ALL THE KING'S MEN AND WOMEN READY TO TAKE GOLD

September 24: One of Australian Surf Life Saving's most respected coaches and former Coolangatta Gold winner Michael King has disputed any suggestion that this year's nib Coolangatta Gold is a foregone conclusion.

The man at the helm of the Michael King Ironman Academy on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is in charge of an enthusiastic group of Ironmen and Ironwomen who have their sights set on Australia's gruelling endurance event on Sunday, October 18.

Included in his group are 2007 nib Coolangatta Gold women's winner Alicia Marriott, who will be joined by leading Ironwoman Allira Richardson as they plot to upset three-time champion Hayley Bateup, with Matt Poole's sights set on two-time winner Caine Eckstein.

"I couldn't be happier, the whole preparation has been spot on.....they have been very consistent," King said after putting his squad through a gruelling three-hour session of swimming, running and board paddling.

"Acquiring Alicia (from Western Australia) has definitely helped...everyone has gone up a gear, particularly the girls. The attitude she brings to the squad has helped immensely.

"Matt (Poole) being around another year (experience wise), finishing third last year to Zane (Holmes) and Shannon (Eckstein) in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series and winning a race, really does show that he belongs in elite company.

"Matt has really stepped up this year and been a role model; our under 19 guys doing the Gold and the Under 15 and Under 17s in our squad have had the best opportunity to learn from two of the best in the sport.

"Then you bring Allira (Richardson) into the mix and Gemma and Dylan Newbiggin and Jack Hansen - it is such a great set up."

King has the utmost respect for Marriott, who joined the Mountain Creek based Academy from City of Perth, after establishing herself as one of the country's leading Ironwomen when she added the Australian Ironwoman title to her list of crowns in 2008.

"I can't fault her, she doesn't miss a session. When she turns up she delivers in every session, she gives it her absolute best and she's the perfect role model," said the man who won Surf Life Saving's toughest endurance race in 1991.

"Anyone who wants to make it in the sport and anyone who has the ambitions to be the best then she's the best one to learn off.

"I'm so proud to have the opportunity to coach an athlete like her and I'm really excited about this Coolangatta Gold.

"Hayley (Bateup) deserves favouritism but I know for a fact that she's going to get a really good race out of Alicia and Allira; their preparation has been spot on. They know exactly what they need to do and what they need to deliver.

"In fact it is going to a cracker; honestly you wouldn't want to miss it.

"I reckon it's going to be the best verses the best and the person who wins it is really going to have to hurt themselves; so I'm really excited. It should be a great race."

Marriott is enjoying her change at King's Academy.

"The Coolangatta Gold is such a mental thing...you really need to be mentally prepared for it and mentally prepared to test yourself," said Marriott, who has had some great grounding under respected WA coach Ric Turner.

"Come three weeks time I'll be firing and ready to give it a good shot....winning (in 2007) was definitely a great experience and something I'd love to experience again.

"It will be interesting to see how the season unfolds; training in a squad is always good because we try and motivate each other and if someone doesn't turn up to training we'll all be on their case in the afternoon.

"It has been a great change - to have the opportunity to train with other guys doing the nib Coolangatta Gold and the Nutri-Grain Series has been really good to try and keep up with them in training and see what they're doing; it's been a good change."

POOLE PLANNING PERFECT RACE PLAN

As for the men, King is convinced Eckstein won't have things all his own way.

"They have to keep their concentration up and understand what's required. They are racing Caine Eckstein who's the favourite and deservedly so too but like I've said to Matt (Poole) and the other guys, it's a challenge.

"There's nothing better than racing one of the best guys over that distance in such a great event, so I'm not going to rule out (a result) - I'm very confident Matt can deliver.

"But it's the same deal....it's up to him on the day, he's got to be able to stand up with the perfect race plan and deliver it and I'm very confident he can."

Poole has adopted the Dean Mercer philosophy on the Gold. He's going to keep coming back until he wins it.

"To eventually win the Gold one day has always been a dream. It's going to keep drawing me back until I achieve that.

"Seventh was an alright result last year, definitely a good start but I think I've got a lot more to prove so I'm hoping I can only go better from there.

"Anything in the top three I'm going to be very happy with."

And on the up-coming season?

"Compared to some of the other guys there I'm flying under the radar a little bit more; I'm hoping to get out there and make a bit of a move," says Poole.

"Last year was my first year where I was up there with the top guys and they were sort of looking over their shoulder as opposed to the last couple of years where I was back a lot more.

"It was a good stepping stone for me to win that Kellogg's Nutri-Grain race at Coolum. It was something I always wanted to do so it helped to bring that confidence back and let me know I can mix it up with the boys."

All will be revealed on October 18 when a record 528 competitors flock to the Gold Coast for the ninth running of the iconic nib Coolangatta Gold.

Channel Seven will present a two-hour nib Coolangatta Gold special on Sunday November 1 from 2-4pm (Check local guides).

nib COOLANGATTA GOLD RACE FACTS

Previous winners

Men

1984: Guy Leech
1985: Guy Leech
1991: Michael King
1992: Darren Mercer
2005: Caine Eckstein
2006: Zane Holmes
2007: Rhys Drury
2008: Caine Eckstein

Women

2005: Hayley Bateup
2006: Hayley Bateup
2007: Alicia Marriott
2008: Hayley Bateup

Start times

7:00am Open Men 
7:05am Masters
7:30am Teams
7:50am Masters Women
8:00am Open Women
8:30am U/19 men

COURSES

Open men, Masters, Male/Mixed Teams

Leg     1 SKI (Surfers Paradise to Greenmount 23km)
          2 RUN (Greenmount to Coolangatta 0.65km)
          3 SWIM (Coolangatta to Bilinga 3.50km)
          4 RUN (Bilinga to Currumbin 4.00)
          5 BOARD (Currumbin to Burleigh Heads 5.5km)
          6 RUN (Burleigh Heads to Surfers Paradise 10.00km)

            TOTAL 46.65km

Open women, Masters, Female Teams, U/19 Men

Leg     1 SKI (Surfers Paradise to Currumbin SLSA15km)
          2 RUN (Currumbin SLSC to Currumbin Creek 1km)
          3 BOARD (Currumbin Creek to Burleigh Heads SLSC 4.5km)
          4 SWIM (Burleigh Heads SLSA to North Burleigh 2.5km)
          5 RUN (North Burleigh to Surfers Paradise 7.5km)

            TOTAL 30.5km