After 28 Years Coolangatta reclaims lost Gold

AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING, October 5, 2012: The stars of the surf sports gathered at Coolangatta Beach today for the launch of the 2012 Coolangatta Gold – Australia’s iconic endurance Ironman race – born on the Gold Coast back in 1984.

Coolangatta, once a mecca for Australia’s honeymooners in the 50s and 60s, will be a hive of activity on Sunday, October 14, when over 400 of Australia’s fittest lifesavers converge on the famous strip for this year’s race, which is quickly becoming an event not only for the elite but for athletes as young as 17 and as old as 70

And it may well be suggested that the honeymoon is well and truly over with the race finally finishing at its rightful namesake beach on the southern end of the Gold Coast strip.

Although it has always been called the Coolangatta Gold, the previous 11 events have always finished at either Surfers Paradise or Kurrawa, with Coolangatta the transition for the opening men’s ski leg, which will now start at Coolangatta.

So after 28 years southern Gold Coasters can rightfully reclaim their lost Gold.

Queensland Member for Currumbin and the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey was on hand to welcome the stars as they lined up to talk about the aspirations of join surf lifesaving’s select club.

And with five-times champion Caine Eckstein opting out of this year’s 12th running of the famous race, a new men’s champion will be crowned as the likes of Ali Day, Josh Minogue, Matt Bevilacqua, Jake Nicholson and Cameron Gordon line up to try and etch their names into history alongside Guy Leech, Darren Mercer, Michael King, Rhys Drury, Zane Holmes and Eckstein

The women’s race will see three times champion Hayley Bateup and defending champion Courtney Hancock battle it out with Hancock’s younger sister Bonnie Hancock, fellow Ironwoman Series star Brodie Moir and youngsters Jordan Mercer, Kelly-Anne Perkins and Tara Coleman.

For the first time the Coolangatta Gold will actually start and finish at Coolangatta – a beach steeped in the traditions of Ironman history with the first ever Australian Ironman Championship staged on the sands of this popular tourist destination back in 1966 and won by Hayden Kenny.

The 1966 “Aussies” saw 20,000 people turn out for what was described as “a new era in surf lifesaving” with the addition of the Ironman, the Malibu and the Taplin Relay events – now firmly entrenched as major events in Australian surf carnivals.

Prominent Queensland official and SLSA Hall of Famer Ron Tallon wrote in his annual report of the day that “The three golden days of competition have now passed into the history of the Association.”

Today, some 46 years on, another golden chapter will be written into the annals of surf lifesaving with the crowning of a new Coolangatta Gold champion.

Unlike the inaugural race, which was the focus of the movie of the same name, this year’s Coolangatta Gold caters for competitors of all ages from the open men’s and women’s, to Masters men and women, Under 19 boys and girls and teams events from Open Men and Women to Masters and Under 19s.

Surf Life Saving’s General Manager Sport, Dave Thompson acknowledged that the 12th staging of the Gold is a break from the traditional Coolangatta Gold course and the changes to the course layout and the safety requirements have been made after extensive consultation with coaches, athletes, officials and local authorities, including Gold Coast City Council and Surf Life Saving Queensland.

“We believe the revised courses allows the spectators to view the race from start to finish and provides for closer racing,” said Mr Thompson.

“The revised and new safety measures that are in place for this year’s race are in line with SLSA's Event Risk Management Practices and we are pleased that these have been accepted by the race competitors.

“With the recent announcement from Caine Eckstein that he will not be contesting this year’s race, it now throws the open men's race wide open, however Caine's contribution to this event, the five-times champion has been outstanding as a competitor and an ambassador for the event and has a record that will stand for a long time.

“I wish him well in his new challenges and he has already indicated that he will one day return to the Coolangatta Gold.”

COOLANGATTA GOLD WINNERS HONOUR ROLL
Open Men
1984: Guy Leech (Manly) 4:30.46
1985: Guy Leech (Manly) 4.20.14
1991: Michael King (Mooloolaba)
1992: Darren Mercer (Thirroul)
2005: Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe) 4.20.14hrs
2006: Zane Holmes (Northcliffe) 4.25.01hrs
2007: Rhys Drury (Mooloolaba) 4:10:58
2008: Caine Eckstein   (Tugun) 04:14:15
2009: Caine Eckstein   (Northcliffe) 4:00.51
2010: Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe) 4:11.41
2011: Caine Eckstein (Kurrawa) 4:15.26

Open Women
2005: Hayley Bateup (Northcliffe) 2.25.45hrs
2006: Hayley Bateup (Northcliffe) 3.17.13hrs
2007: Alicia Marriott (City of Perth) 3.22.33 2
2008: Hayley Bateup   (Kurrawa) 03:18:45
2009: Alicia Marriott (City of Perth) 3:15.39
2010: Alicia Marriott (Mooloolaba) 3:21.30
2011: Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) 3:20.42

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia.