Nutri-Grain iron series: Georgia Miller, Joe Collins wins Rd2, Ali Day, Lana Rogers win Rd1

Ironwoman Georgia Miller was upset with her round one racing, admitted she under performed, dealt with it and then came out and did something special in round two. Manly result wrap.

Ironwoman Georgia Miller winning round two of the surf series at Manly. Picture: Supplied

Ironwoman Georgia Miller was upset with her round one racing, admitted she under performed, dealt with it and then came out and did something special in round two of the Nutri-Grain iron series at Manly on Sunday

On the very beach she started her career as a Nipper, Miller came back from a shock ninth in round one to claim victory over new Northcliffe teammate Lana Rogers in round two at the end of three tough eliminator races.

It meant Miller has ended a year from hell on a high note.

“I’m just so relieved to finish this year off. It’s been so tough,’’ said Miller who has battled back from a back injury and burnt feet in the Coolangatta Gold, coped with extended periods away from Olympic kayak fiancee Riley Fitzsimmons and the stress of renovating their home.

“I’m just so happy to finish the toughest year of my life off on a high.’’

YOUNG GUN TIPPED TO EXCEL

So good! Ironwoman Georgia Miller winning round two of the surf series at Manly. Picture: Supplied

Miller said she has no explanation for her poor result in the opening round won by Rogers who now leads the six race series overall,

“I just felt shocking. It sometimes happens but there’s nothing you can do,’’ she said.

“I just had to grit my teeth and hold on.’’

Ironwoman Georgia Miller on her way to winning at her old home beach. Picture: Supplied

Miller was delighted to win in front of family and friends.

I grew up on the Northern Beaches at Freshwater, I actually raced for Manly Surf Life Saving Club and I went to school in Queenscliff - so this is my home town and I absolutely love it down here,” she said.

IRONWOMAN RD 2 RESULTS: 1. MILLER, Georgia (Northcliffe); 2. ROGERS, Lana (Northcliffe); 3. DERBYSHIRE, Lucy (Surfers Paradise); 4. WELBORN, Lizzie (Newport); 5. SCOTT, Naomi (Northcliffe); 6. OUTRAM, Electra (Sunshine Beach); 7. WOODS, Emma (Alexandra Headland); 8. DOYLE, Emily (Northcliffe); 9. COOPER, Brielle (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park); 10. CORRIN, Olivia (Northcliffe).

Joe Collins has now won two legs of the series. Picture: Supplied

KIWIS STEAL AUSSIE THUNDER IN ROUND TWO OF NUTRI-GRAIN SERIES

Gold Coast based New Zealander Joe Collins stole the limelight form his Aussie rivals in the second round of the men’s event with the luckiest handler in the game in his camp.

Just minutes after Olympian Riley Fitzsimmons handled for fiancee Miller and saw her win, he was racing back down the beach to support Collins.

“He must be the secret ingredient. He couldn’t make it yesterday and I was sick,’’ Collins said,

Collins claimed his second ever round win of the professional surf series, beating round one winner Ali Day and defending series champion Matt Bevilacqua for round two honours at the end of three tough eliminator races which left just eight men racing in the finale.

Notable absentees from the final included Ben Carberry and Ky Kinsela who had been among the standouts in round one.

Joe Collins won round two of the series at Manly. Picture: Supplied

“I’d like to say it (the win) was grit and determination but I honestly think it’s all the hard work I put in on the sand,’’ Collins said.

Collins said he vomited in the middle of Saturday’s race and between races on Sunday.

“I’ve had a bit of a cold,’’ he said.

Collins and Day now share the overall series lead heading into round three at Maroubra in January.

