Mooloolaba training partners Ali Day and Danielle Allen have been rewarded by their peers for wonderful breakthrough seasons by taking out the inaugural Red Bull ‘Athlete’s Athlete’ Awards at a glittering awards ceremony at Noosa Heads.

The voting criteria for the award, voted by the athletes, for the athletes, included the most inspiring performance, professionalism, fair play and sportsmanship, and passion for the sport.

The award and the $5000 that went with it was just deserts for Day who finished runner-up to Caine Eckstein in this summer’s Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series, gaining three podium finishes along the way.

Allen, who will move to Sydney next month to begin a double degree in medicine and surgery at Sydney University, earnt the respect of voters after she fought intense pain to finish the Marathon event in Perth after ripping a tendon from the bone in her foot at the beginning of the 90 minute race.

At that stage of the season Allen, 17, was in fourth place in the standings before the subsequent surgery to repair the damaged foot ruled her out for the year’s last two races.

Always humble and at times in awe of his more celebrated rivals, Day was shocked with his win and could barely contain his excitement.

“It’s the best thing in the world to get voted by 20 of the best ironmen in the world to win the Red Bull ‘Athlete’s Athlete’ award and means the world to me,” Day said.

“I was so surprised. I thought Kendrick Louis or Ky (Hurst) or Hugh Dougherty would win it but not me.

“I watched my training partner Matt Poole win the Red Bull Rookie of the Year award last year and it inspired me so it’s great for me to be able to win this time around.”

This year’s IronWoman Series winner Elizabeth Pluimers paid the ultimate tribute to Allen’s courage and attitude.

“Danielle showed so much courage and determination to finish the race in Perth after what happened and she became like a hero to me,” Pluimers said.

“Just as impressive is the way she dealt with it. To come down to the last two races of the season on crutches and show the support for all of us, always with a smile and never complaining showed sportsmanship and a love for the sport that has to be admired.”

While Allen will continue to rest her damaged foot Day will take a week off training to return to his family home in Kiama on the NSW South Coast before returning to the Sunshine Coast to prepare for the Queensland and Australian Championships.

Caine Eckstein has produced one of the most dominant performances in history to win all five elimination races and with it a maiden Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series title in the season’s final race at a sundrenched and heaving Noosa Heads beach today.

Eckstein came into the Eliminator event five points behind series leader Ali Day but after his stunning victory and Day’s laboured eighth place the younger Eckstein finally broke the 13-year stranglehold on the professional series held by his older brother Shannon, Zane Holmes and Ky Hurst.

Ky Hurst finished the day with a withering last swim to grab second from Shannon Eckstein and Hugh Dougherty. Hurst was left lamenting a round three disqualification in Newcastle after today’s result left him fourth overall in the pointscore, 17 points behind the winner, ten shy of runner-up Day and just five behind Shannon.

But the day belonged to Caine Eckstein, the five-time Coolangatta Gold winner who for so long has stood in the shadow of older brother Shannon when it came to short course racing and the professional series. Not today.

Eckstein revealed he hadn’t really considered taking out the overall title and the Grant Kenny medal, believing that was always the domain of his older brother.

“I have always trained for and focussed on the (Coolangatta) Gold and thought that the Nutri-Grain Series was Shannon’s thing,” Eckstein said.

“I really didn’t think of it as a chance for me although I have more confidence in myself this year. Last year if I came into the last race five points behind I might not have thought I could win it.”

Whether it was on the board, ski, running or swimming Caine was in the top four all day and always found his way to the sand at the end of the final leg. He said afterwards he had tried to get out in front early to minimise the chances of ‘making as goose of myself’.

“I felt pretty good to start with, and I do feel good when I get good starts, so everything went well in the first few races,” Eckstein said.

“I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have a shocker at the end and make a goose of myself so I was just lucky I just finished off well.

“The last race is always the key. I didn’t know where the other guys were or if Shannon was going to beat me, but I got into the shore and saw Ky’s yellow jersey and that scared me even more so it was head down bum up for the last few metres, I tried not to look around, and I’m just stoked to come away with it.”

Eckstein also took time out to pay tribute to a gallant and humble Day, saying the 21-year-old and his injured training partner Kendrick Louis, had a big future ahead of him.

“Guys like Ali and Kendrick definitely have massive futures,” Eckstein said.

