ECKSTEIN’S PERFECT DAY OUT WITH LITTLE BROTHER CAINE TAKING SILVER

Northcliffe crowned National champions with a record 474 to Manly’s 181 and Mooloolaba’s 159. Surf Life Saving Australia, April 7, 2014: Northcliffe’s Shannon Eckstein has equaled Trevor Hendy’s record of six Australian Ironman championships with what he described as “the perfect race” in front of at packed Scarborough beach crowd in Western Australia today.

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And in a stunning family quinella, younger brother Caine, the five-times Coolangatta Gold champion, pulled out all stops to win silver in the first brother 1-2 in the history of the event.

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Elouera’s rising star Dane Farrell won bronze.

In a special family moment the boys were joined at the finish by mum Donna and Shannon’s wife Belinda and daughter Ellie.

“It’s pretty special. Obviously it takes a lot of work to get to six. These are so hard to win. It takes so much to get here through heats and quarters and semis, so to put it together in one 12-minute race is hard,” said Eckstein.

“Like in the Olympics you’ve got to get it right on the day. We have a Kellogg’s series which I’ve won eight of but they’re a lot easier because you’ve got six races and you can have a bad one here and there, but here you’ve got to get it right.”

“But that one today was perfect. I couldn’t ask for a better race.”

And on the question of who’s the greatest – Eckstein or Hendy?

“Everyone’s still going to say he’s the best of all time, he had that rock star aura about him when he raced,” said Eckstein.

“People always think the older guys are better. I watched Trevor growing up and his board and ski were phenomenal, then Ky Hurst came along and his swim was sensational, so I’ve had to evolve my racing to keep up with those guys.

“I think we’d beat those buys now but Trevor had an aura about him so it might take a while in some people’s eyes.”

Hendy has said for the past 12 months that Eckstein is already the greatest in his eyes.

“I’m absolutely stoked. Shannon is a brother to me, from another mother,” said Hendy.

“We’ve grown up together, him a little bit behind me, and I just love him as a brother and mate and everything else.

“I was so stoked, going come on, come on, watching in the background.”

PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF FOR PLUIMERS

Earlier North Burleigh’s Liz Pluimers realised a life long dream to win her first ever National Ironman crown ahead of Northcliffe pair Harriet Brown and former Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist Rebecca Creedy.

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Defending champion Courtney Hancock finished 11^th.

“The ironwoman is the one I’ve never been able to get. I definitely wanted this one so I’ve changed my Aussies program this year to do less events and focus on this ironwoman,” s aid Pluimers

“I guess my year off helped me a lot and let me focus on what I really wanted, so I could retire now if I wanted to but you never know I might be back next year.

“After the Coolangatta Gold my focus was really on the Kellogg’s series. That didn’t quite go how I wanted but can’t complain too much with second, but the focus then was definitely the Aussies ironwoman, the one I’ve never been able to get.

“I’ve done less team events this year. We were going to do the board rescue but we couldn’t find a partner that we gelled with so we sort of got rid of that one, got rid of the double skis and sort of just did the team events with my amazing teammates, Brodie, Tara and Tenille, and just focused on the ironwoman completely.

“I didn’t know how far ahead I was and I didn’t look around at any stage, I just kept me eyes ahead, looking for my handler and trying to find the runners. I was listening to hear if there was anyone behind me but I didn’t look back.”

Pluimers showed she was in form by winning the open board while Redhead’s Stewart McLachlan.

Northcliffe were crowned National champions with a record 474 to Manly’s 181 and Mooloolaba’s 159.

Meanwhile in other events……

NORTHCLIFFE TAKES TAPLIN DOUBLE:

In the Taplin Relays Australia’s champion club Northcliffe claimed the double - the men from Mooloolaba and Newport and the women’s title from Manly and Maroochydore.

Northcliffe were able to control the men’s Taplin relay from the front after swimmers Dev Lahey and Shannon Eckstein opened a comfortable gap on the chasing pack headed by Kurrawa and Mooloolaba.

In the board legs Mooloolaba pulled back the gap and second paddler Cam Cole was looking a chance to issue a serious challenge until Caine Eckstein paddled onto a wave that opened a 30m advantage.

Olympic Games gold medallists Murray Stewart and Tate Smith then took charge of the ski legs and took them team to an emphatic triumph.

“That means everything to us,” Smith said.

“You get so nervous before the race and don’t want to let the boys down.

“We lost a young kid this year, Jerry Dennis, and we were thinking about him and wanted to give everything for ourselves, and the club and for Jerry.”

