Surfers Paradise pair shine as Northcliffe take out Surf Life Saving State Championship

Doctors told Lucy Derbyshire she could have some serious health issues if she continued to train during the Nutri-Grain series earlier this year. Now, her return had her determined to make a statement.

Surfers Paradise duo claim top award at this years Surf Life Saving Queensland State Championships.

Ali Day held on with the final sprint to win the Ironman and Lucy Derbyshire caused an upset victory in the Ironwoman on Sunday’s event at North Kirra.

It was an incredible victory by Day as he jumped off his ski with Burleigh Heads’ Ben Carberry hot on his heels.

Day said he left nothing in the tank for the final sprint.

“It feels pretty good, it’s funny when I got off the ski, I grew up with that kid (Carberry) I was racing,” Day said.

Surfers Paradise's Ali Day celebrates after winning the Open Ironman's title at the Surf Life Saving Queensland State Championships. Picture: Surfing Queensland

“And literally I would say to him before every race ‘if it’s not me winning the race, I hope you’re winning’.

“It feels awesome to win another title, this beach is really special to me.

“So it is a really good feeling.’

Day had to work hard in the ski event to get in front at the end after a slow board left him exiting the water in sixth place.

Catching a nice wave into shore with the ski, Day exploded out of the water and sprinted up the beach, turning home for victory with the look of determination not to let this win slip.

Carberry was seen with a cheeky smile as Day sprinted away from him after the final corner.

In the women’s prestige event, Lucy Derbyshire was too strong for her opponent’s running into victory with a massive smile on her face.

But it wasn’t that long ago Derbyshire pulled out of the Nutri-Grain Ironseries due to a serious illness.

The Surfers Paradise athlete was told by doctors she risked permanent lung and heart damage if she continued to push through illness at the start of the new year.

She was sitting second on the Nutri-Grain Series rankings after a successful opening two rounds but contracted Covid and got an infection in her lung shortly after.

Derbyshire said she was more determined than ever to claim the title.

“I felt really good that whole race,” Derbyshire said.

“It’s the first time in a while I felt like I could really push my transitions and then still feel good in the water.

“I am so stoked.”

Derbyshire burst out of the water from the board leg of the event and kept that lead all through the ski.

Catching a nice wave in, Derbyshire continued to turn her head just to see how far ahead she was of second placed Claudia-Rose Slaven from Burleigh Heads.

Despite Surfers Paradise athlete’s winning Sunday’s Ironman and Ironwoman events, Northcliffe took out the State Championship after a dominant display across the three days.

Northcliffe finished with 382 points, 13 more ahead of Maroochydore (369 points) and Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park finished in third (327 points).