“Ali is so consistent and probably the next step for him is to win a few races.

“He probably doesn’t quite know how to win races yet like a Ky Hurst or a Zane Holmes, but in the next few years when Ali gets that type of determination he’ll just be winning race left right and centre.”

Despite having the title ripped from his grasp Day, true to form praised the Eckstein’s said he was over the moon with what had been a breakthrough year.

“It was such a good year for me. Without bragging I’d never thought after finishing eighth in this race last year that I would be second overall,” Day said.

“I’m a bit disappointed that I missed out on the winner’s car, but I’m so happy to be on the podium next to Shannon and Caine who are heroes of mine and words can’t describe how I’m feeling.

“I think I did run out of puff. Today really did show that I didn’t do the work that Caine and Shannon did.

“Those boys were up there from the word go today. They picked up the inside alley all the time and I probably should have raced a bit smarter and done the same thing.

“But good luck to them, it’s awesome to see Caine win the Coolangatta Gold, win three races this year and go on to win his first Series so I’m proud for him and stoked that I got second.”

The top ten places for the season all earned an automatic qualification for next summer and were Eckstein (115 points), Day (108), Shannon Eckstein (103), Hurst (98), Zane Holmes 89, Matt Poole (83), Hugh Dougherty (82), Corey Jones (82), Wes Berg (74) and Phil Clayton (70).

For final results of round six of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series, click here

For the final pointscore after the sixth round of the 2011/12 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series, click here

Liz Pluimers has handed out a surf lifesaving lesson to her IronWoman Series rivals by taking out round six of the Series ahead of Brodie Moir and Jordan Mercer in front of a packed crowd at a sweltering Noosa beach today.

Pluimers was dominant from the opening gun as she won each of the three races to clean sweep the eliminator format and claim a seven-point overall Series victory over close friend Kristyl Smith, who had to endure her sixth runner-up finish in the Series.

The 25-year old Pluimers had previously recorded powerful performances at Surfers Paradise (2^nd) and Newcastle (2^nd), before winning two of the last three races at Perth and Noosa to run away with the title.

It is Pluimers first IronWoman Series win since 2008, seeing her break a two-year bridesmaid tag after finishing second in the previous two editions of the Coolangatta Gold, Aussie championships and IronWoman Series.

The Northcliffe based Pluimers was ecstatic by the performance and credited her improved run legs as the reason for her memorable triumph.

“After Portsea I was so disappointed, but everyone has had a bad race this year, so it all came together in the end for me so I am really stoked,” Pluimers said.

“I’ve definitely being working on my run leg over the last couple of years and that was a major difference today.

“I have seen how legends such as Trevor Hendy and Shannon Eckstein have used the run to their effect in the past, so I really wanted to use that to my advantage today and in that last race I just went for it.

“Not having the black togs definitely helped me a little as I didn’t have to think about it too much and I could just go out there and focus and give it my all.

“Obviously being a runner-up myself in the last couple of years I can relate to Kristyl, but I’m stoked to being out of the second place as well.”

Despite feeling the emotions of another narrow defeat, Smith was up-beat about the result and credited her close mate Pluimers for the fantastic win.

“I’m happy. If you look at the calibre of the girls we have now, for me to come second is quite good,” Smith said.

“Those run legs really hurt. I did everything I wanted to do, but basically there was just 100 metres of swimming and the rest was running which wasn’t the best for me.

“In the end though, the fittest person won. Liz was so incredible on the sand today and absolutely the she was the best.

“I knew all along that she would come back after her result in Portsea, and she definitely showed today that she is the dominant Ironwoman out there.”

Meanwhile, last year’s champion Courtney Hancock survived a tenth placed finish in race two and an early elimination, to finish third in the Series standings.

She held off a fast finishing Jordan Mercer who closed to within nine points of the podium, after rattling home in the last race to claim her third straight top five finish in front of her family and friends.

The top ten places for the season all earned an automatic qualification for next summer and were Pluimers  (119 points), Smith (112), Hancock (99), Mercer (90), Moir (89), Candice Falzon (75), Harriet Brown (72), Rebecca Creedy (70), Allira Richardson (64) and Bonnie Hancock (61).

