2009 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series a real family affair
SYDNEY, November 30: Five sets of surf life saving siblings will add their own version of “Family Feud” to this season’s $200,000 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Iron Man Series. The Allum brothers will join four other sets of siblings - Bonnie and Courtney Hancock, Kristyl and Nathan Smith, Gemma and Dylan Newbiggen and Chloe and Corey Jones in what is shaping up to be the most intense summer series on record.
In a dramatic weekend of qualifying rounds Bonnie Hancock defied her doctors after recovering from a fractured disc in her back to join big sister Courtney for their second successive Series.The Sawtell-born Hancock was involved in a training accident at Northcliffe in September which forced her out of this year’s nib Coolangatta Gold but certainly didn’t dampen her enthusiasm for the sport she loves.
She finished second to Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) in the final round today, putting her fifth overall behind sister Courtney in the qualifying pointscore.“The doctors told me I would not be racing the Trial but I made sure I followed all the instructions and took it easy, not doing anything at all, to give myself every chance,” said Hancock.“I must admit I was a little hesitant in my first training session back but I came here full of confidence and determined to prove to myself that I could come back and I’m just so relieved to qualify.”
Kristyl Smith, 25, certainly showed no ill-effects after her 18 month overseas stint to bounce back to qualify for her tenth series after winning rounds one and two and to join former Australian champion brother Nathan in the Series.
For the Newbiggens it is another notch in an already well recognised family tradition which began in the 1940s with their great uncle Bob Newbiggen, a legendary five-time Australian open surf race champion
The Joneses from Metropolitan Caloundra have both qualified for their second series together, also surviving some anxious moments in a tough weekend’s racing.
In today’s women’s final it was Moir who finally had some luck from the surf gods when she joined a host of competitors on a 1.5 metre body wave to set up her win and ton eventually hold off the fast finishing Bonnie Hancock, emerging youngster Maddison Boon (Kurrawa), Courtney Hancock, Sam Johnston (Mooloolaba), Alyce Bennett (Burleigh Heads-Mowbray Park), two-time Commonwealth Games swimming representative Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra), three-time nib Coolangatta Gold winner Hayley Bateup and Allira Richardson (Maroochydore). Creedy won gold alongside Susie O’Neill, Sarah Ryan and Lori Munz in the 4x100m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and silver alongside Petria Thomas, Elka Graham and Giaan Rooney in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. She has made a successful transition from stillwater swimming to iron woman racing following Wanda’s 1994 Commonwealth Games 800m freestyle gold medallist Stacey Gartrell who won two Australian Ironwoman championships in 1995 and 1997.
Qualifiers:
Men:
Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) 110 points
Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba) 109
Luke Nisbet (Northcliffe) 102
Hayden Allum (Cronulla) 102
Corey Jones (Metropolitan Caloundra) 99
Kendrick Louis (Collaroy) 98
James Stewart (North Burleigh) 96
Tim Peach (Mooloolaba) 93
Chris Allum (Cronulla) 90
Andrew Mosel (Cottesloe) 89
Women:
Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) 114 points
Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) 109
Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) 107
Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) 107
Bonnie Hancock (Northcliffe) 106
Alyce Bennett (Burleigh Heads/Mowbray Park) 103
Allira Richardson (Maroochydore) 101
Chelsea Mackenzie (Burleigh Heads/Mowbray Park) 92
Rebecca Creedy (Metropolitan Caloundra) 91
Flora Manciet (Northcliffe) 90
Chloe Jones (Metropolitan Caloundra) 88