Coolangatta Gold 2014 dates announced
Surf Life Saving Australia, December 20, 2013: Surf Life Saving Australia today announced that the Coolangatta Gold, the largest endurance event of its kind, will be held on the weekend of Saturday 1 November and Sunday 2 November in 2014.
This will be the 14thstaging of Surf Life Saving’s popular Ironman endurance race, 30 years since Guy Leech put his name on the first ever Coolangatta Gold trophy, and the 10th staging since it was welcomed back to the Australian Surf Life Saving sports calendar in 2005.
General Manager of Capacity and Capability at Surf Life Saving Australia, Kitty Chiller confirmed the dates and said that planning for the 2014 Coolangatta Gold was well underway, including options for strengthening team events, and continuing the new two day format introduced in 2013.
“A key consideration in holding the eventon 1-2 November next year was the World Lifesaving Championships in France which will be held in late September.
“Many of our top competitors compete in both events, so allowing enough preparation time for the athletes was an important consideration,” Ms Chiller said.
“We will be looking to build on the success of the Schick Hydro Coolangatta Gold 2013 which attracted the highest number of competitors on record, and a 20 per cent increase of competitors compared to 2012.
“Holding the event from 1-2 November also fits well with the timing of other major events held on the Gold Coast such as the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar race and the Rugby 7s, with an aim to attract more spectators to the 2014 Coolangatta Gold.
The Schick Hydro Coolangatta Gold 2013 was an historic event with the first ever Female’s Long Course and the highest ever prize money of $25,000 for the Open Male and Female winners at a Surf Life Saving sports event.
“Competitor numbers continue to grow each year, especially with the extended program of events including the 5km Family Fun Run, the Great Gold Coast Swim, the Family Fun Day and many more reasons for families, friends and spectators to get involved in 2014,” Ms Chiller said.
The 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.
Race History
The Coolangatta Gold was a race built around the movie of the same name – the story of two brothers duelling in their quest to win the endurance race from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta and return.
Guy Leech was a little known Manly lifesaver who came from out of the blue to win the inaugural race then he returned to defend his crown in 1985 before going on to record several other major endurance race victories in what became a celebrated career in ironman racing.
Since then Michael King (1991), Darren Mercer (1992), Caine Eckstein (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011), Zane Holmes (2006), Rhys Drury (2007) and Ali Day (2012, 2013) have added their names to the men’s honour roll with Hayley Bateup (2005, 2006 and 2008), Alicia Marriott (2007, 2009, 2010), Courtney Hancock (2011), Brodie Moir (2012) and Liz Pluimers (2013) having won the women’s race.
While the Coolangatta Gold returned in 1991 and 1992 it has been its re-emergence over the past decade that has assured it’s longevity with Caine Eckstein and Hayley Bateup stamping their authority as two of the modern day legends over the toughest Surf Lifesaving Ironman course in the world.
The race has continued to grow from one race in 1984, 1985, 1991 and 1992 to include women for the first time in 2005 with a short course event before this year’s historic women’s long course event with equal prizemoney as the men and won by Liz Pluimers.
Issued on behalf of SLSA
Ian Hanson
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