ECKSTEIN OUT TO ERASE COOGEE NIGHTMARE IN KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN FINAL

Coogee Beach, February 20: Shannon Eckstein is determined to erase the nightmare of the worst race of his life when the country's best ironmen and Ironwomen contest the $200,000 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Iron Man Series final eliminator format at Coogee on Sunday.

Twelve months ago Eckstein came into the final leading the pointscore over team mate Zane Holmes who relegated his training partner to fourth and stole the crown.

After the opening four rounds this year it is a similar story with Eckstein leading on 69 points, from Holmes (66) and young gun Matt Poole (59) Nathan Smith (52) and Pierce Leonard (51).

The recently named Australian team captain knows that one false move will open the door for Holmes and the other contenders in a race that will be narrowed down from 18 to 12 and six for the final.

"The 2008 final was the worst race I can remember and there is no doubt I want to come here on Sunday for some redemption," said Eckstein today, as he put the final touches to his preparations.

"You cannot afford to make any mistakes and one false move could see you out of the top six at a beach that always provides a tricky shore dump and with a steep run up the beach it will be testing."

Holmes, who has a habit of saving his best for the Coogee cauldron has enormous respect for his Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish team mate.

"Shannon and I are good friends, training partners and team mates but when that gun goes it is every man for himself," said Holmes.

"I do love racing at Coogee, I have some fond memories of winning here, especially last year and I am determined to win this final and in surf anything can happen."

The women's final will see Series leader Naomi Flood attempting to win her first ever Series - adding to her World and Australian crowns.

But Flood too hopes to erase her memories from last year, those that she can remember, after being knocked semi-unconscious by a stay board in the shore break.

"I can hardly remember a thing from last year's race," said Flood, who takes a six point lead into the final ahead of Courtney Hancock and the winner of the opening two rounds Kristyl Smith.

"I was knocked senseless and it cost me any chance of winning the final. Let's hope I get through this year's final cleanly."

Flood, like Smith has been knocking on the door in this Series and they both know just how good Hancock is and the rest of the field, including round three Coolum conquerer Alyce Bennett and the brave Hayley Bateup - her self knocked out in round three but who came back to finish third to Flood in round four.

All the action starts at Coogee from 1pm.