For final results of round six of the IronWoman Series click here

For the final pointscore after the sixth and final round of the 2011/12 IronWoman Series, click here

The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series wraps up at Noosa beach tomorrow, and it is likely that the first champion in 13 years not named Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes or Ky Hurst will be crowned, as current leader Ali Day and second placed Caine Eckstein battle it out for Nutri-Grain IronMan supremacy.

Both athletes are currently separated by five points in the overall Series standings and head into the sixth and final round at Noosa knowing it would be a remarkable effort if either of them could end the reign of their more illustrious rivals.

Mooloolaba’s Day, who has led the Nutri-Grain IronMan Series since round four at Perth, has played down his chances of claiming the Series win, but said it would be a dream come true, if he was able to dethrone the likes of Eckstein, Holmes and Hurst.

“Look, you’re only human if you think about it and I have been thinking about it all week and I probably shouldn’t have,” Day said.

“But it’s just one of those things, it could be a case of a dream turning into reality, so I’m just going back to the basics and trying to make sure I do the little things right.

“Tomorrow will take a lot of guts to hang on I think.

“I have hung on for the last two rounds but they have been snapping at my heels, so it’s just a matter of doing it again and going as long as I can for the whole day.”

Eckstein, who took out round wins at Surfers Paradise and Perth, mirrored Day’s philosophy, saying he looked up to brother Shannon as the guy that would win the title, and was now stoked to find himself on the cusp of that very position.

“I’d never say it’s actually been a dream of mine to win the Series, mostly because I have trained for the Coolangatta Gold every year, but when I’ve watched Shannon he has been just so dominant that I’d never thought I’d be able to beat him,” Eckstein said.

“But now that I have got a shot, it has sort of snuck up on me and I guess in way it would be pretty sweet if I was able to get up and get the win.

“Being five points behind though, it will make it pretty hard if I get a fourth as Ali will have to get a ninth or something like that. But if I get between a win and a third I will give myself a pretty good chance and who knows what can happen.”

The two will battle it out in what is expected to be flat conditions, and both credited each other’s amazing athletic ability and consistency as the reason to their success.

Eckstein, who has won a record five Coolangatta Gold races, said he was excited by the calm surf but was quick to point out Day’s ability to consistently place in the top few positions.

“I think the flat will suit me and I will just make sure I conserve energy and try and get through each race with the least amount of energy spent,” Eckstein said.

“If I get on the podium I will put myself in a pretty good position to go for the win. But in saying that, Ali has been so consistent in every race, so he has a very good chance of getting on the podium as well.”

Day, who has risen to prominence during the 2011/2012 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series, was similarly cautious, believing it was crucial he focused on his own race and not get caught up in Eckstein’s approach.

“Caine (Eckstein) is a phenomenal athlete, particularly in these conditions with it being so dead and flat and when you have five races like that, he definitely comes into his element,” Day said.

“That one speed he does have is so fast, and he just loves gutsing it out, so I won’t be looking to mark him or anything like that, I will just race my own race and just see what happens.”

Sunday’s action kicks off with the IronWoman race at 11.30am (local time), followed by the finals of the Junior Ironman and Ironwoman Challenge, before the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series finale at 1.30pm.

All the action can be seen on Network Ten at 2.00pm nationally.

They are the best of friends, training partners at Northcliffe and travelling roommates but there will be no love lost between Kristyl Smith and Elizabeth Pluimers when they line up for the final round of this summer’s IronWoman Series at Noosa on Sunday.

Smith leads Pluimers by a solitary point in the standings and the equation for the pair is simple – beat the other and win the overall series title – and with it the coveted Karla Gilbert medal.

Both ironwomen have won a race this summer with Smith boasting results of third, third, first, 11^th and third to Pluimers’ second, 11^th, second, first and sixth.

And while Sunday’s Eliminator format appears to be a match race between the pair for the title, lurking in the shadows and by no means out of contention is defending series champion Courtney Hancock who sits on 88 points, seven adrift of Smith and six shy of Pluimers.

A win for Smith would be a culmination of a career’s work that has earnt the affable former Cronulla star a world championship, two Australian titles and an agonising five IronWoman Series runner-up finishes.

Now, although wary of Pluimers, Smith is ready to shed the bridesmaid tag that she has held for much of the latter half of her 13-year professional career.

