RECORD PRIZEMONEY FOR SCHICK HYDRO COOLANGATTA GOLD AND MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FOR IRONWOMEN
Surf Life Saving Australia, June 21, 2013: Australia’s leading Ironmen and Ironwomen will race for Surf Life Saving’s largest ever single day’s prize purse at this year’s Schick Hydro Coolangatta Gold.
And in a major breakthrough Surf Life Saving Australia has introduced a Women’s Long Course event – with equal prizemoney as the men.
Since the Coolangatta Gold was re-introduced onto the SLSA calendar in 2005 the men have raced the Long Course and the Women the Short Course.
However, in recent times, the growing demand for women to compete in the long course along with the men has now seen women graduate to the full distance and, coupled with an increased profile of Australia’s Ironwomen, has helped attract a major naming rights sponsor in Schick Hydro.
It has allowed SLSA to increase the overall prizemoney from $65,000 in 2012 to $101,550 in 2013 – with the winners of both the men’s and women’s Long Course events to receive a winners purse of $25,000.
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Second placegetters will each receive $7,700 and third placegetters $4,675.
In past year’s the Long Course men’s winner has received a cheque for $20,000 and the women’s Short Course winner has received $10,000.
When the cream of Australia’s Ironmen and Ironwomen gather on the Gold Coast on the weekend of October 19 and 20 this year they will each be racing for a share of $47,275 – with prizemoney on offer for the top 10 finishers in the Long Course event on Sunday, October, 20.
The largest single day’s prizemoney in Australian Surf Sports history.
The 41.5km iconic torture course from Coolangatta to Miami (via Broadbeach) and return through North Burleigh, Burleigh Heads, Currumbin and Bilinga will be open to Elite Men and Women, Masters Men (30-39 and 40-44) and Open Team’s for Men and Mixed.
In another breakthrough the Schick Hydro Coolangatta Gold weekend will see all Short Course events (from Coolangatta to Miami and return) over 33.36km race on Saturday, October 19 for:
· Elite Men and Women with a Total of $7,000 prizemoney (First $2,000; Second $1,000 and Third $500).
· Under 19 men and women;
· Masters Men Over 50s; Masters Women 30-39 and Over 40s;
· Open Women’s teams and;
· Under 19 Teams for Men, Women and Mixed.
“Attracting Schick Hydro has enabled us to not only increase the overall prizemoney but to also bring the women into parity with the men – something which has been on our radar but not viable until now,” said SLSA Spokesperson Ian Hanson
“To watch the Ironwomen improve and witness their increase in numbers in competition and improved ability has been an exciting part of SLSA’s growth.
“We as an organisation are delighted to be able to recognise the Ironwomen; offer them a Long Course race and also offer them equal prizemoney.
“The overall numbers in the Coolangatta Gold continues to grow each year and next year we look forward to celebrating 10 years since it was re-introduced onto the SLSA calendar back in 2005.
“The Schick Hydro Coolangatta Gold is steeped in a wonderful and colourful history since hitting the sands of the Gold Coast with the famous movie The Coolangatta Gold, back in 1984.
“It is and always has been our aim to grow this iconic event and attracting Schick Hydro with the continuing support of Tourism and Events Queensland allows us to do that.
“Increased prizemoney will attract the best competitors and we look forward to record fields and hosting the best of the best to the Gold Coast in October.
“The move to Coolangatta last year was a bold one but one that paid off, with good crowds building to witness some of Australia’s finest Surf Sports Athletes battle the elements for a slice of Australian sport’s history.
“To join names like Guy Leech, Darren Mercer, Michael King, Caine Eckstein, Zane Holmes, Rhys Drury and Ali Day as a winner of the Coolangatta Gold will put the winner on a pedestal.
“And to be crowned the first ever Long Course women’s winner in 2013 awaits one of our Elite Ironwomen.
“We look forward to the build up and we look forward to some great racing on the Gold Coast in October.”
The Schick Hydro Coolangatta Gold is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural, business and regional events across the state.
| Male 1984: Guy Leech 1995: Guy Leech 1991: Michael King 1992: Darren Mercer 2005: Caine Eckstein 2006: Zane Holmes 2007: Rhys Drury 2008: Caine Eckstein 2009: Caine Eckstein 2010: Caine Eckstein 2011: Caine Eckstein 2012: Ali Day |
Female:
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| 2013 SCHICK HYDRO COOLANGATTA GOLD PRIZEMONEY
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Defending champion Brodie Moir was ecstatic when told the news and immediately added more kilometres to her training routine.
“That is music to my ears, bring it on,” said Moir, who made a huge break through to win the 2012 Coolangatta Gold.
“It really isn’t that much further – it’s the ski leg that has been extended to 23 kilometres – the remainder of the course, apart from the swim is about the same.
“The decision to make it longer is exciting for the girls and exciting for the future of Ironwoman racing.”
Hancock, the 2011 champion and last year’s runner-up admitted the news was very exciting.
“I think it is so good for the sport for Surf Life Saving to extend the race for the full distance for the girls and to provide equal prizemoney as the men is fantastic,” said Hancock.
“It is great for the sport a whole and it will give all the girls something to strive for – to be the first Long Course women’s champion would be awesome.
“I know I will do anything I can to help promote Ironwoman racing and the Coolangatta Gold – it’s a great event, an iconic race and something I know will be really well accepted amongst all the girls.”
Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia...
Ian Hanson
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