Mooloolaba held on for second, with Newport third.

Northcliffe’s women’s Taplin relay team of Courtney Hancock, Kristyl Smith and Rebecca Creedy used their collective disappointment at their performance in the Ironwoman final 30 minutes earlier to inspire a big win over Manly and Maroochydore.

Hancock swam a furious opening leg that gave her team a 10-metre lead that Smith and Creedy were able to build into a large margin by the finish.

“We were angry after a disappointment in the Ironwoman and I just wanted to get a big lead for these girls because we’ve worked so hard for this,” Hancock said.

“For Northcliffe, we haven’t won the Taplin for the past couple of years so to bring this back is just amazing.”

Manly’s Naomi Flood, who earlier won her fifth Australian single ski championship, put in a powerhouse paddle to move here team from fifth place at the final change to the silver medal position. (Flood scored a runaway fifth gold medal in the open women’s single from fellow Olympian Hannah Davis from Northcliffe with Hannah Minogue (Bulli) taking bronze and in the men it was Avoca’s Lachlan Tame who cleared out to win his fourth straight men’s single ski title.)

Her teammate Georgia Miller was all smiles earlier in the day when she raced from the front to win the under-19 Ironwoman championship.

Miller showed her customary swimming power to open an early lead and held off a late challenge from Alyssa Bull (Alexandra Headland,) who moved impressively through the field on the ski to take second place, with Laura McGlone(Northcliffe) third.

Newport’s Max Brooks outpaddled his rivals on the surf ski to move from third to first and take out the under-19 ironman final, winning the Saxon Bird Memorial Trophy.

His clubmate Jonah Beard led the field in the swim and board but Brooks’s superior ski paddling was too much for his rivals. Beard held on for third place and James Lacy of Mermaid Beach was second.

Brooks had a great carnival, winning six gold medals to be named male competitor of the carnival.

Under-17 competitor Alyssa Koenen (Northcliffe) was named female competitor of the carnival after winning five gold medals.

The under-17 ironman went to Redhead’s Daniel Collins in a thrilling finish with Bradley Woodward of Shelly Beach, while Prue Davies continued an excellent carnival for Gold Coast club Currumbin by winning the under-17 Ironwoman ahead of Jess Suriano (North Bondi) and Georgina McDermott (Mooloolaba).

The under-15 ironman title was won by Callum Lowe-Griffiths of Queenscliff, who received the Matthew Barclay Memorial Trophy, while Northcliffe’s impressive youngster Elly Wikaire won the under-15 Ironwoman.

Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships 2014: Scarborough: WA:

Men:

Open: Champion Lifesaver: M White (Alexandra Headland) B Doughan (Alexandra Headland) N Stevens (Dicky Beach). Malibu Long Board: C Anthony (Bronte), C Nigel (Northcliffe), D Jarrad Cottesloe). Board Riding: J Cummings (Currumbin), B Webb (Currumbin), L Calo (North Cronulla). Board Relay: Mooloolaba B, Redhead A, Northcliffe B. Ski Relay: Newport A, Northcliffe B, Northcliffe A. Surf Team: Northcliffe, Mooloolaba, Elouera. Tube: Bronte, Northcliffe, City of Perth. 2km Run: N Leman (Inverloch) M Hoar (Trigg Island) A Najem (Wanda). Sprint: J Symonds (Sorrento (WA) D Scarff (Collaroy) B Mispelhorn (Kurrawa). Beach Relay: Sorrento (WA), Collaroy, Currumbin. Surf Race: K Hurst (Kurrawa), S Eckstein (Northcliffe), N Smith (Manly). Belt: K Hanson (Freshwater) D Lahey (Northcliffe) N Smith (Manly). Board Rescue: Mooloolaba, Manly, Redhead. Flags: T Nolan (Nth Cottesloe) K Wada, (Kurrawa) D Scarff (Collaroy). Double Ski: Avoca, Northcliffe, Trigg Island. Board: S McLachlan (Redhead) L Cuff (Mooloolaba) C Eckstein (Northcliffe). Ski: L Tame (Avoca Beach) M Trim (Newport) N Gale (Northcliffe). Boats: Austinmer, Mona Vale, Bilgola. Ironman: S Eckstein (Northcliffe) C Eckstein (Northcliffe) D Farrell (Elouera). Taplin: Northcliffe, Mooloolaba, Newport. 5 Person R&R: Wanda, Freshwater Maroon, Collaroy.

