After seven years in the Nutri-Grain IronMan Series, Currumbin’s Ben Carberry has won his first ever professional ironman race, in big surf conditions at Kurrawa Beach today.

Carberry grew up in Warilla Barrack Point (NSW), and relocated to the Gold Coast in 2015 to pursue his ironman dreams.

Carberry was ecstatic to claim his maiden Nutri-Grain IronMan Series win.

“I am stoked to come away with a win in the last Series race, and my first ever Series win,” Carberry said.

“It was a tough one – you had to slow up and speed up at the same time. To find your way out you really had to go for it and attack it.

“It was really good, it was so exciting out there, and I was just having a lot of fun,” he said.

In a thrilling sprint up the beach, it was Carberry who managed to cross the line ahead of retiring Ironman Matt Poole.

“I was just hoping my legs would hold up – I knew he had a bit of pace up the beach,” Carberry said.

“I knew it was a race to the first pole – I knew I had to get the inside run and I just got there.

“I think I have been in the Series for seven years – you just keep at it and hopefully something goes your way.

“Eventually it might, and today was my day,” he said.

It was a fairytale finish for Poole who claimed second place today, with eventual 2022 Nutri-Grain IronMan champion Ali Day in third.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet to be honest – it’s just a relief that I was able to get through the first race,” Day said.

“To finish it off like that, with a third in the final round and an overall Series win is great.

“The goal the whole time, since I started in the Series, was just to be consistent, and I feel like I’ve been able to do that and that’s what has delivered me the Series,” he said.

Day couldn’t have been happier to share the Round 6 podium with two of his great mates.

“I grew up with Benny (Carberry) down at Warilla (Barrack Point) – he’s one of my best mates,” Day said.

“And Pooley (Matt Poole), I’ve feel like I’ve been good mates with him forever now, he’ll always be one of my heroes.

“He walks away today with a second place on the podium – it’s the fairy tale finish for a great career,” he said.