GOLD KING COLE RIDES ROYAL WAVE IN IRONMAN BOILOVER

SURF LIFE SAVING, April, 21 2013: Cam Cole of Mooloolaba scored the biggest upset in Australian Ironman history after winning a frantic sprint in the most amazing finish anyone at North Kirra beach today can remember.

The extraordinary finale to the 2013 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships saw a bunch finish as the final wavecarried almost the whole field to the beach, turning the blue riband event into a desperate dash for glory.

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Cole was near last when the wave popped up 30 metres from the beach but first to his feet and able to outsprintTanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe) to win by half a metre, with another surprise placegetter, Currumbin’s Jackson Maynard, third.
The amazing race started relatively sedately with the swim leg in small, inconsistent waves but sprang to life in the ski leg when the 12 leading competitors all paddled onto the same wave to the beach.
Cole, a 25-year-old quantity surveyor who will [probably be asking for a day off tomorrow, missed that wave and trailed onto the beach but still had his best leg, the board, to come.
However he wasn’t within 15 metres of the leaders until the final wave carried him from near last to lasting glory in his first open Ironman win in any competition.
“I’m speechless,” he said, shaking his head and struggling to come to terms with the turn of events.
“I’ve been in the sport for 15 years and I’ve never dreamed of this. I’ve never been at the stage where I thought I could win won.
“I still don’t think I’m at the stage where I could win one.
“I was just happy to make the final; I made my first final in 2009 and I was in the final last year.
“I thought I was just going to be a spectator, which I was for most of the race.
“But it was just that wave; it was insane. With these conditions it was bound to happen, I guess.”
Cole paid tribute to the maestro of Maroochydore, club coach Michael King.
“I can’t speak enough about him. He’s got five of us through to the final and Matt Poole would have made it if he was training at the time.
“He’s got a young wave coming through with Kendrick (Louis) and Ali (Day), maybe myself, I don’t know. “
He was also asked about the decision to move the 2013 Aussies south on the Gold Coast from Kurrawa to North Kirra, which hosted an outstanding event, and whether he was a fan of the new venue.
“I wasn’t but I am now. We should race here every year now.”
Placegetters Lyndon and Maynard, both aged 21, were equally stunned by their achievements.
“It’s insane, I can’t believe it,” said Lyndon, a former under-19 and under-17 Australian champion who fought back from dislocating his shoulder in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series trial at the start of the 2012/2013 season.
Maynard has been around Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club all his life, following in the footsteps of his revered grandfather Marshall Kropp and his dad Chris Maynard and was the toast of the Gold Coast club after claiming the bronze medal.
“I was the happiest kid in the world just to make it to the final and race these guys,” he said.
“I dreamed of winning an Ironman medal as a kid but there is no way in the world I thought it would happen today.”
Pre-race favourite and five-time champion Shannon Eckstein finished mid-field, not far from the winners, but caught up in the desperate dash for the finish line.
Courtney Hancock won her second Australian Ironwomen title in another exciting race, only breaking clear on the last wave of the board leg.
Hancock, her Northcliffe clubmate Harriet Brown and defending champion Rebecca Creedy led from the end of the swim but it was the former Sawtell star who had the strength to paddle onto the winning wave.

Creedy outsprinted Brown for second place.
“If it was in training I don’t know if I’d have been able to paddle onto that wave but I was so determined,” 25-year-old Hancock said.
“I said to Dad before I want to get out in front and they can try to catch me and hopefully I can set the pace today.
“I love being out in front and setting the pace but every leg there seemed to be a wave coming through and it wasn’t over right till the end there.
“Every year the Ironwoman event gets tougher and tougher. I’m absolutely ecstatic to be standing here now.”
Hancock was boosted by the order of this week’s Ironwoman – swim, ski, board – the same as when she won at Kurrawa in 2011, but also felt “shocking” on Saturday morning before her semi-final.
“I was thinking ‘oh my gawd’, how am I going to win this but I woke up this morning and I knew I had a special race inside me, and it was.”