RD 2 RESULTS: 1. COLLINS, Joe (Northcliffe); 2. DAY, Ali (Surfers Paradise); 3. BEVILACQUA, Matt (Northcliffe); 4. ASKEW, Finn (Surfers Paradise); 5. MORRIS, Zach (Northcliffe); 6. BORG, Jackson (Newport); 7. TAYLOR, Cory (Northcliffe); 8. LOUIS, Kendrick (Manly); 9. KINSELA, Ky (Tugun); 10. PARISH, Auden (Northcliffe)

NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN ROUND ONE NEWS AND RESULTS

After a string of injuries and interrupted seasons champion surf life saver Ali Day was back doing what he used to do best - beating a field of young guns, wily veterans and fearless newbies - in a Sydney stunner to open the Nutri-Grain iron surf series.

Day blitzed the men’s iron field on a picture perfect Manly beach, racing alone for the majority of the enduro race involving ski, board and swim legs.

It was a tactic he picked up from years of watching, admiring and racing against former iron great Shannon Eckstein.

“He used to show us that if you get clean water you are hard to beat,’’ said Day, who crossed the finish line around a minute ahead of Joe Collins and Ky Kinsela, the later earning his spot in the main field of the series via qualifying trials.

“I’m always asking myself, ‘what would Shannon do?’. He and his brother Caine were my idols and I learned a lot from watching them.’’

Ali Day on his way to winning the Nutri-Grain iron opening round at Manly. Pic: Supplied

Day said some words of advice from his sport psychiatrist has also played a role in his win.

“I’m the oldest and definitely there is doubt,’’ he said

“But my sport psychiatrist said doubt is essential and you have to use it. It was me versus me out there.

Ali Day on his way to winning the Nutri-Grain iron opening round at Manly. Pic: Supplied

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“It good to get off the mark so well when I didn’t even finish the series last year.

“But you always worry, asking myself am I capable of winning.

“You bring in the age factor, the injuries, wonder if I have the drive, how much better have the young kids got. It’s a lot to consider.’’

Day is a nine time Coolangatta Gold champion, three time winner of the Australian ironman crown and a former winner of four Nutri-Grain series.

But in recent times he has been slammed by bad luck, mishap and injuries to his wrist, legs, feet and ankles.

Last year he used glue to patch up a ripped open toe so he could race.

Round two of the series will be raced at Manly on Sunday.

Round one results: Ali Day (Surfers Paradise), Joe Collins (Northcliffe), Ky Kinsela (Tugun), Cory Taylor (Northcliffe), Ben Carberry (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Kendrick Louis (Manly), Dan Collins (Redhead), Will Savage (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Matt Bevilacqua (Northcliffe), Zach Morris (Northcliffe).

ROGERS WINS OPENING ROUND OF WOMEN’S RACING

Claiming she is the fittest she has ever been, Lana Rogers bought her top form from the Coolangatta Gold into the Nutri-Grain series, holding off a determined Lucy Derbyshire in high heat at Manly beach.

The pair shadowed each other for the majority of the race with Rogers out sprinting 20-year-old Derbyshire in the final battle to the finish line.

Rogers, who added the 2023 Coolangatta Gold crown to the one she won back in 2019, looked in tip-top condition as she took the victory from Derbyshire and fellow rising star Electra Outram.

Rogers has relocated from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast and is now training under former Manly ironwoman turned Olympic kayaker Naomi Flood.

“I love it. I’m really happy with that,’’ she said.

“It’s been a good day.’’

Rogers said she feels comfortable she has enough in the tank to came out well in Sunday’s second round of the series which is also being raced at Manly.

Round one results: ROGERS, Lana (Northcliffe); 2. DERBYSHIRE, Lucy (Surfers Paradise); 3. OUTRAM, Electra (Sunshine Beach); 4. CORRIN, Olivia (Northcliffe); 5. BROWN, Harriet (Northcliffe); 6. MASSIE, Tiarnee (Maroochydore); 7. WELBORN, Lizzie (Newport); 8. COOPER, Brielle (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park); 9. MILLER, Georgia (Northcliffe); 10. DOYLE, Emily (Northcliffe)

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Originally published as Nutri-Grain iron series: Georgia Miller, Joe Collins wins Rd2, Ali Day, Lana Rogers win Rd1