“To be in the Series for so long and not come away with a win definitely gives me motivation to keep on going until I can get that win, Smith said.

“I still feel as though I am fit and strong enough to do so, so fingers crossed I’ll have a good race on Sunday and come away with it.

“Liz is obviously very strong at the Eliminator format. She’s someone who dictates from race one and I think to be able to beat her you have to get out there as soon as that gun goes and be amongst it from the start.”

Pluimers had her own heartbreaking runner-up finish last season when she won four of the five races in the IronWoman Series only to lose the title to the ever consistent Hancock following a catastrophic 17^th in round four at Portsea.

But the part time accountant has thrown out the challenge to her friend and rival, believing the format and conditions would suit her.

“I guess the pressure is off me a little bit without being in the black (leader’s swimsuit) and one point behind isn’t too far out of reach either, so I am really looking forward to it,” Pluimers said.

“The eliminator format is the one I love doing and I am glad that it is the final round for Noosa as well. With Noosa being flat with not many waves and not much wind, it is going to be hard fast racing, so I’m definitely going out there with the hope of winning.”

Despite what is on the line the pair will share a room while in Noosa and each said they’d be vigilant in the event the other might try and gain some sort of advantage.

“I usually cook breakfast for us on race day so I might have to chuck something into Liz’s food,” Smith started with a laugh.

“You never know what she might end up eating.

“But look we are good friends, we train together and have done so for five or six years now, so she is a great friend of mine and if I don’t win I’d like to hope that she is up there.”

Tongue in cheek, Pluimers countered saying she may have a plan of her own.

“Maybe she will ‘accidently’ eat some laxatives or get smothered as she sleeps on Saturday night.”

All the weekend’s action kicks off on Saturday with the heats of the Junior Ironman and Ironwoman Challenge before Sunday’s feature events begin with the IronWoman at 11.30am (local time), the finals of the Junior Ironman and Ironwoman Challenge at approx. 12.30pm and the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series finale at 1.30pm.

The 2011-12 Kellogg’s Nutri Grain IronMan Series and IronWoman Series have produced the full gamut of performances and results.

From elation to heartache, breakthrough victories and stories of redemption to disqualifications and broken bodies, this summer has had it all.

On Sunday the winners of the Grant Kenny and Karla Gilbert medals for the overall champion Nutri Grain IronMan and IronWoman will be crowned on world famous Noosa Heads beach. The winners will be most deserving.

On Monday night at a gala dinner, that will also honour the latest inductees into the Ironman Hall of Fame, the inaugural Red Bull ‘Athlete’s Athlete’ Award, and with it $5000, will be bestowed on two deserving winners.

The voting criteria for the award, voted by the athletes, for the athletes, includes the most inspiring performance, professionalism, fair play and sportsmanship, and passion for the sport.

Will voters look to the incredible courage and resilience of Danielle Allen and Kendrick Louis, who in the middle of break through seasons, suffered summer ending injuries in the heat of Perth, only to battle on as far as their damaged legs would allow them?

Or will it be the seemingly unparalleled professionalism of Nutri-Grain Series champion elect Ali Day or IronWoman Series leader Kristyl Smith who is in position to claim the first series title of her stellar 13-year professional career.

Some voters may look at the sportsmanship of Ky Hurst, who handled his untimely disqualification in the opening Eliminator race in Newcastle with the class and humility befitting a dual Olympian and seven-time Australian Ironman champion. Or Courtney Hancock and Liz Pluimers who faced the cameras just seconds after crushing results appeared to harpoon their series chances.

Then there are those with the passion for ironman racing that transcends most others in what is a passion driven sport. Athletes like Candice Falzon who broke through for her first career win at Coolum after three years out of the professional series or Kirsty Holmes and Phil Clayton who at 38 and 35 respectively returned to the series this season.

Monday night, find out who has stood out in the eyes of those that matter most to our IronMen and IronWomen: their peers, and won the first ever Red Bull ‘Athlete’s Athlete’ Award.

Olympic swimmer Ky Hurst has stormed home in a thrilling sprint finish ahead of Hugh Dougherty to claim the fifth round of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.

Spurred on by his unfortunate disqualification for missing a turning buoy in round three at Newcastle, Hurst came from eighth place at the start of the day’s final handicap ironman race with a trademark powerful swim leg and a cracking wave from the back in the board to win his second race of the summer.