It was Northcliffe who won their ninth straight pointscore but they didn’t get things all their own way with strong challengers from Mooloolaba and Manly and the emergence of a new Sydney Northern Beaches powerhouse Newport.

Pointscore: Northcliffe 267.5 Mooloolaba 235 Manly 221 Kurrawa 150 Maroochydore 146 Cronulla 127 Alexandra Headland 124 Noosa Heads 119 Newport 95 North Cronulla 95 Wanda 91.5

Manly were led superbly by London Olympian Naomi Flood who continued her golden haul winning her 20th and 21st gold medals today.
She won five gold medals for the championships and today teamed with Candice Falzon to retain their women’s double ski title before winning her third straight open ski race final.
Falzon won four gold medals and two silver herself.
Avoca’s Lachlan Tame matched Flood’s open ski race dominance, winning his third consecutive final, a fitting result after the pocket-sized powerhouse dominated his races all week.
Tame is also a rising star of kayak paddling and a likely prospect for the 2016 Olympic Games but was absolutely exhausted after holding off the challenge of Greg Tobin (Swansea Belmont), with London 2012 K4 kayak gold medallist Tate Smith third.
The king and queen of beach flags, Simon Harris and Melissa Howard, continued their reign, with Harris winning his 10th open title, and Howard her ninth.
In the board races, BrodieMoir of North Burleigh won the open women’s race from clubmateLiz Pluimers and Hannah Minogue of Bulli, while Stewart McLachlan of Redhead became one of a small group of lay-down paddlers to win the Australian championship.
Rather than paddle from his knees, McLachlan lies on his stomach, and today paddled furiously in the last 50 metres to hold of fast finishing rivals Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) and Nick Malcolm (Surfers Paradise).
In the boat area, Mona Vale came from behind to win their third consecutive open men’s Australian surfboat championship with the same crew, and they had plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Forty-four reasons in fact because that is how many years is has been since sweep Max Sidney and his Ballina-Lismore Lighthouse boys wrapped up their hat-trick of open men’s surfboat championships with the same crew at Clifton Beach, near Hobart.
Mona Vale’s sweep Bryce Munro has kept his crew of Wes Dose (bow), Sam Funch, James Davison and Jim Morisson together and they are keen to make it four wins at Aussies 2014 in WA.
“We knew we wanted to match Ballina Lighthouse’s record because they are the only other club that we know of that has won the title three times with the same crew,” said Munro.
In a tight finish Mona Vale beat North Steyne(sweep Colin Stanford) and Batemans Bay (Neil Innis), with judges taking nearly 15 minutes to give their decision.
“We were slightly behind Batemans Bay coming into the cans but we managed to forge to the lead and knew this was the title we wanted so we went for it,”said Munro.
Top sweep Brendan Western and his Mooloolaba A girls’ crew won the open women’s title for the third time in four championships.
They hung on to beat a fast finishing North Cottesloe and Kurrawa.
“We won in 2009 in Scarboro and then at the next championships at Kurrawa in 2011, my wife Sara and I had baby Kane in 2012 and we came back to win this season,” said Western.
His crew - Cheryl Beaumont (bow), Sara Western, Summer Callaghan and Leah McKenzie - had a narrow lead at the turning buoys with Western calling on his girls for extra effort needed for the victory.
“We knew we had a slight lead which we had to increase in case North Cott or another crew caught a runner and came over the top to run us down.”
Damien Clayphan swept his Queensland champion Kurrawa reserve grade crew to take out the perfect double, narrowly beating Coogee and North Cottesloe.
Queenscliff’s U23 men’s beat North Cottesloe and North Cronulla in a blanket finish with five boats on the same wave. Sweep Peter Spence said his U23 Palm Beach women’s crew had not missed making a final all season. Today they beat North Cottesloe and Austinmer in a tight finish.
Shane Gelovan’s U19 Bulli men’s crew milked every little run to record an unbelievable win, beating home defending the champions, Avoca, and Newport.

