ECKSTEIN AND HANCOCK STRIKE SURF LIFESAVING GOLD

September 25: Surflifesaving stars Caine Eckstein and Courtney Hancock both rewrote the record books with dramatic wins in the 2011 Coolangatta Gold at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast today.

Eckstein, from Kurrawa, raced to his fifth Coolangatta Gold title over 46.65 tough, blustery kilometers, while Northcliffe's Hancock won her first 30.5km women's race in the closest finish in the event's history.

Victory gave Hancock the triple crown of ironwoman racing, adding the Gold to her victories in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain series and the Australian ironwoman championship she won earlier this year.

She was driven on throughout today's race by the memory of her grandfather Ron Goodenough, an outstanding surf lifesaver himself, who died last week.

"I was thinking about him thoughout the entire race," Hancock said after outsprinting clubmate Liz Pluimers in a desperate run to the finish, with three-time winner Hayley Bateup third.

Eckstein said his fourth consecutive Coolangatta Gold title was probably his toughest of the lot after being pushed during the early stages by Cronulla's Nathan Smith before setting up a winning break with his renowed running ability.

"I didn't expect Nathan catch up with me in the swim but it was probably good because we could work together for a while," he said.

Smith finished in second place with Alex Tibbits (Mooloolaba) third.