Reserve: Boats: Tugun, Austinmer, Kurrawa.
24+Yrs: Restricted Surf: N Smith (Manly) S Huitenga (City of Perth) S Eckstein (Northcliffe).

U/19Yrs: Champion Lifesaver: T Hunt (North Burleigh) L Yeates (Newport) M Harper (Maroubra). Ski Relay: Avoca, Noosa, Newport. Board Riding: B Smith (Newport), D Page (The Lakes), L Calo (North Cronulla) Board Relay: Newport A, Newport B, Avoca. Tube: Northcliffe, Newport B, Newport A. Surf Team: Newport, Northcliffe, Surfers Paradise. 2km Run: A Najem (Wanda) L Pascoe (Kurrawa) B Ridley (Port Bouvard). Sprint: J O`Brien (Avoca) A Sciberras (Dicky Beach) N Bate (Newport). Beach Relay: Coogee (NSW), Currumbin, Grange. Belt: Northcliffe B, Newport B, Wanda. Board Rescue: Redhead, Newport A, Newport B. Taplin: Newport, Redhead, Northcliffe. Flags:

J O`Brien (Avoca Beach) D McKellar (Helensburgh-Stanwell Park) S Dick (Currumbin). Double Ski: Avoca, Northcliffe, Trigg Island. Belt: K Hanson (Freshwater) D Lahey (Northcliffe) N Smith (Manly). Board: S McLachlan (Redhead) L Cuff (Mooloolaba) C Eckstein (Northcliffe). Ski: L Tame (Avoca Beach) M Trim (Newport) N Gale (Northcliffe). Boats: Austinmer, Mona Vale, Bilgola. Ironman: S Eckstein (Northcliffe) C Eckstein (Northcliffe) D Farrell (Elouera). Taplin: Northcliffe, Mooloolaba, Newport. 5 Person R&R: Wanda, Freshwater Maroon, Collaroy. Surf: J Furniss (Wanda) I Costello (Redhead) S Demopoulos (Northcliffe). Board: M Brooks (Newport) J Kenny (Noosa Heads) R Fitzsimmons (Avoca Beach). Ski: J Collins (Mermaid Beach) R Fitzsimmons (Avoca Beach) J McKitterick (Currumbin). Boats: Alexandra Headland, Avoca, Broulee. Ironman: M Brooks (Newport) J Lacy (Mermaid Beach) J Beard (Newport)

Reserve: Boats: Tugun, Austinmer, Kurrawa.

U/23: Boats: Queenscliff, Palm Beach (NSW), Kurrawa.

U/17Yrs: Champion Lifesaver: J de Kort (Collaroy) J Borg (Newport) B Redwood (Sunshine Beach).Board Riding: T Bissell (Trigg Island), M Gibbs (Trigg Island), J Williams (Alexandra Headland). Surf Teams: Nth Cronulla, Newport, Mooloolaba. Ski Relay: Alexandra Headland, Byron Bay, Swansea Belmont. Board Relay: Terrigal, Mooloolaba, Newport. 2km Run: O Hoare (North Cronulla) J Smith (Mullaloo) I Flexman (Jan Juc). Sprint: J Gough (Mooloolaba) T Delahunty (Currumbin) H Lorang (Cooks Hill). Beach Relay: Currumbin, Coogee (NSW), Manly. Belt: Alexandra Headland, Byron Bay, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park. Taplin: Newport, Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba. Board Rescue: Swansea Belmont, Alexandra Headland, Northcliffe. Flags: J Gough (Mooloolaba) Timothy Delahunty Currumbin Brandon McMahon (Kurrawa). Ski: A Wright (Mooloolaba) N Green (Alexandra Headland) R Beckett (Coffs Harbour). Board: J McMorland (Swansea Belmont) G Harris (Northcliffe) C Hartland (Mooloolaba). Surf: D Collins (Redhead) N Green (Alexandra Headland) B Woodward (Shelly Beach).Ironman: D Collins (Redhead) B Woodward (Shelly Beach) N Green (Alexandra Headland).

