Surfers Paradise Ironwomen Lucy Derbyshire has been forced to withdraw from this weekend’s events middle weekend of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series due to illness with fellow Gold Coast competitor Grace Otto (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) called up to take her place.

It is a cruel and untimely blow for Derbyshire who currently sits in second place behind Lana Rogers after the opening weekend of the Nutri-Grain Iron Series at Manly in December.

This will be Otto’s second chance in the Iron Series having earned her place in the Series last year thanks to her victory in the Nutri-Grain Next Gen U19 competition. Otto narrowly missed a place in the 2023-2024 season after finishing 13th at the Trial.

Otto was already in Sydney when she received the late call-up preparing to compete for Queensland in the Australian Interstate Championships.

“I found out Wednesday night that I’d be racing on the weekend at the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series which is really exciting,” said Otto. “I got to go around last year with the girls so to go around again this weekend will be super awesome”.

The rising star enjoying her time with the Queensland Cyclones in the senior ranks, and said the competition was a great chance for her to experience the Maroubra conditions.

“It was really good to have a hit out at Maroubra,” said Otto. “It’s different conditions compared to back at home [Gold Coast], so it was good to be able to test out the conditions.

“It’s was also great to be in the Queensland Cyclones team, we had a great team and the last time I was in it was when I was under 14s so having that opportunity again was really exciting and I’m looking forward to racing again in the Series on the weekend.

2023/24 NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN AND IRONWOMAN SERIES – Maroubra, NSW

Round 3 | 13 January 2024 | 1-3PM AEDT | Maroubra Beach (Sydney)

Round 4 | 14 January 2024 | 1-3PM AEDT | Maroubra Beach (Sydney)

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Nutri-Grain Series will be broadcast live from Maroubra, Sydney. Tune in to SBS from 1pm AEDT, or Sky Sport NZ from 3pm NZDT.

Results will be updated live here.