LEONARD AND SMITH WIN SECOND TITLES

Scarborough, WA, March 22: There was double delight for Northcliffe clubmates Pierce Leonard and Kristyl Smith as both won their second Ironman and Ironwoman titles at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Scarborough Beach today.

Leonard upstaged his more renowned training partners, race favourites Shannon Eckstein and Zane Holmes, by catching a wave in the concluding board leg to race away for an emphatic victory.

Northcliffe teammate Nathan Smith finished second and Caine Eckstein (Tugun) was third.

"It's awesome, this beach has been pretty good to me," Leonard, who won his first Ironman title at Scarborough in 2007, said.

"I tried to set it up in the swim going into the board, which is my strongest leg, and when I got that wave at the end I was very relieved."

The turning point of an absorbing race came in the swim after Shannon Eckstein and Holmes had led in the opening ski leg.

The powerful pair had retained their lead through most of the swim but then they were swamped by a big wave carrying Leonard, Smith, Caine Eckstein and veteran Dean Mercer.

Holmes was able to catch the wave but Eckstein missed it, putting an end to his chances.

The leading pack of five was then hit by a heavy wave at the start of the board, and it was Leonard, Smith and Caine Eckstein who emerged best.

Leonard held a small lead with the other two in hot pursuit until he paddled over the top of a wave the others couldn't catch and the race was in the bag.

"I knew Caine was right behind me and I had to get down that wave, so I just gave it everything I had," Leonard said.

"Last season wasn't very good for me - I got a bit of illness before I did the Coolangatta Gold - but I'm all good now, I've put on a bit of weight and I'm stronger now."

While he left superstars Shannon Eckstein and Holmes trailing today, Leonard paid tribute to the influence they and others at the powerhouse Northcliffe club have had on his career.

"It's a huge advantage having them with me," he said.

"They are all supportive even if you win and they are in the same event.

"It's unreal at Northcliffe, you have strong team events, I had a couple of wins before today, it's a great club."

Leonard said he was confident of winning but worked before the race to settle his nerves.

"I was trying to think about anything but the race," he said.

"I looked up at the grandstand and started laughing because I realised the crowd was so big."

Mercer ended his 20-year-plus career in today's final, finishing in seventh place and proving he can match strides and strokes with much younger rivals.

KRISTYL SHINES WITH GLINT OF GOLD

Passion for surf lifesaving was behind Kristyl Smith's comeback this season which culminated in her winning her second Australian open Ironwoman title today.

This time last year, the 2005 champion was on a 12-month sojourn in Europe but she has toiled hard since returning to get back to full fitness.

The work paid off in spades when she was able to break clear of the field midway through the race and then stayed in control to win clearly from Northcliffe clubmate Elizabeth Pluimers and Manly's Naomi Flood.

Despite enjoying her time away from the sport, Smith never had any doubt she would one day return to Northcliffe's maroon and white colours.

"Surf lifesaving is such a great sport, I'm so passionate about it," she said.

"Once it's in your blood it's hard to get out.

"Coming back to Australia it was the first thing I wanted to do and I was on the board within two days of returning to the Gold Coast.

"The training facilities at BMD Northcliffe make it too hard to go anywhere else."

Flood opened up an early lead on the ski and, going into the swim, led by 20 metres from Smith, Terri Sullivan (Kurrawa) and Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe).

As one of the strongest swimmers in the field, Flood was expected to maintain her advantage during the next leg but Smith and Hancock took advantage of a rip to wipe out the lead before the turning buoys.

Smith opened up a small break and then caught a wave that allowed her to lead comfortably going into the board leg.

From there she maintained her advantage and had enough time up her sleeve to celebrate with the crowd lining the course.

"To come out and win here, the last year at Scarborough Beach, there's great memories for me," Smith said.

"I'm looking forward to going back to Kurrawa next year but it's been a fantastic spot for it here at Scarborough."