Organisers have hailed the 2013 Aussies a huge success after seven days of perfect weather, one metre surf and exciting close racing.

“There is no doubt North Kirra has saved the Aussies and put our major event back on the map – the reaction from clubs, competitors and families has been overwhelmingly positive. The atmosphere on the beach was like the good old days. We look forward to going to going back to Scarborough next year after successful carnivals in 2007,m 2008 and 2009 before coming back to the Gold Coast in 2015 when the Aussies will be bigger and better than ever,” carnival spokesman Ian Hanson said.

AUSTRALIAN C'SHIPS at Nth Kirra: Day Seven:

MEN:
Open:
Curlewis Six Person R and R: Wanda, Bondi, Collaroy.
5 Person R and R: Freshwater, Wanda, Bondi.
Double Ski: Mooloolaba William Bain, Nicholas Bolton Northcliffe Tate Smith, Murray Stewart Northcliffe B Cory Hill Joel Simpson.
Belt: Nathan Smith (Cronulla) Dev Lahey (Northcliffe) Cameron Prosser (North Burleigh).
Board: Stewart McLachlan (Redhead) Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) Nicholas Malcom (Surfers Paradise).
Ski: Lachlan Tame (Avoca) Greg Tobin (Swansea Belmont) Tate Smith (Northcliffe).
Ironman: Cam Cole (Mooloolaba) Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe) Jackson Maynard (Currumbin).
Flags: Simon Harris (Kurrawa) Blake Drysdale (Helensburg-Stanwell Park) Dean Scarff (Collaroy).
Surf Boat: Mona Vale, North Steyne, Batemans Bay.

Reserves: Boats: Kurrawa Darian Brennan, Mark Cameron, Jonathan Pepper, Benjamin Townsend Coogee Philip Evans, Michael Leary, Matt Leary, Jason Papadatos, Cameron Upton North Cottesloe Derek Knox, Mark McDermott, Stuart McLaughlin, James McLaughlin, Michael O’Shea.

U-23: Queenscliff, North Cottesloe, North Cronulla.

U-19:
Surf Race: Isak Costello (Redhead) Jack Waddell (Terrigal) Lachlan O’Grady (Bulli).
Board Race: Luke Cuff (Kurrawa) Max Brooks (Newport) Zachary Orchard (Surfers Paradise).
Ironman: Ben Carberry (Warilla Barrack Poiint) Mackenzie Hynard (Noosa Heads) Cooper Halligan (Newport).
Ski: Dominic Notten (Northcliffe) William Bain (Mooloolaba0 Ben Carberry (Warilla Barrack Point).
Taplin: Redhead Jackson Allan Isaak Costello Isaac Morgan Newport Jonah Beard Max Brooks Peter Euers Noosa Heads Jett Kenny Jake McKenzie James Porter.
Flags: Reid Sierp (Alexandra Headland) Jake O’Brien (Avoca) Braydon Batt (Elliott Heads).
Surf Boat: Bulli, Avoca, Newport.

U-17:
Ski: Riley Fitzsimmons (Avoca) Jy Duffy (Alexandra headland) Alex Duggan (Burnie).
Surf Race: Scott Pegg (Maroochydore) Daniel Collins (Redhead) Cooper Krenkals (Manly).
Board: Jake Kleinschmidt (Alexandra Headland) Riley Fitzsimmons (Avoca Beach) Lachlan Reid (Newport).
Ironman: Samuel Fowler (Cronulla) Cooper Krenkels (Manly) Kody Innis (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park).
Flags: Ben Pearce (North Burleigh) Andras Eglesz (Manly) Benjamin Woods (Noosa Heads).

U-15:
Ironman: Grant Harris (Kurrawa) Charlie Brooks (Newport) Justin McMorland (Swansea Belmont).
Flags: Joshua Cassidy (Elouera) Joel Haynes (Eimeo) Tristan Sailor (Helensburgh-Stanwell Park).