U/15Yrs: Champion Lifesaver: J Shute (Northcliffe) C Woods (Dicky Beach) M Richardson (West Beach). Board Riding: S Coulter (Manly) M Mcguigan (Maroubra) J Merson (Sorrento (WA). Surf Team: Northcliffe, Queenscliff, Cronulla. Cameron Relay: Queenscliff A, Northcliffe B, Northcliffe A. Board Relay: Alexandra Headland, Northcliffe, Noosa. 2km Run: D Foster (Alexandra Headland) H Miller (Mount Maunganui, NZ) C Goldsmith, (Mount Martha). Sprint: C Rychvalsky (Maroochydore) B Barratt (Somerton) L Abdul (Grange). Beach Relay: Somerton, Coogee (NSW), Grange. Tube: I Smith (Queenscliff) J Shute (Northcliffe) C Lowe-Griffiths (Queenscliff). Board Rescue: Sunshine Beach, Queenscliff, Manly. Surf: C Lowe-Griffiths (Queenscliff), T Wilson (Northcliffe), I Smith (Queenscliff). Board: J Lehmann (Catherine Hill Bay) H Copping (Swansea Belmont) K Schulz (Northcliffe). Flags: B Barratt (Somerton) L Abdul (Grange) C Dorian (Grange). Ironman: C Lowe-Griffiths (Queenscliff) I Smith (Queenscliff) J Timperley (Byron Bay).

Women:

Open: Champion Lifesaver: K McKenzie (Northcliffe) K Thornton (Alexandra Headland) N Dreibergs (Trigg Island). Ski Relay: Manly, Northcliffe, North Burleigh. Board Relay: North Burleigh, Northcliffe A, Northcliffe C. Malibu Long Board: T Smith (Northcliffe), B Alicia (Northcliffe), T Samantha (Alexandra Headland). Board Riding: M Quinn (Dee Why), T Smith (Northcliffe), E McGuigan (Maroubra). Tube: Terrigal, Northcliffe, Manly. Surf Team: Northcliffe, Nth Burleigh, City of Perth. 2km Run: A Leadbeatter (Swansea Belmont) A OToole (City of Perth) E Lori (Nth Cottesloe). Sprint: J Thornton (Coogee (NSW) M Gabrielle (City of Perth) B Houghton (City of Perth). Beach Relay: Helensburgh-Stanwell Park, City of Perth, Nth Cottesloe. Surf Race: C Hancock (Northcliffe) K Smith (Northcliffe) H Gan (City of Perth). Board Rescue: Northcliffe A, Northcliffe D, Elouera. Flags: C Hickman (Currumbin) K Williams (Collaroy) M Howard (Kurrawa). Double Ski: Manly A, Noosa, Manly C. Belt: K Smith (Northcliffe) D Halligan (Manly) S Street (Cronulla). Board: E Pluimers (Nth Burleigh) J Mercer (Noosa) Amy Nurthen (Mooloolaba). Ski: N Flood (Manly) H Davis (Northcliffe) H Minogue (Bulli). Boats: Tugun, Helensburgh-Stanwell Park,Bilgola. Ironwoman: E Pluimers (Nth Burleigh) H Brown (Northcliffe) R Creedy (Northcliffe). Taplin: Northcliffe, Manly, Maroochydore. 5 Person R&R: Nth Cronulla Pink, Anglesea, Nth Cronulla Blue.

U/23: Boats: Austinmer, Collaroy, Wollongong.

U/19Yrs: Champion Lifesaver: S Mason (Manly) T Miller (Umina) T Mitchell (Dicky Beach). Board Relay: Manly, Trigg Island, Mooloolaba. Board Riding: J Turner (North Cronulla) M King (Terrigal), Tess Wartmann (Tweed Heads Coolangatta). Taplin: Maroochydore, Manly, Mooloolaba. Tube: Wanda, Northcliffe, Currumbin. Surf Team: Northcliffe, Maroochydore, Swansea Belmont. 2km Run: E Jeffcoat (Dee Why) O Marsh (North Cottesloe) M Domarecki (West Beach). Sprint: K Mott (Helensburgh-Stanwell Park) E Carty (Mordialloc) T Golisano (City of Perth). Beach Relay: Helensburgh-Stanwell Park, Nth Cottesloe, Mooloolaba. Board Rescue: Swansea Belmont, Northcliffe, Wanda. Ski: A Bull (Alexandra Headland) M Kassulke (Manly) S Reynolds (City of Perth). Flags: Rohani Bakhach (Noosa Heads) Siobhan Dibley (Helensburgh-Stanwell Park) Megan Lutze (Collaroy). Surf: D Rogers (Maroochydore) G Miller (Manly) L McGlone (Northcliffe). Board: M Dunn (Northcliffe) K Nurthen (Mooloolaba) G Miller (Manly). Ironwoman: G Miller (Manly) A Bull (Alexandra Headland) M Dunn (Northcliffe).

