Eckstein And Smith Give Aussies Flying Start in Japan

Surf Life Saving Australia, September 18, 2013: Onjuku, Japan: Team captains Shannon Eckstein and Kristyl Smith got the Australians off to a flying start in the opening Test of the International Surf Rescue Challenge in Onjuku, Japan today.

Smith, fresh from her victory in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Trials, carried her form into the shorter traditional ironman course.

The two-time Australian champion proved too strong on the craft for New Zealand's former Australian U/19 champion Devon Halligan.

Eckstein wasted no time in stamping his authority on the field taking the lead in the swim and extending it on the ski and board .

Eckstein proved too strong for Max Beattie (NZL) with Kendrick Louis (AUS) a close up third.

Kristal-Smith Dev-Lahey-Isak-Costello-Tim-Schofield-Steffan-Demopoulous
Smith and Eckstein were determined to give Australia a winning start.

"The goal was for Shannon and I being the first two events to kick us off in the right direction," said Smith.

"Hopefully we can build from this. It's always good for the confidence to get a win first up even though this was a little bit shorter than I had been training for with the Trial.

"It's good to get back to your traditional Ironman races and later on with the boards and skis and to have a hit out against the Kiwis.

"We came here with a point to prove.

Emma-Dick Ben-Carberry-and-Luke-Cuff

"We're number two at the moment and we want to get back on top."

Australia's dominance continued in the Youth Oceanman events with Emma Dick leading the girls to an Australian 1-2 from Maddy Dunn with the boys matching the fairer sex with Luke Cuff and Ben Carberry also finishing first and second.

Australia continued its dominance in the surf races with Northcliffe's World U19 surf race champion Eliza Smith edging out Miranda Bell in another 1-2 finish for the green and gold caps.

But it was a case of anything you can do we can do better from the Aussie boys.

World surf race champion Dev Lahey led an Aussie trifecta from Isak Costello (U20) with Tim Schofield crossing in third.

The Kiwis won their first event when Currumbin's Chanel Hickman lowered Melissa Howard's colours with Canada's Emily Brady third in the open women's beach sprint.

In the men's sprint it was Newport debutant Jake Lynch, in his first race in nine months, who proved too quick for Kurrawa Kiwi Paul Cracroft-Wilson with Shinya Odagiri from Japan third.

The Kiwis scored their second victory of the day in the mixed board relay.

Competition will continue this afternoon with events expected to conclude around 4.30pm local time.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia...

Ian Hanson

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