Caine Eckstein beat older brother Shannon in a sprint finish for third, while veteran Zane Holmes overcame Nutri-Grain Series leader Ali Day in another spirited gallop to the line for fifth.

With the season finale set down for an Eliminator race in Noosa next Sunday, Day (95 points) holds a five point lead over Caine Eckstein, with Shannon a further seven points back. Hurst is in fourth on 76.

The format for the day – the Pursuit – saw competitors race in individual ski, swim and board races where they accumulated points that were then converted to seconds for the final handicap traditional ironman race.

At that point Shannon Eckstein held a three second lead over his brother with Dougherty, who had his best result of an uncharacteristically slow summer, two seconds further back.

Hurst began the race 17 seconds behind Shannon Eckstein and that margin was exactly the same after the opening ski leg. Eckstein was then desperately unlucky in the swim leg and had to look back and see Dougherty, Hurst and his brother surf on by.

It then became a race in two as Dougherty and Hurst pierced the break in the board – the former looking to have victory in the bag until Hurst found his way onto the same wave, setting up the sprint to the line.

A jubilant Hurst said he had ridden a roller coast wave of a season but he was not looking for any excuses following his round three disqualification.

“It’s one of those seasons to tell you the truth. There have been so many highs and so many lows, so there’s been no real plateau for me and today is no different,” Hurst said.

“To be able to repeat my (round two) Portsea performance is certainly exciting and to have what happened to me at Newcastle is just unfortunate so I guess that’s just how the cookie crumbles.

“We’re not only here to race, but to put on a show for the public so each individual, all 21 of us who race, are role models for someone and we’re meant to set an example so at Newcastle I wasn’t going to carry on a prance up and down the beach just because I got disqualified.

“I had to take it on the chin and take it for what it was. No doubt I was disappointed, don’t get me wrong, but now I don’t look at treating the Series as a whole, I treat each race as it comes so today was the same, and so too will Noosa.

“I’m looking to make sure I do everything right this week, recover as good as I can before next Sunday and hopefully I can be ready to fire again.”

There are several scenarios that could play out in next week’s final round but Day can cement his first ever Nutri-Grain title by finishing first or second. If Caine Eckstein were to win, and claim his third race of the summer, and Day placed third, Eckstein would win the title on a count back.

If both athletes missed the podium Eckstein would need to beat Day by five places.

After that there are many permutations required for Shannon Eckstein to win but the only likely opportunity for him to take a record seventh Nutri-Grain title would be a victory.

Day, who has down played his overall Nutri-Grain Series chances since before he took the pointscore lead following round three, said he was happy to still have the famed black leader’s jersey and was looking forward to preparing for Noosa.

“It’s pretty cool to hang onto the black jersey though, but they are catching me,” Day said.

“I think they’ll probably catch me by the last round so we may even draw the Series. But I’m just going to get back into training tomorrow and get ready for a big weekend at Noosa.

Caine Eckstein said he knew the sprint finish against his brother was critical to his overall title hopes.

“I knew it was big to get an extra three points over fourth and I sort of needed them heading into Noosa, so I thought I may as well give it my best but that finish line never seemed like coming around,” Caine said.

“I’m looking forward to Noosa now and its pretty fun that Ali (Day) has come back to us a bit so we’ll see what we can do next week.”

The final round of the summer is on Sunday at Noosa with the IronWoman race starting at 1130am, the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series race getting underway at 1.30pm and the television coverage beginning on Network Ten at 2pm nationally.

For final results of round five of the IronWoman Series click here

For the progressive point score after round five of the 2011/112 IronWoman Series click here

Candice Falzon has produced the performance of her career claiming her maiden race win in round five of the IronWoman Series in front of a massive crowd at Coolum beach today.

Falzon claimed the Pursuit format ahead of Northcliffe pair Bonnie Hancock and Kristyl Smith, while Series leader Liz Pluimers finished in sixth position and relinquished the overall black leader’s jersey to her training partner Smith.

Pluimers, who had earlier dominated the individual ski, swim and board races to accumulate the least amount of points and gain a seven second lead heading into the handicap IronWoman race, was unable to continue her form in the main event, allowing the comeback girl Falzon to power through the final two legs and claim the memorable victory.

