Teacher Nathan At The Head Of The Class

Surf Life Saving Australia, September 14, 2013: SCHOOL teacher Nathan Smith handed out a lesson to his rivals when he won the first two rounds of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series trial at Salt on the NSW Far North Coast today.

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Smith, the 2005 Australian Ironman Champion from Cronulla, turned back the clock with a commanding display in tricky windswept conditions.

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The winning double has him in prime position to grab one of the four places in the men’s Nutri-Grain Series that are up for grabs this weekend, with the third round of the trial to be raced tomorrow.

And Smith’s rivals have plenty of homework to do if they are to join him in the lucrative series this summer.

Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe), the winner of the 2012 Nutri-Grain Series, is second behind Smith after two rounds, with Matt Bevilacqua (Mooloolaba) third, Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe) fourth and Dane Farrell (Elouera) fifth.

At 32 years of age, Smith is racing as well as at any stage of his career and is using the motivation of his young family to push him towards another shot at the Nutri-Grain Series.

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“I have the initials of the three most important ladies in my life (wife Shannon and twin daughters Andie and Montana) on my ski and they are why I’m doing this.

“I want to set them a good example and show them how to lead a healthy life. And there’s another baby on the way in January.

“Having another crack at the Nutri-Grain Series is my number one motivation this season.”

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It makes for a busy life for Smith, who leaves behind the whiteboard at Blakehurst High School each afternoon to embark a gruelling training regime, generally in the company of Cronulla clubmate Hayden Allum, who is placed ninth after today’s races.

And he was not the only member of the remarkable Smith clan celebrating today, with his sister Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) equal leader of the women’s trial after winning the first round and placing second in round two.

Kristyl is level with long-time rival Liz Pluimers (North Burleigh), who won the second round, at the top of the women’s field.

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They showed their edge in skill and experience on their rivals is significant by breaking away from the field in the final of both rounds and will be favoured to finish at the front of the field in round three and book their places in the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series.

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“The conditions were really tricky today,” said Kristyl, who will leave for Japan on Monday with the Australian Surf Lifesaving Team to compete in next week’s International Surf Rescue Challenge.

“The strong wind makes it really difficult to control your craft and is really adding to the challenge.

“I’m looking forward to racing in Japan but getting through the trial this weekend and qualifying for the Nutri-Grain Series is the first priority.”

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Alyce Bennett (Northcliffe) is third after two rounds, Emma Dick (Mermaid Beach) is fourth and Devon Halligan (Manly) fifth.

Like the men, the women are racing for four places in the Ironwoman series.

The third and final round of the trial will be raced tomorrow (Sunday)morning, with the four qualifiers for each of the men’s and women’s series to be decided by points accumulated over the three rounds.

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The format means none of the competitors, not even the leaders, can afford to relax in round three and a big effort by any of the competitors could sweep them into contention.

Nutri Grain Series trial points (leaders after two rounds):

Men:

Nathan Smith (Cronulla) 44
Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe) 41
Matt Bevilacqua (Mooloolaba) 39
Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe) 34
Dane Farrell (Elouera) 32
Max Beattie (Northcliffe) 31
Hayden White (Mooloolaba) 30
Cameron Cole (Mooloolaba) 25
Hayden Allum (Cronulla) 24
David Graham (Trigg Island) 19.

Women:

Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) 43
Liz Pluimers (North Burleigh) 43
Alyce Bennett (Northcliffe) 37
Emma Dick (Mermaid Beach) 35
Devon Halligan (Manly) 35
Hannah Minogue (Bulli) 32
Kirsty Higgison (Mooloolaba) 29
Tara Coleman (North Burleigh) 27
Jessica Suriano (North Bondi) 22
Tiarrn Raymond (Mooloolaba) 20
Olivia Hall (Kurrawa) 20
Karlee Nurthen (Mooloolaba) 20.

Round 3

Sunday 15 September – 9:00am start

M shape course

3 x heat (Men)

3 x heat (Women)

2 x finals (1 x Men and 1 x Women)

POINTS ACCUMULATED in races one and two will determine the finalists for Sunday morning, with points carried through to the final.

THE TOP FOUR MEN AND TOP FOUR WOMEN finishing on the highest accumulated points across all three rounds will join the pre-qualifiers from last year’s Nutri-Grain Series to race in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series later this year.

Note that David Moase (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." href="mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) will be covering the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series Trials for HMG/SLSA this weekend. HarvPix will be on the beach (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." href="mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and will supply all photos….

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia...

Ian Hanson

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