Georgia looms as double trouble in ironwoman

 Surf Life Saving Australia, April 16, 2015: Newport’s defending Australian Under 19 ironwoman champion Georgia Miller has successfully qualified for the next rounds of the Under 19 and Open ironwoman events.

The winner of 11 gold medals, including the Under 19 and Open Ironwoman double at NSW State Championships, won her heat of the open ironwoman yesterday ahead of two-time National champion Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) and Danielle McKenzie (Northcliffe).

She then backed up to finish third in heat two of the under 19s to Avoca ski star Kaitlin Matuschka and Lana Rogers (Noosa Heads).

The rescheduled program will now see the Open ironwoman semi-finals first up tomorrow morning with the Under 19 quarter-finals.

The open heats also saw defending champion Liz Pluimers won heat two from North Burleigh team mate Tara Coleman with Allira Richardson, now representing Cooks Hill, third.

Pluimers and Coleman combined yesterday with heat four winner Brodie Moir to win the women’s open board relay gold.

She won her heat from Devon Halligan (Northcliffe) and Jordan Mercer (Noosa).

The other heat saw Northcliffe trio, 2012 Australian champion Rebecca Creedy (Northcliffe) win from 2011 and 2013 winner Courtney Hancock, with Maddy Dunn third.

Meanwhile Ali Day is chasing a perfect end to a memorable season as he eyes the Open Ironman final.

The Mooloolaba star, who won his first Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series in January, progressed safely through the opening round of the ironman today.

Along with Day, all of the top contenders qualified for the quarter-finals of the Ironman that will be raced on Friday.

The first round heats were won by Dane Farrell (Elouera), Cory Taylor (Northcliffe), Caine Eckstein (Northcliffe), Max Beattie (Northcliffe), Tim Schofield (Terrigal), Matt Bevilacqua (Mooloolaba) and Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe).

Among the qualifiers for the quarter-finals were five former winners of the Open Ironman title, Shannon Eckstein, Ky Hurst (Kurrawa), Pierce Leonard (Southport), Nathan Smith (Manly) and Cam Cole (Mooloolaba).

SURF SPORTS MEDIA ENQUIRIES

For further information surf sports competition and event, please contact:

Ian Hanson
Hanson Media Group
M: 0407 385 160
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or

Kim Hamilton
Hanson Media Group
M: 0438 443 406
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by

Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
Hanson Media Group | P O Box 299 | West Burleigh Qld 4219
Phone: +61 7 5522 5556 | Mobile 0407 385 160 | Fax: +61 7 5522 5557 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | www.hansonsportsmedia.com