Golden couple cap season in style with fairytale win

COUPLE Matt Bevilacqua and Brielle Cooper have sealed a fairytale season, with both leapfrogging the favourites to win maiden Nutri-Grain series titles.

Matt Bevilacqua celebrates after winning the 2018 series with his girlfriend Brielle Cooper who won the women's series, in the Nutri-Grain Ironman Final at North Cronulla, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

COUPLE Matt Bevilacqua and Brielle Cooper have sealed a fairytale season, with both leapfrogging the favourites to win maiden Nutri-Grain series titles.

In a day of drama at North Cronulla, Cooper was knocked out in the first of three eliminator races in a move that seemed set to hand the title to defending champion Harriet Brown.

Beachside commentators even announced Brown had regained the series and Cooper conducted media interviews believing she had lost the chance at a maiden title.

But Brown had to finish ninth or better in the final round to defend her title and when she was knocked out in the second eliminator, finishing 10th overall, the series result went to a countback, with Cooper emerging victorious thanks to round wins at Coolum and North Wollongong earlier in the season.

Matt Bevilacqua celebrates after winning the 2018 series with his girlfriend Brielle Cooper who won the women's series, in the Nutri-Grain Ironman Final at North Cronulla, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

The men’s series was just as close, although contenders Ali Day and Matt Bevilacqua both made it through to the eliminator final in sloppy conditions.

Bevilacqua had to beat series leader Day to claim the series win and followed through, finishing second, just ahead of Day after catching a runner into the beach on the final board leg.

His victory created wild scenes on the beach, with Cooper and Bevilacqua overjoyed at what had seemed only an outside chance at the start of the weekend.

At just 18, Cooper becomes the youngest ever winner of the Nutri-Grain series, while Bevilacqua sealed his win after moving from Tasmania to follow his ironman dream.

“It’s been my dream watching the series back in Tasmania in the cold,” Bevilacqua told Fox Sports.

“I couldn’t have scripted it better.”

Bevilacqua had to finish sixth or better to get into final. He finished sixth and, minutes later, competed in the final where he trailed early but came second with a huge final board leg to finish ahead of his main rival Day.

Originally published as Golden couple cap season in style with fairytale win