Taking home the Shaw and Partners Financial Services Summer of Surf Shannon Eckstein Classic for the 2023/24 season, Surfers Paradise Ironman Champion Ali Day proved once more that he is arguably the best there has ever been.
Furthering his success, Day executed a near perfect race in tricky conditions to add the overall series title to his resume.
Taking the lead in the final board leg, Day powered ahead of eventual runner-up and club mate Finn Askew to secure himself the top of the podium. BMD Northcliffe Ironman Cory Taylor took third.
In the women’s event it was a three-way battle with Maroochydore’s Tiarnee Massie edging in front of BMD Northcliffe duo Lana Rogers and Georgia Miller who took home second and third respectively.
In the Men Ski’s Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park’s Corey Fletcher proved once more than he is the quickest man on the sand. Causing upset in the final moment’s Fletcher outran Newport’s Mitchell Trim to secure himself another victory. Sorento’s Fergus Morgan finished in third.
Newport’s Gemma Smith took an early lead and held it through to the beach to claim her first win of the day in the women’s event. Alexandra Headland’s Tayla Halliday and Kurrawa’s Brianna Massie rounded out the podium.
In the Men’s Board event Justin McMorland flew the flag for Redhead with the biggest win of his career thus far with Fletcher and BMD Northcliffe’s Auden Parish taking home the minor placings.
BMD Northcliffe’s Hannah Sculley once again proved too strong in the women’s event. T.Massie and Alexandra Headland’s Emma Woods rounded out the podium.
In the Men’s Swim BMD Northcliffe’s Nick Sloman outswam Currumbin’s Callum Brennan and club mate Bailey Armstrong to claim his second swim title of the weekend, while Sunshine Beach young gun Gemma Smith-Welch had the biggest win of her career in the women’s event. Burleigh Head’s Mowbray Park’s Charlotte Cross and BMD Northcliffe’s Naomi Scott finished in second and third respectively.
Newport claimed the final event of the day with the 6-man mixed Taplin. BMD Northcliffe A and Maroochydore A rounded out the minor placings.
Delivering a thrilling spectacle on the Gold Coast for the entirety of Super Sunday, the second day of the Shaw and Partners Financial Services Summer of Surf Shannon Eckstein Double Header Classic resulted in an amazing day of racing!
Thank you to all of the sponsors that made the event possible; Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Race One Surf Craft, 7Plus, BMD Northcliffe Surf Lifesaving Club, The Lap Co, Summer of Surf, We are Feel Good Inc, Skoda, Experience Gold Coast and LSKD.
