LONDON BOUND FLOOD STEERS MANLY TO SKI RELAY GOLD

March 31, 2012: London bound Olympian Naomi Flood has spearheaded Manly to gold in the open women's single ski relay at North Kirra today.

Flood joined Candice Falzon and Sarah Knapman on the gold medal podium in the event only added to the program in 2009.

Silver went to Northcliffe trio Liz Pluimers, Kristyl Smith and Courtney Hancock with North Burleigh's Alyce Bennett, Sheree Merryful and Brodie Moir.

But it was Northcliffe who claimed gold over North Burleigh (Bennett, Moir and Olivia Hall) with Terrigal (Alicia Bain, Amy Nurthen and Lauren Stone) taking the bronze.

Earlier, Tugun's Olympic kayak gold medallist Ken Wallace and champion Ironman Hugh Dougherty joined Elizabeth Forsyth, Kye Hawkins, Sam McPhillips, Thomas Melloy, Seth Philbrook, Blake and Bruce Zillman in the club's winning Lifesaver Relay team.

The men's craft area saw Northcliffe's Shannon Eckstein add two more gold medals to his collection in the open ski relay with two-time Olympian Tate Smith and Joel Simpson and in the board relay with Hill and Mark
Bint.

And what a finish it was in the ski relay.

Smith is built to be a kayak paddler but even he would agree he is no great shakes as a beach sprinter.

Smith's hulking frame is ideal for powering a surf ski over waves or propelling a kayak at top speed yet it was his speed across the sand that was needed as he took Northcliffe to their sixth win since 2004.

Smith went into the final leg of the relay alongside Avoca Beach's Australian champion paddler Lachlan Tame and the pair went stroke for stroke around the course.

They both hit the beach at the same time and started a foot race between two men for whom moving quickly across the sand doesn't come naturally.

Smith had enough speed to score a narrow win and receive the congratulations of his teammates Shannon Eckstein and Joel Simpson as he struggled for breath.

"I've never had to run like that before and I don't want to do it again," he said.

The victory was doubly sweet for the trio as they were disqualified at the start line of last year's final after Simpson jumped off the line before the starting gun went.

The win was Eckstein's first in an Aussies open ski relay and enabled him to cross off one of the few remaining surf lifesaving achievements to elude him

About 15 minutes later Eckstein had won another gold medal, this time in the board relay where he outran Currumbin Beach's Jayden Jensen to win by two metres.

The pair had left the beach together but Eckstein's experience allowed him to open up a big lead before a wave for Jensen made it close again at the sand.

Jenson put in a big sprint but was unable to catch Eckstein who crossed the finish line almost too exhausted to celebrate with victorious teammates Cory Hill and Mark Bint.

The Vikings silver lining continues the Gold Coast club's climb up the competition ladder, leaving defending champions Mooloolaba (Matt Poole, Cam Cole and Dane Windshuttle) third.

Eckstein has now won a total of 26 gold medals with the Taplin Relay, Surf Teams and Ironman to come today while Smith has taken his tally to 17 with the Taplin to come.

Meanwhile in the Ironman quarter finals:

MOOLOOLABA'S Queensland State Champion Ali Day won the opening heat from James Stewart (Nth Burleigh) and Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe).

KURRAWA'S Ky Hurst the second from Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) and Alex Tibbitts (Mooloolaba).

CRONULLA's Chris Allum the third from Cory Hill (Northcliffe) and Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) while;

CUDGEN HEADLANDS Nathan Gray was a surprise fourth quarter final winner over from defending champion Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe) and Cam Cole (Mooloolaba).

In other highlights:

CITY OF PERTH's amazing running mother, Alison O'Toole, claimed her eighth consecutive 2km run title - a record for straight individual events.

TUGUN's Steve Madden scored a hat-trick of wins in the men's 2km event.

ALEXANDRA HEADLANDS Michael White wins the Champion Lifesaver from Nick Pluimers (Northcliffe) and Josh Walker (City of Perth).

NEWPORT foursome Jonah Beard, Max Brooks, Cooper Halligan and Jayke Rees upset their more fancied rivals Northcliffe and Noosa Heads.

CURRUMBIN's Matt Kelly adds a a silver in the under 15 board race behind Wanda's Aidan McColm after helping his team mates Tim Delahunty, Brandan Halliday-Thompson and Sam Ross win gold in the under 15 beach relay.

FRESHWATER's Alan Burns Ian Donald, Wayne Freakley, Peter Obern and Chris Tyrell successfully defended their Open 5 person R and R.