A FIT HANCOCK WILL BE FAST AND FURIOUS FOR SCARBOROUGH DEFENCE

Surf Life Saving Australia, April 1, 2014: Courtney Hancock has arrived in Perth for this week’s Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships ready and raring to mount a successful defence of her third National Ironwoman championship.

The 25-year-old from Northcliffe on the Gold Coast took one look at the flat, yet tricky conditions at Scarborough yesterday and declared the her three words for the week were: “Fit, fast and furious.”

The Championships have attracted more than 5000 competitors to Western Australia for the 99^th year of surf sports since the first Championships were conducted at Bondi in 1915.

The week’s competition will culminate in finals Sunday with all eyes on the Ironman and Irowoman, with Hancock primed to defend the Ironwoman and her Northcliffe club mate Shannon Eckstein out to equal Trevor Hendy’s record of six National crowns.

“If you’ve done the work then you should reap the rewards and there will be no excuses; I knew a month ago that I had to get back and do the work – I wasn’t going to come here and have to rely on a wave to get me through,” said Hancock, who won her first Australian Ironwoman title in 2011 and her second last year at North Kirra.

“After winning the Series I knew there was no time to rest or to waste because the other girls will be going all out to win the Aussies too.

“You are going to have to be quick off the beach in these conditions and leave nothing to chance – I remember the last two years being in the hottest semi-finals and you have to make sure you make the final.”

Only two other competitors in this year’s field, Kristyl Smith (2005 and 2009) and Rebecca Creedy (2012) have won the coveted title, first won by South Maroubra’s Samantha O’Brien in 1992.

If Hancock can add title number three she will join all-time great Karla Gilbert as the only other Ironwoman to have won three or more Australian Ironwoman Championships.

Gilbert, who was second to O’Brien in that first year, went on to win four title in 1993, 1994, 2001 and 2003.

Hancock will be the mainstay in Northcliffe’s Taplin Relay, surf teams, ski relay and board relays in what will be a fascinating clash with teams from North Burleigh, Manly, City of Perth and Mooloolaba.

The 48^th running of the Australian Ironman championship will again focus on five-time winner Eckstein who will again be out to equal Hendy’s record.

“If they said I had to be at a certain beach on a certain day and they are having the Australian championship I’d be there – it’s the pinnacle of our sport – it’s what we patrol our beaches for and it’s what we train for,” said Eckstein, who was joined by Hendy and young Kendrick Louis from the emerging Newport club – the number in club in NSW at today’s press conference.

“I have looked up to Trevor all my life and I remember jumping on my bike and riding from my home at Mermaid Beach to watch Trevor in action – to equal his record would be very special.”

Eckstein will also spearhead the powerful Northcliffe teams as they chase their eighth consecutive Taplin Relay title since 2007 and Eckstein has been every team.

Meanwhile Olympic kayaker Naomi Flood will line up chasing her fifth Australian single ski championship after a successful Australian Canoeing Championship in Adelaide last week.

‘I love coming back to surf and competing for my club Manly and putting on the sky blue cap and doing the teams events with the girls. It’s why you joined the surf club and it’s what keeps dragging us back. It’s family, it’s what we love and it’s fun,” said Flood, who has set her sights on winning a medal at her second Olympics in Rio in 2016

Hashtag #Aussies14 and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

Visit the event website at www.sls.com.au/aussies

DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL TIME TABLE OF EVENTS CLICK HERE

DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL AUSSIES PROGRAM CLICK HERE

DOWNLOAD MEDIA ACCREDITATION FORM CLICK HERE

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia
Hanson Media Group

FOLLOW HMG NEWS & EVENTS ON TWITTER/LIVE UPDATES