U/17Yrs: Champion Lifesaver: C Sloan (North Steyne) L Brown (Northcliffe) E Grand (Coogee (NSW). Board Relay: North Cronulla, Swansea Belmont, Nth Bondi. Board Riding: E McGuigan (Maroubra), D Calo (North Cronulla). Taplin: Northcliffe, Byron Bay, Currumbin. Surf Team: Northcliffe, City of Perth, Nth Cronulla. 2km Run: J Suriano (Nth Bondi) R Griffin (City of Bunbury) A Barnes (Byron Bay). Sprint: J Thornton (Coogee, NSW) N Kay (Mooloolaba) K King (Cronulla). Beach Relay: Cronulla, Mooloolaba, Nth Cottesloe. Board Rescue: Maroochydore, City of Perth, Manly. Tube: A Koenen (Northcliffe) M Kreuter (Northcliffe) E Basalo (Maroubra). Flags: A Punch (Helensburgh-Stanwell Park) N Kay (Mooloolaba) M Kidd (Papamoa). Ski: C Sterry (Currumbin) B Massie (Maroochydore) F Kidd (Seacliff).

Board: G McDermott (Mooloolaba) C Lee (Maroochydore) J Suriano (North Bondi). Surf: A Koenen (Northcliffe) A Johnson (Swansea Belmont) X Taylor-Rolls (Northcliffe). Ironwoman: P Davies (Currumbin) J Suriano (Nth Bondi) G McDermott (Mooloolaba).

U/15Yrs: Champion Lifesaver: J Smith (Umina) K Petrie (Carlton Park) G Moore (Northcliffe). Board Riding: S Coulter (Manly) T Massie (Maroochydore), E Harrison (Nth Cronulla). Surf Team: North Burleigh, Manly, Northcliffe. Cameron Relay: Northcliffe B, Northcliffe A, Manly A. Board Relay: Northcliffe, Mona Vale, Catherine Hill Bay. 2km Run: J Lewsam (Southport) S Fahey (Northcliffe) E O`Donoghue (Wanda). Sprint: O Fien (Currumbin) S McGovern (Nth Curl Curl) H Schwerdt (Grange). Beach Relay: Currumbin, Cronulla, Nth Cottesloe. Tube: L Taylor (Northcliffe) S Walters (Swansea Belmont) E Wikaire (Northcliffe). Board Rescue: Catherine Hill Bay, Nth Bondi, Southport (QLD). Surf: L Taylor (Northcliffe) S O`Leary-Whitney (North Burleigh) E Wikaire (Northcliffe). Board: J Smith (Umina) L Welborn (North Bondi) S Love (Mermaid Beach). Flags: Sophie McGovern (North Curl Curl) Ngaire Hadfield (Cronulla) Tara Stortenbeker (Elouera). Ironwoman: E Wikaire (Northcliffe) L Welborn (North Bondi) A Christopher (North Bondi).

Mixed:

Open: Patrol Competition: Northcliffe, Alexandra Headland, Coogee (NSW). Boat Relay: Mona Vale, Palm Beach (NSW), Nth Cottesloe. Lifesaver Relay: Alexandra Headland, Currumbin, Elouera. Double Ski: Mooloolaba, Bulli, Avoca. 5 Person R&R: Trigg Island, Collaroy, Freshwater. March Past: Burning Palms, South Port (SA), Caves Beach. Curlewis 6 Person R&R: Collaroy, Wanda, Nth Cronulla.

U/23: March Past: Collaroy, Nth Cronulla, Nth Cottesloe.

U/19: Patrol Competition: Sunshine Beach, North Steyne, Alexandra Headland. First Aid: Manly B, Manly A, Manly C. Double Ski: Newport, Noosa, Avoca. 5 Person R&R: Nth Cronulla, Collaroy, Anglesea.

U/17: First Aid: Maroochydore, City of Perth, Freshwater. 5 Person R&R: Collaroy, Freshwater Moroons, Freshwater Atars. March Past: Nth Bondi, Cottesloe, City of Perth.

U/15: First Aid: Maroochydore, City of Perth, Manly. 5 Person R&R: Anglesea Cheeky Devils, Coogee (NSW), Anglesea Aces.

Pointscore: Northcliffe 474 Manly 181 Mooloolaba 159 Newport 146 Currumbin 124 Alexandra Headland 120 City of Perth 101 Maroochydore 93 North Cronulla 91 Swansea Belmont 79.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia
Hanson Media Group

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