2012 QLD State Champions

BMD Northcliffe Surf Club took out the overall champion club title convincingly at the Crazy Johns QLD State Championships on the weekend despite missing several key team members. The win was not expected with the championships clashing with the Kayak Sprint Nationals, Australian Swimming Trials and the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships which reduced the strength of the team. 

Leading the way was Elizabeth Pluimers who claimed 6 gold medals at the titles. Pluimers defended her QLD Open Ironwoman title as well as claiming victory in the single ski, taplin, board relay, ski relay and mixed double ski events. She also added 2 silver medals in the female double ski and the surf teams.

Tate Smith, straight off the plane from gaining an olympic birth at the Kayak Sprint Nationals, was at back at home in the surf, claiming 4 gold medals in the single ski, ski relay, taplin relay and mixed double ski. Also claiming 4 gold was Shannon Eckstein in the restricted surf race, taplin, ski relay and surf teams, and narrowly missing out on victory in the open ironman in an exciting sprint finish with Mooloolaba's Ali Day.

On Friday, our Masters also had a successful carnival claiming the overall QLD masters club title. Tiarne Smith lead the way with an amazing 8 gold and 1 silver medal.

All is looking good for the Australian Championships which begin on Monday 26 March through to Sunday 1 April.

For all the Senior QLD Championship results, click here.

For all the Masters QLD Championships results, click here.

Pluimers Dominates Final Round to Claim Series

Elizabeth Pluimers dominated the final round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series claiming the race victory along with the overall series title at Noosa Heads on the weekend. 

Liz went in to the final round trailing by 1 point from clubmate Kristyl Smith but dominated the eliminator format winning all 3 races in flat and hot conditions. In the final race, she broke the field with an extraordinary run leg between the swim and board legs. Kristyl Smith finished in 4th but claimed the series runner up title for the 6th time with Courtney Hancock rounding out the top 3 for a BMD Northcliffe Series Trifecta. Also in the top 10 with automatic qualification in to next series were BMD Northcliffe's Harriet Brown in 7th place and Bonnie Hancock in 10th place.

In the mens race, it was a changing of the guard with Shannon Eckstein's brother, Caine, dominating round 6 to also claim the overall series title. Shannon finished in 3rd place overall with Zane Holmes in 5th place.

For Round 6 Results Click Here

For Overall Series Results Click Here

Bonnie's Podium Performance

A big congratulations to Bonnie Hancock for her maiden podium result finishing 2nd  in round 5 of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series at Coolum. It was Bonnie's best performance of an otherwise dissapointing season so far but she used that dissapointment to triumph yesterday. The result also puts her back in to contention for automatic qualification for next season's series. A good result in the final at Noosa will see her back in the top 10. Kristyl Smith was once again on the podium with a 3rd placing after fighting off clubmates Courtney Hancock & Elizabeth Pluimers and Noosa's Jordie Mercer, in a 4 way sprint to the line. Courtney ended up in 5th with Elizabeth in 6th. Kristyl now reclaims the black togs leading the overall series by 1 point in to the final race at Noosa this weekend. 

In the men's race there were more sprint finishes with the top 6 placing being decided in 2 way sprints. Shannon Eckstein was just pipped on the line for 3rd place by his brother Caine and Zane Holmes out-sprinted overall series leader, Ali Day to claim 5th place. It will be a tough ask, but not impossible, for Shannon to defend his series title, currently sitting in 3rd place, 12 points behind Ali. If Shannon could break through for his first win of the series in the final race, Ali finishes outside the top 7 and Shannon's brother, Caine, finishes out of the top 3, Shannon will claim the series.

For full round 5 results click here.

For overall series results click here.

Pluimers Back in Black

It never seemed likely after her dissapointing race at Portsea in Round 2, but Pluimers is back in the black togs after claiming victory in Round 4 of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series in Perth on the weekend. After Courtney bombed out in Newcastle, Kristyl took over the leaders jersey but was unable to consolidate the lead in Round 4 being the marathon format with an 11th place. Courtney Hancock bounced back from her dissapointing result in Newcastle to be back on the podium with a 3rd placing. Kirsty Holmes continued with her recent form to claim another 5th placing, with the always consistent Harriet Brown in 7th. 

In the Men's race, Caine Eckstein was always the red hot favourite for the marathon format and claimed a convinsing 2nd victory of the series. Shannon Eckstein was very happy with his result placing 3rd in his least favourite format and Cory Hill had his first top 10 finish with an 8th place. Shannon now sits in 3rd place overall in the series still in contention.

For a full list of the women's results click here.

For a full list of the men's results click here.

