ZANE HOLMES PRIMED FOR 11TH KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN SERIES

Gold Coast, January 13: Defending Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Iron Man champion Zane Holmes is in a winning frame of mind on the eve of this year's Series as he chases his sixth title in 11 seasons.

The 27-year-old Holmes is not only priming himself to win the crown again but he wants to leave nothing to chance.

"Obviously I want to defend my title but I want to win it well," Holmes said today when he caught up with his Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish teammates and some of his keenest rivals at Kurrawa Beach, venue for this weekend's opening two rounds of the $200,000 Series.

"This season is going to be my 11th Kellogg's Series so that means I have been in 10 and won five and I would really love to make it six and increase my percentage to over 50 percent."

Holmes, despite a lingering virus which hindered his post World Championship training program, has struck form at the right time, relegating arch rivals former Australian champion Nathan Smith (Express Glass NSW Southern Blue Fin) and reigning World and Australian champion Shannon Eckstein (Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish) to second and third in the recent Queensland Ocean Assault Series final.

And he nominates Smith, Eckstein and 2007 Australian Ironman champion, Pierce Leonard (DHL Southern Ice) as the men to watch.

Eckstein knows what it takes to win a Series, having taken the honours in 2006 and 2007 and led into the final round last year, only to see Holmes snatch it from under his eyes.

Holmes is a powerhouse in the Kurrawa conditions and particularly when the swim leg is first then you can bet he won't be far off the pace.

"Shannon is performing well and is always my main rival in competition; Pierce is going well in training and I think he will step up this Series, while Nathan Smith raced really well in the Ocean Assault and his form is really good also," said Holmes, who has a healthy respect for all his opponents.

"That's not to say that some of the qualifiers won't come through and show what they're made of."

Holmes chalks up the pool mileage alongside Eckstein, under noted Olympic coach Denis Cotterell at Pizzey Park, Miami.

Cotterell rates both Holmes and Eckstein, "because they do the work in the pool."

"I have coached some of the best Ironmen and Ironwomen in history, people like Trevor Hendy, Ky Hurst, Phil Clayton, Dwayne Thuys and Karla Gilbert to name just a few and I know (surf coach) Pat O'Keefe will agree that if you want to match it with the big boys then their swimming training is a key," said Cotterell, who coached Grant Hackett to two Olympic gold medals in the 1500m freestyle.

"It certainly doesn't surprise me to see Zane and Shannon at the head of the pack, they do the work and if the next generation want to get near them then they have to put in the miles in the pool too."

Holmes is also hoping to captain the Sunfish to a third successive Kellogg's teams title as well, something he admits will be a tough task in 2009.

"The teams are a lot more even this year across the board but I think we (Sunfish) still have what it takes to win throughout the series," said Holmes.

"The selectors have made the teams a lot closer than what we have had in the past and it should make for some exciting racing."

The Sunfish with Holmes, Eckstein and North Burleigh qualifier James Stewart, who is also working with Cotterell in the pool, make up the men's team while defending women's champion Elizabeth Pluimers will be joined by Bianca Lee and Tugun Ironwoman winner Terri Sullivan on the women's side.

The defending champions came face-to-face with some of their arch rivals in the build-up to this weekend's opening rounds, all of whom are based on the Gold Coast, some even training partners and club mates.

Among the Sunfish opponents who faced the defending champions today were Bonnie Hancock (Inner Health Northern NSW Hammers), Kristyl Smith, Alyce Bennett and Chelsea McKenzie (Express Glass Southern NSW Bluefins), Bateup, Flora Manciet, Kristen Ulmer and Leonard (DHL Southern Ice) and Brodie Moir and Luke Nisbet (Western Waves).