Crack Kiwi contingent set for Australian ironman trials

A record field of eight New Zealand surf lifesavers will attempt to crack the sport's richest series when they line up at the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman trials this weekend.

The group will join nearly 100 other surf athletes at Sydney’s Wanda Beach to try to grab the 21 remaining spots on the A$200,000 ($235,000) five-round series at Kurrawa, Coolum and Coogee, starting in January.

Reigning New Zealand ironman champion Dan Moodie, now based with the Northcliffe club in Queensland, is one of four Kiwi males in the field, along with Gisborne-based brothers Mike and Daniel Janes (Midway), and East End's Daniel Nelson.

The quartet all raced in the prestigious Coolangatta Gold recently, with Mike Janes the best of the New Zealanders, finishing the grueling long-distance ironman race in 11th spot, three places ahead of Moodie.

Muriwai’s Jess Parr, fresh from her 12th at the Coolangatta Gold, leads a strong New Zealand female team this weekend, with rising stars Aimee Berridge, Madison Boon and Rachel Clarke also lining up.

Orewa’s Clarke performed well in the first two rounds of the rich Ocean Assault series in Queensland last week, finishing second in the under-19 ski, fifth in the under-19 surf race and third in the under-19 ironman.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand sport manager Mark Weatherall is confident of a strong showing from the Kiwi contingent.

“Our younger athletes seem to have lost that fear of lining up against their Australian rivals and we showed that at the world championships this year,” Weatherall said. “If they can transfer that confidence to their racing this weekend, their exposure and marketability will go through the roof during the series.”

New Plymouth Old Boys coach Glenn Anderson was the last New Zealander to compete in the Kellogg’s series, with the last of his three seasons in 2006.

Some of the biggest names in Australia are still to qualify for the series, including Hayley Bateup, Tim Peach, Chris Allum, Courtney Hancock, Corey Jones, Jacob Lollback and Alyce Bennett.

Bateup, Hancock and Bennett took out the first three spots at the Coolangatta Gold, while there are 10 male and 11 female positions up for grabs in a grueling series of races.