Double Victory in Round 3 - KNG Series

Kristyl Smith & Zane Holmes made it a BMD Northliffe double for Round 3 of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series in Newcastle. Big seas, strong winds and even marine life made for some exciting racing. Kristyl, who hadn't been off the podium so far in the series, climbed to the top for the first time ahead of Elizabeth Pluimers. Kristyl also claimed the overall series lead after Courtney Hancock lost her ski and finished 19th in the first race relegating her back to 3rd place on the leader board behind Kristyl and Elizabeth. Veteran, Kirsty Holmes, demonstrated her experience finishing in 5th, her best result so far for the series with Harriet Brown in 7th. 

In the men's race, Zane Holmes was the lone BMD Northcliffe representative in the final with Shannon Eckstein just missing out with a 9th place after being knocked of his ski several times. Zane went on to claim his first victory of the season and move further up the leader board in the overall series. 

Close examination of the television footage revealed a pilot whale rounding the cans in the final girls race. With a shark attack at nearby Redhead Beach just days before, people were quick to speculate that it was a shark.

Round 4 heads to Western Australia on the 29th January where they'll take on the Marathon format.

For the full women's results from Round 3 click here.

For the full men's results from Round 3 click here.

Courtney Overcomes Portsea Carnage to Claim Second Win

While Portsea didn't live up to its usual reputation for huge seas, it certainly threw up enough to cause some carnage in Round 2 of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series on the weekend.

Race 1 of the double sprint race ran smoothly with Courtney taking it out ahead of clubmates Liz Pluimers and Bonnie Hancock.

Race 2 saw Liz Pluimers take a commanding early lead with a strong first board leg only to be pegged back at the conclusion of the board leg when several competitors pulled down a large wave behind her. Leading in to the final ski leg BMD Northcliffe were looking good with Liz, Courtney and Kristyl Smith in the top 3 until a nasty collision in the shore break saw all 3 lose their craft and relinquish their lead. Kristyl and Courtney managed to catch back up to 3rd & 4th place respectively but for Liz Pluimers, who fared the worse from the earlier collision,  her Portsea curse from last season continued, ending up in 20th.

This dissapointing finish added with her 2nd place in race 1 meant that she ended up in 11th place for the round. Courtney's 1st & 4th gave her the overall Round win to make it two from two in the series and Kristyl Smith finished with another 3rd place. Other BMD Northcliffe athletes to finsh in the top 10 were Bonnie Hancock in 6th and Harriet Brown in 8th.   Courtney now has a comfortable lead in the overall standings with 50 points followed by Kristyl in 2nd with 40 points and Liz Pluimers in 3rd with 32 points.

In the mens race, Shannon Eckstein showed he was re-gaining form, claiming a win in the 3rd and final mens race. A 4th and a 5th placing in the earlier races meant that he was back on the podium for Round 2 with a 2nd placing behind Kurrawa's Ky Hurst. The mens overall pointscore still remains tight with only 5 points seperating the top 6 competitors. Shannon sits in 4th place, 3 points off the lead.

Round 3 heads to Newcastle on the 22 January for the eliminator format. 

Click here for Round 2 - Male Results

Click here for Round 2 - Female Results

Click here for overall Male Standings after Round 2

Click here for overall Female Standings after Round 2

Click here to visit the Surf Ironman Series website

Click here to check out the carnage from the womens race

BMD Northcliffe Trifect in Round 1 KNG Series

BMD Northcliffe Ironwoman, Courtney Hancock, proved any of her doubters wrong when she took out the opening round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series at Surfers Paradise on the weekend. After claiming the overall series title last season without claiming a race victory, Courtney was quick to prove that she had deserved the crown.

BMD Northcliffe's, Kristyl Smith was the early leader with Courtney and clubmate, Elizabeth Pluimers mid-field after the opening board leg. Both Courtney and Elizabeth made up ground in the run and swim legs and were neck and neck in the final ski leg but Courtney had the goods edging away from Elizabeth in the closing stages. Kristyl Smith held on for 3rd place making it a BMD Northcliffe trifecta. BMD Northcliffe's, Harriet Brown, finished in 7th place with Kirsty Holmes in 15th and Bonnie Hancock in 17th.

In the mens race, BMD Northcliffe's Shannon Eckstein found himself in unfamiliar teritory turning the M shape board flag in equal last. Shannon clawed his way back to mid-field but it just wasn't his day, finishing 9th. Shannon's brother, Caine, was the eventual race winner on the day proving he is the enduro king. BMD Northcliffe's, Zane Holmes, ended up in 11th place with Cory Hill & Tanyn Lyndon finishing 14th & 15th respectively.

Round 2 heads to Portsea in Victoria which is reknown for dishing up big swells making for exciting racing in the 'Triple Sprint' format.

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