SHANNON'S RACE AGAINST TIME FOR AUSSIES

March 8: Three-time Australian Ironman champion Shannon Eckstein is confident of winning a race against time to be fit for the 2010 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa Beach next week.

Eckstein damaged his hip in a training incident last week, forcing him out of the Crazy John's Queensland championships but just 11 days away from the Aussies he is still planning to be on the start line.

With reigning champion Pierce Leonard and 2004 Australian champion Zane Holmes out of this year's Ironman with back injuries, Eckstein is the hot favourite to grab his fourth title but his injury has boosted the hopes of a host of challengers.

However, if they are expecting he might be missing from the Aussies they had better think again.

"I was just catching waves on my board and the board hit a spot on my hip so the tendons there are a little bit damaged from the impact," Eckstein said.

"I've had an MRI done and they think it could be 3-4 weeks before I'm in a condition to run but it's only going to be about two and a half weeks from injury to Aussies so it will be touch and go.

"At the moment I'm pretty confident because it's not too bad and I've been able to do some swimming and some ski paddling.

"I have to rest the injury and can only do things that don't cause pain. Hopefully in a couple of days I can start stretching it. I've been icing it and taking anti-inflammatories but I think rest is the best thing."

At this stage, Eckstein still expects to have a busy schedule at the Australian championships as he chases another swag of gold medals, both for himself and the powerful Northcliffe club.

"We'll play it be ear because it's hard to make a call a week and a half out," he said.

"I definitely want to do some team events and the Ironman. I think I should be right to do a full program of six or seven events although I'll probably drop the board race, the board rescue and the lifesaver relay."

Eckstein's absence from last weekend's Queensland championships opened the door for other Ironman contenders to put forward their claims ahead of the Aussies.

Laid back Corey Jones (Metropolitan Caloundra) took full advantage to claim the state championship in demanding Kurrawa surf, finishing ahead of Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) and Jarrod Cain (Cudgen Headland).

In-form Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) was knocked out of contention when pounded by big waves in the ski leg of the final, while four-time Australian champion Ky Hurst failed to make the decider.

One of the younger brigade who will be out to challenge Eckstein next week is Alaistar Day, who claimed his first NSW Ironman title recently.

The 19-year-old from Warilla-Barrack Point, a breakthrough performer in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain series where he placed sixth, won the NSW crown ahead of Chris Allum (Cronulla) and Kendrick Louis (Collaroy).

Another leading contender for the Aussies, Elizabeth Pluimers, was also sidelined at the Queensland championships after suffering her own setback in training.

Pluimers (Northcliffe) was rolling under waves in a board session last week when she was hit in the stomach by the board of her boyfriend, Stuart Snell.

The winner of last month's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain final, who has a history of dramatic injuries - deep vein thrombosis and collapsing within sight of the finish line at the Coolangatta Gold are two recent instances - had to be helped from the surf and rested rather than raced at the weekend.

Pluimers, however, expects to be back in action for the Aussies.

In her absence, her Northcliffe clubmate Courtney Hancock came through the demanding conditions to claim her second consecutive Queensland Ironwoman title and put herself forward as one of the favourites for the same event at the Aussies.

Courtney's younger sister Bonnie thrived in the conditions to finish third, with the siblings split by Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist Rebecca Creedy.

2010 Nutri-Grain series winner Alicia Marriott, Hayley Bateup, Kristyl Smith will also be leading contenders for the Ironwoman final at the Australian championships.

Another with a big chance of winning will be 2006 champion Naomi Flood in what could be her last Australian Ironwoman campaign.

Flood won her sixth NSW Ironwoman title last week and will be hoping for her second Australian crown before she switches focus to her bid to make the Australian kayak team for the London Olympic Games in 2012.