CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, SAYS SHANNON

January 16: Defending champion Shannon Eckstein started his 2010 campaign in impressive fashion with a comfortable win in round one of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series at Kurrawa Beach today.

Eckstein, from Northcliffe, raced away with the third and deciding race of today's round to win by 50 metres from Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) and surf star and Olympic swimmer Ky Hurst in an impressive comeback to ironman racing.

After matching strokes with Hurst in the opening swim leg, Eckstein opened up a winning break in the board paddle and extended his lead in the ski leg to be able to cross the line unchallenged.

"There was a big build-up to today's race with Ky coming back and it was good to assert some sort of authority," the winner said.

"I felt good in that last race but you're never sure if you've got the legs or not. Mine felt good but it was hard."

Eckstein was far enough ahead in the day's second race to be able to take the long route in the middle of the race and claim a $1000 prize in the Dash For Cash format.

Round two of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series will be contested at Kurrawa tomorrow. 
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