the field, Pluimers believes Britton could push the pair.

“Courtney (Hancock) has won it before, she knows what the feeling’s like,’’ Pluimers said.

“Creedy has come close and she seems more relaxed this year and really focused on what she wants.

“And I’d just love to see Allie get up, so any one of them (is a chance).’’

Britton entered surf lifesaving with an athletics background and will charge home over the final 7.1km run leg to Coolangatta.

“She’s running amazingly,’’ said Pluimers, who has been providing race tips to Britton.

“If she is within reach, she’ll be tough to beat.’’

Britton is out to continue a strong run by North Burleigh’s women which stretches back to 2012 when Brodie Moir won, followed by Pluimers’ treble.

Pluimers has a soft spot for the Gold despite admitting to a “love-hate relationship’’ with the iconic race.

And she lamented the fact that just six women will tackle the event tomorrow.

“It is a little bit disappointing. It is hard with worlds being on at the same time and people choose one or the other,’’ she said. “But it would be nice to see some of the Kellogg’s girls get more involved and have a go at the race – even if it’s just the shortcourse.

“It is such a good event, the Coolangatta Gold. It’s iconic and it’s been around for such a long time and it’d be nice if more people git behind it and it could just keep running.’’