For Falzon, the win was sweet reward for 15 hard earned years in the sport and the perfect response to all the critics who had doubted her after three years away from the IronWoman Series.

“It’s unbelievable. Ever since I was a kid I dreamt of winning one of these races. I had a few years off and everyone knows I had some bad times, but I never stopped believing and never stopped dreaming and I knew one day this would happen,” Falzon said.

“I’ve trained bloody hard for this and I think I deserve this, just as much as anyone else who has deserved to win a race.

“I felt good all week and felt really good in the individual swim, and I knew that if I produced another good swim in the IronWoman I could put myself in a really good position.

“I then came out in front and continued that in the board and from that point on I never once looked back. I put my head down, paddled as hard as I could and I just couldn’t believe it when I crossed the line.

“Even though I dreamed of this all along I just couldn’t believe it could actually come true and that’s something for everyone to realise.

“No matter what you go through and how old, how young you are, if you really believe in something and you put the hard work and dedication into it you are going to achieve that goal.”

Falzon’s tremendous performance now elevates her to fifth in the overall standings and all but guarantees her an automatic berth in next year’s Series. She is 26 points behind new front runner Smith who moved back into the leaders black jersey after a gutsy third place finish.

Smith will carry a one point advantage over Pluimers heading into the final round in Noosa next weekend, and the 28-year old veteran said she is comfortable about returning to the top after previously holding the honour in Perth two weeks ago.

“It’s obviously going to come down to that last race and whoever can finish in front will take the win,” Smith said.

“I will still go into the race the same I would in any other race and that’s to go in it to win it and if that happens obviously I’ll be holding the trophy.

“I’m just stoked to finish on the podium four times now and I’m just looking to do the same in Noosa.”

Despite the sixth place finish Pluimers said she was looking forward to the showdown with her close friend Smith in the finale.

“Look I’m a little bit disappointed about losing the black jersey for Noosa, but the pressure is now off and I’m only one point behind Kristyl (Smith) so anything is possible.

“It’s also great to see the three Northcliffe girls on the podium so in whole it’s been a great day.”

Last year’s Series winner Courtney Hancock rounds out the top three in the standings after finishing fifth and is seven points adrift of Smith, while Hancock’s sister Bonnie produced her best performance of the year to claim second and edge herself into the top 10.

The final round of the summer is on Sunday at Noosa with the IronWoman race starting at 1130am, the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series race getting underway at 1.30pm and the television coverage beginning on Network Ten at 2pm nationally.

For final results of round five of the IronWoman Series click here

For the progressive point score after round five of the 2011/112 IronWoman Series click here

The scenario for Zane Holmes to win a sixth Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series crown is simple – the hulking Queenslander must win the season’s remaining two rounds, starting with tomorrow’s event at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.

Holmes, who last won the Nutri-Grain Series title in 2008 has had an up and down season, finishing 11th in both the endurance races, placing seventh in the big seas of Portsea and storming to a characteristic victory in round three at Newcastle.

He sits in equal fourth position with Matt Poole on 59 points, seven adrift of third placed Shannon Eckstein, 11 shy of Caine Eckstein and a seemingly insurmountable 21 points behind surprise Nutri-Grain Series leader Ali Day.

“I think mathematically it’s possible for me to win, but there’s quite a few scenarios that need to play out,” Holmes said.

“Basically I just need to win the last two races, that’s all there is to it.

“I don’t have any control on where the other guys come, I just need to make sure I beat them.”

Holmes believes tomorrow’s Pursuit format that will see the ironmen contest individual ski, swim and board races before a full ironman finale suits his consistent skills across all three legs.

“It is a different format. I haven’t done it before, but I think it will suit me and it’s very similar tactically to an Eliminator so I’m going to approach it that way. You just have to make sure you have enough left in the tank for the Ironman race because that’s what it will all come down to,” Holmes said.

With the emergence of 21-year-old Day as the champion elect and stunning form from other youngsters including the now injured Kendrick Louis, Holmes sees something of a revolution occurring in the sport.

“I guess you could say it is a bit of a changing of the guard. It’s certainly the closest it’s been for many, many years since when Shannon (Eckstein), Ky (Hurst) and myself first came on the scene,” he said.