WOMEN:
Open: Open 5 Person R and R: Angelsea, Collaroy, North Cronulla Double Ski: Manly Candice Falzon, Naomi Flood City of Perth Phoebe George Shannon Reynolds Warilla Barrack Point B Lara Pecchiari Jessica Rosskelly
Belt: Devon Halligan (Manly) Shivaun Street (Cronulla) Mariah Jones (Tweed Heads Coolangatta).
Board: Bordie Moir (North Burleigh) Elizabeth Pluimers (North Burleigh) Hannah Minogue (Bulli).
Ski: Naomi Flood (Manly) Alana Nicholls (Trigg Island) Alyce Burnett (Maroochydore).
Ironwoman: Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra) Harriet Brown (Northcliffe).
Flags: Melissa Howard (Kurrawa) Chanel Hickman (Currumbin) Katie Williams (Collaroy).
Surf Boat: Mooloolaba, North Cottesloe, Kurrawa.

U-23: Surf Boat: Palm Beach (NSW), North Cottesloe, Austinmer.

U-19: Surf Race: Emma Dick (Mermaid Beach) Elyssia Gasparotto (Terrigal) Laura McGlone (Avoca).
Board Race: Jessie O’Carroll (Manly) Maddy Dunn (Mooloolaba) Bridget Little (Cronulla).
Ironwoman: Emma Dick (Mermaid) Tiarrn Raymon (Mooloolaba) Maddy Dun (Mooloolaba).
Flags: Siobhan Dibley (Cronulla) Gabrielle Murphy (City of Perth) Bree Masters (Cronulla).

U-17:
Surf Race: Lana Rogers (Maroochydore) Georgia Miller (Manly) Chelsea Gillett (Maroochydore).
Board: Alyssa Bull (Alexandra Headland) Mieke Kassulke (Manly) Jessica Suriano (North Bondi).
Ironwoman: Karlee Nurthen (Mooloolaba) Jessica Suriano (North Bondi) Lara Moses (North Cronulla).
Flags: Megan Lutze (Collaroy) Bianca Mould (Avoca) Brittany Cashman (Noosa Heads).

U-15:
Ironwoman: Ellen Masters (Maroochydore) Lily Costello (Catherine Hill Bay) Sarah Thompson (Alexandra Headland).
Flags: Montana Walters (South Maroubra) Emma Sykes (Mooloolaba Nicole Kay (Mooloolaba).

Mixed:
Open:
March Past: South Port (SA) Kurrawa A Collaroy Ladies.
5 Person R&R: Freshwater Jarrad Freakley, Clare Freakley, Joseph Murphy, Alex Obern, Madison Taylor Bondi Grant Hayes, Drew Hayes, Scott Ryan, Louise Santos, Simon Watkins Collaroy Black Paul de Kort, Jacqueline de Kort, Angus Fitzpatrick, Isabel Maynissen, Peter McDermott, Adam Ware.
First Aid: Maroochydore B Bronte Chapman, Maggie Donnelly Dicky Beach Jordanne Aitken, Karlie Lenz Maroochydore Emily McGinness, Catherine Ulrich.

U-23: March Past: Brighton, Collaroy A, North Cottesloe.

U-19 5 Person R and R: Freshwater, Collaroy, Coogee

U-17:
March Past: Brighton, North Bondi, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park.
5 Person R&R: Collaroy Jesse Bowyer, Jake de Kort, Annabelle Loone, Jordan Sole, Amelia Suters Coogee Red Bronte Franklin, Maddison Gately, Genevieve Xanthe Murphy, Emma Phibbs Anglesea Madeleine Brown Hanah Carboon, Mitchell Clarke Yasmine Davis, Lucy Pearce.

U-15:
5 Person R&R: Collaroy Nicholas Arico, Jackson Arico, Abbey Baker, Georgia Bathie, Jacob Scott Collaroy Tara Bowyer, Nina Bowyer, Kate Ducker, Rayna Shimakage, Thomson Suters Anglesea Keeleey Bottoms Bronte Clarke, Alexandra Geary, Jessica Handreck, Sara McMillan.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by

Ian Hanson

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