Shannon Eckstein Wins Seventh Ironman Title at Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

Shannon-Eckstein-Australian-Surf-Life-Saving-Championships

NORTH KIRRA BEACH – Shannon Eckstein became undisputedly the most successful Ironman in Australian Surf Life Saving Championships history when he claimed his seventh title at North Kirra today.

The win moved him ahead of his childhood hero Trevor Hendy, who won six Aussies Ironman gold medals.

Close the history books, the debate about who is the greatest is over.

Eckstein ensured his place alone at the top of the list of the best ironmen in typical flawless style.

The Northcliffe star put himself in the best positions, found the waves he needed and won by so far he could slow to accept the adulation of fans lining the finishing chute.

He was followed across the line by Mooloolaba pair Matt Poole and Ali Day.

Shannon-Eckstein-2-Australian-Surf-Life-Saving-Championships

Photo Courtesy: Hanson Media Group

“It hasn’t sunk in; when I won six it still didn’t sink in because so much hard work goes into them,” Eckstein said.

“That one was like last year. I got waves when I needed to.

“You create your own luck and if you get to the front you get waves.

“I thought last year was perfect, but again this was perfect.”

Eckstein was with the leading group in the opening board leg then took charge in the swim, working his way clear before catching a wave in the shore break to open a race-winning advantage.

In the choppy conditions at North Kirra, Eckstein could have found trouble in the ski leg, but typical of the man they call The Professor he found the safest path back to the sand and into the history books.

The bad news for Eckstein’s rivals is that thoughts of retirement seem as far from his mind as at any time in the past couple of years.

“Mentally I’m pretty sure I can come back next year,” he said.

“I’ve got an Achilles problem that I’ve had for a couple of years and I can’t do the training that I want to do.

“I’ve got a lot of time off now to think about it, recover and get the body ready, more time off than I’ve probably had in five years.

“I’m still enjoying the sport, and when you see Trevor (Hendy) win like he did yesterday (with son TJ in the open board rescue) I’m not going to talk of retirement when he’s doing things like that.”

While Eckstein is the king of the Ironman, Liz Pluimers (North Burleigh) remains the queen of the Ironwoman.

Pluimers won her second consecutive Australian title in a style so commanding it even outdid Eckstein.

Pluimers opened a 13-second lead in the opening ski leg and extended it in the swim before completely clearing away from her pursuers as she turned the ski leg into a lap of honour ahead of second placed Rebecca Creedy and third placed Amy Nurthen.

Victory made her the first woman to win triple crown of ironwoman racing – the Coolangatta Gold, the Nutri-Grain series and the Australian title – in the same season.

Liz-Pluimers-Australian-Surf-Life-Saving-Championships

Photo Courtesy: Hanson Media Group

“Except for my start I think it all came together perfectly,” Pluimers said.

“As I was going out for the ski I got over a few waves at the back and I was just hoping the other competitors were getting hit by them.

“I don’t want to be mean but that set me up perfectly.”

Questions about retirement were also asked of Pluimers, who was non-committal about being back to defend her title in 2016.

“Good question, no-one knows,” was her immediate response.

“I’m definitely coming back to do the (Nutri-Grain) series next year but that’s the only one that’s confirmed at the moment.”

Sydney club Newport stepped up its resurgence when it claimed the Open Men’s Taplin Relay, the ultimate test of a club’s depth in board, swim and ski.

The Sydney Northern Beaches club became the first NSW club to win the Taplin Relay since 1996, finishing ahead of Redhead and Surfers Paradise.

Newport’s Open Women’s team, led by Georgia Miller, almost made it a Taplin Relay double, being narrowly beaten by Maroochydore, with North Burleigh third.

Miller was one of the stars of the carnival and today added the Under-19 Ironwoman and Under-19 Surf Race titles to the Open Surf Race gold medal she won yesterday.

Manly’s London Olympian Naomi Flood won a record sixth single ski title in emphatic fashion, despite an ongoing elbow injury which has curtailed her kayak and ski paddling this summer.

The open boat final saw the Currumbin beach Vikings finally turn their four silver medals into gold when Lyle Clark’s Barbarians crew rowed away from the field to claim a deserved victory from Bulli, with Currumbin showing their depth and strength with Matt Wildman’s Huskals crew winning bronze.

The open women’s went to South Curl Curl with Northcliffe second and Manly third.

Queensland club Northcliffe won the championships pointscore for the 12^th year in a row, finishing ahead of NSW Champion club Newport with the Currumbin Vikings a close up third.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworl d .com.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use