“Ali has been performing extremely well and he’s shown the importance of being consistent. He hasn’t won a race yet but his consistency has given him that leaders jersey and he probably is the man to beat.

“I’ve got to beat everyone. I’ve got three guys in front of me, who are all very good athletes, particularly Shannon who is the defending champion. He will certainly want to prove himself in these last two rounds and then obviously Ali (Day) has got it all to lose so he’s going to be stepping up a level trying and keep the Series lead.”

The IronWoman Series event gets underway at 11.30am local time before the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan race starts at 1.30pm. Television coverage starts at 2pm nationally on Network Ten.

Corey Jones and Jordan Mercer couldn’t be more different but when the Sunshine Coast pair take to Coolum beach on Sunday for the penultimate round of the summer’s Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series and IronWoman Series they will share a common goal – consistency.

Jones is the retiring laid back enigma whose long hair and thick wooly beard has earnt him a cult following while Mercer is the gregarious girl next door with the famous family ironman name.

The pair will arrive at Coolum with just this week’s fifth round and next Sunday’s final event at Noosa to secure a top ten overall place and an automatic qualification for next summer.

Both have contended at various stages throughout this season – Jones finishing second to Caine Eckstein in round one and Mercer fighting for a breakthrough runner up performance behind IronWoman Series leader Liz Pluimers in Perth two weeks ago.

But both have seen the other end of the field too with Jones having an aberration for 18th in round two and Mercer finishing 16th in round three, leading them to be sitting in eighth and seventh in their respective series’ and in need of a consistently good last two races.

“Consistency is definitely the key to this Nutri-Grain Series and I’ve been lacking that more than anyone in the past,” Jones said.

“I have come either in the top three or the bottom three, which isn’t that good. So this year I’ve worked on being up there and I’ve got a little unlucky every now and then, but I’ll just keep pushing and hopefully I will get better and better.

“This weekend is going to involve a lot of skill I think and usually Coolum has a lot of waves and some rough conditions so it will be whoever has the biggest brain and whoever is switched on the most that will come through.”

Mercer, who had the crowd at the Perth race in raptures when she performed a backflip off the presentation dais after receiving her second place trophy, had a similar plan to Jones, admitting she needed to maintain her consistency to remain in the top ten.

“I think to stay in the top ten I just have to remain consistent,” Mercer said.

“All the hard work is done and you just have to realise that now it is about making the right decisions on the day. With the round here at Coolum, which is fairly testing surf, that’s definitely going to come into play, so it will be whoever masters those conditions the best.”

Jones’ beard has been the subject of plenty of airtime from the Nutri-Grain Series broadcaster Network Ten and the part time lifeguard said the inspiration for it came from his father.

“The beard all came back to my Dad. I’ve seen photos of him when he was young and he always had the long hair and the big beard so I thought why not have a go at what my Dad used to do,” Jones said.

“I also got knocked out of the Nutri-Grain Series last year, so that was added motivation. I said if I qualified for the Series it would give me a chance to grow the beard, so that pushed me to train harder and get into the Series and now it seems to be going well and I’m happy with it.

“I really like it so I’m thinking about keeping it for another year.

“I think it definitely slows me down in the swim and causes a bit of drag, but it makes me try a little harder to be equal, so in end I don’t think it makes too much of a difference.”

Given the new found fan interest in him Jones is typically laid back and humble.

“I’m probably just the average working bloke that loves to go fishing and going surfing with my mates. I’m relaxed, I try not to put pressure on myself and just try and go out there and have fun.”

While Jones’ father was the inspiration for the beard, Mercer paid tribute to her own father and family saying she felt no pressure from carrying the famous name.

“I don’t feel any pressure coming from the family and the Mercer’s themselves,” the 18-year-old said.

“I feel that they are the ones behind me giving me all the support and if anything it is the media who play a little on my mind with that.

“As to whether it is a blessing or a curse, I think having the Mercer name is definitely a blessing. Having the opportunities I have been given and the tips and pointers passed my way is second to none I think.”

The IronWoman Series event kicks off at 11.30am (local time) on Sunday with the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series race starting at 1.30pm.

Television coverage begins nationally at 2pm on Network Ten.

The final round of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series and IronWoman Series is next week at Noosa Heads where the Grant Kenny and Karla Gilbert medallists for the overall series will be crowned.