YOUNG GUNS READY TO FIRE IN NUTRI-GRAIN SERIES

Surf Life Saving Australia, September 15, 2013: Surf lifesaving’s Generation Next took a big step forward by winning places in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman series at today’s trial contested at Salt on the NSW North Coast.

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While the Smith siblings Nathan and Kristyl won the men’s and women’s trials, young guns Tanyn Lyndon, 21, Matt Bevilacqua, 21, and Dane Farrell, 23, who showed they too have the ability to take on the sport’s top competitors later in the summer.

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Nathan Smith, a former Australian Ironman champion, led the way in the men’s trial with a perfect three wins from the weekend’s three finals to finish with a maximum 66 points.

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Lyndon, from Northcliffe, placed second in today’s third round and in the trial overall with 55 points, while Farrell (50 points) placed fifth today and Bevilacqua (53 points) placed ninth.

The young trio was thrilled at qualifying for the lucrative and prestigious Nutri-Grain Series, Lyndon for just the second time, while Bevilacqua and Farrell will contest it for the first time.

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“I’m just over the moon,” said Lyndon, who placed second in the Australian Ironman championship earlier this year.

“I was in the series two years ago then was out with a dislocated shoulder last season, which was a really tough year.

“I’m so excited to have the chance to race in the series again.”

Bevilacqua and Farrell spent much of today’s final doing sums in their head to see if they were placed high enough in the field to make one of the four coveted places up for grabs in the trial.

Originally from Tasmania and now competing for Mooloolaba, Bevilacqua had a terrible start in the opening ski leg and trailed the field alongside clubmate Hayden White.

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“I just thought, ‘it can’t end like this’,” he said.

“I had my coach’s words in my head the whole way through, especially at the transitions, and tried to keep working my way through the field.

“I was doing the maths in my head which is probably the worst thing you can do but it’s great to make my first Nutri-Grain Series.”

Farrell (Elouera) trains alongside Smith in Sydney and had targeted making the Nutri-Grain Series as his first big challenge of the season.

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“I knew the blokes I had to beat to qualify and every time I looked around they were near me so there was no chance to relax,” he said.

“I’ve taken time off work to concentrate on my training and it has really paid off.

“Now I’ll be aiming to finish in the top 10 in the series.”

A sick Caine Eckstein, winner of the Nutri-Grain Series in 2012, had been placed second after day one but was unable to complete his heat today and missed the final, as well as one of the four qualifying places.

He will now wait to see if he has a wild card, which remains at the discretion of the organisers.

The women’s trial saw Kristyl Smith and Liz Pluimers continue their domination, with Smith winning the third round today, and Pluimers placing second.

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Smith took out the women’s trial on 65 points, with Pluimers on 64. Manly’s Devon Halligan and Northcliffe’s Alyce Bennett took the other two places in the Nutri-Grain Series, both finishing on 55 points.

The leading pair was head and shoulders above their rivals this weekend and after both took time out of the sport last year they will be among the leading contenders for the Nutri-Grain Series, where Courtney Hancock of Northcliffe is the defending champion.

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Nutri-Grain Series trial final pointscore:

Men: Nathan Smith (Cronulla) 66, Tanyn Lyndon (Northcliffe) 55, Matt Bevilacqua (Mooloolaba) 53, Dane Farrell (Elouera) 50, Hayden White (Mooloolaba) 43, Cameron Cole (Mooloolaba) 42, Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe) 41, Hayden Allum (Cronulla) 40, Jack Moyes (Terrigal) 37, Luke Cuff (Kurrawa) 33.

Women: Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) 65, Elizabeth Pluimers (North Burleigh) 64, Devon Halligan (Manly) 55, Alyce Bennett (Northcliffe) 55, Hannah Minogue (Bulli) 48, Emma Dick (Mermaid Beach) 44, Tara Coleman (North Burleigh) 44, Kirsty Higgison (Mooloolaba) 44, Karlee Nurthen (Mooloolaba) 39, Tiarrn Raymond (Mooloolaba) 34.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia...

Ian Hanson

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