DOOR WIDE OPEN FOR NEW COOLANGATTA GOLD CHAMPION

AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING, September 26, 2012: The 2012 Coolangatta Gold on October 14 will see a new champion crowned and a new era begin in the history of Australian Surf Lifesaving’s most gruelling endurance Ironman race.

Over the 11 races since the birth of the iconic Gold Coast race won by Guy Leech in 1984 and again in 1985 there have only been six winners – Leech, Michael King (1991), Darren Mercer (1992), Zane Holmes (2006), Rhys Drury (2007) and the dominant Caine Eckstein (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).

With Holmes joining Drury in retirement this year and Eckstein heading for a “sea change” that will take him to the Hawaiian ironman Triathlon, the Coolangatta Gold door is very much wide open for the crowning of a new champion.

So much so that even Shannon Eckstein, in the twilight of his career and rising star Ali Day have thrown their respective Northcliffe and Mooloolaba caps among the list of 54 entrants in the open men’s long course event – although both are quick to add an asterisk alongside their names. * To be confirmed at the last minute.

Shannon himself has finished third to Caine and Jeremy Cotter in 2005 and second to Rhys Drury in 2007 and whether it’s 2012 or 2013, he would love to add Australia’s iconic race to his long list of achievements.

“I am actually training for this year’s Rescue 2012 World Championships in Adelaide and if I decide to race the Gold, it will be a last minute decision and very much dependant on the conditions,” said Eckstein, without doubt the most dominant ski paddler among the entries.

He has fully recovered from leg surgery to cure his Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (PAES) - a rare cause of exercise-induced leg pain - which threatened to put a stop to his career and has prevented him from racing the Coolangatta Gold in recent years.

Day showed in last year’s KNG Enduro Race in Perth, where he finished second to Caine Eckstein, that he has the ability over both long and short courses, an athlete who would be very competitive over the Coolangatta Gold course.

But Day, like Eckstein, will wait until the last minute before deciding to tackle the gruelling 45km race – this year from Coolangatta to Broadbeach and return.

Day, who also has to manage an on-going foot injury, will make his mind up after consultation with his Mooloolaba Surf Club coach, 1991 Gold winner King – who steered Drury to victory in 2007.

Among the major contenders will be Day’s Mooloolaba training partners Alex Tibbits, who was third to Caine Eckstein and Nathan Smith last year and 2012 KNG Trials winner, Josh Minogue, who was third to Eckstein and Cory Hill in 2010, Northcliffe’s Cameron Gordon (5th in 2011) and Mooloolaba’s Tasmanian tiger Matt Bevilacqua (10th in 2011).

Tibbits, who was granted a wild card into the KNG Series and didn’t have to Trial at Tugun a fortnight ago, has found his niche.

“Getting the wildcard made my decision just that much easier to make – I’m a definite starter now,” said Tibbits, who won the Under 19 Gold in 2009.

And Minogue, who dominated the KNG Trial with three wins from three starts, knows the chance is there for him to shine.

“To make the Series was my main aim – next is the Gold and it’s going to be a matter of getting my head around it and adjusting the training over the next couple of weeks,” said Minogue.

This year the opening 23km ski paddle will start at Coolangatta Beach and head north to Broadbeach and back to Miami before a 1.8km run from Miami to Burleigh.

It will then be a 3.5km double M shaped swim course from Burleigh to North Burleigh, with competitors having to hit the beach twice; before a 1.6km run from North Burleigh back to Burleigh; a 5.1km board paddle from Burleigh to Currumbin (south side of Currumbin Rock).

It will finish with a 10km run leg from Currumbin to Tweed Heads-Coolangatta Surf Club and back to the finish at Coolangatta.

Meanwhile, defending women’s champion Courtney Hancock and three-time winner Hayley Bateup will be joined by Hancock’s sister Bonnie Hancock, Noosa’s Molokai board champion and runner up in the 2011 Perth Enduro Jordan Mercer; 2012 KNG qualifier, North Burleigh’s Brodie Moir (5th in 2011), Mooloolaba’s Kelly-Anne Perkins (6th in 2011) and KNG Trial qualifier Tara Coleman (9th in 2011).

Hancock will be out to join Bateup and Alicia Marriott as the third woman to defend a Coolangatta Gold but knows Bateup will again be tough to beat, especially after her win in the KNG Trial, at 32-years of age.

Little sister Bonnie will be happy to finish this year’s race after a shoulder problem forced her out of the 2011 race, while Moir, Mercer, Kelly-Anne Perkins and Coleman have the runs on the board to mount serious podium challenges in the 24-strong field.

The Hancock girls looked strong at last weekend’s Jacob Lollback Memorial Paddle, with Courtney winning the open women’s section and Bonnie finishing third.

The 32km short course, normally reserved for the women, the Under 19s and Masters will this year feature an open men’s division for the first time, comprising a 13.1km ski from Coolangatta to North Burleigh; a 2km swim from Burleigh to North Burleigh; a 1.6km run back to Burleigh; a 5.1km board paddle to Currumbin before an 8.6km run from Currumbin to Coolangatta.

The 45km Long Course will cover the Open Men; 30-39 years men; 40-49 years men; the Male Teams and the Mixed Teams (with at least one female). (Start Times: From 7am).

The 32km Short Course will cover the Open Women; Open Men (for the first time); Under 19 men; Under 19 women; Masters Women 30-39; Masters women 40 plus; Men’s 50 plus; Open Women’s and Under 19 teams; Under 19 Men’s Teams; Under 19 Mixed Teams.

Family Fun Run (Coolangatta, Sunday, October 14, 8.30am) The introduction of the Coolangatta Gold 5km Family Fun Run means there's something for everyone. A fun, physical experience for the entire family to enjoy, entrants can choose their racing pace-walking, running most of the way or running the entire way.

Great Australian Swim Series (Coolangatta, Sunday, October 14 8am-11am) Now entering its third season, Ky Hurst’s Great Australian Swim Series will once again bring an exciting and innovative sporting experience to swimmers of all ages and abilities. Distances – 150m, 300m, 750m, 2.2km.

“Coolangatta Gold is supported by Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of
sporting, cultural, business and regional events across the state.”

Diary Date: Official Launch, October 5 @ Coolangatta Surf Club (11.30am)

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