The next generation of Ironmen put the field on notice in the opening race of the 2024/25 Shaw and Partners Iron Series at Wanda today, while reigning champion Lana Rogers returned to form to win the Ironwomen race.

In a demonstration of youth and endurance, Shaw and Partners Next Gen athlete Ethan Callaghan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) led the race for its entirety, before reigning champion Ali Day came to the fore to take out the first race of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series.

A sprint up the beach between young guns Callaghan, Ryley Harland (Northcliffe) and CJ Brennan (Currumbin) determined today’s minor placings, Harland (29 points) crossing in second, followed by Brennan (27 points).

With the next generation hot on his heels, Day said it was a relief to bank maximum points today.

“It was hard. I feel like I say that every single year, but really exciting as well. Obviously winning, but being in a race with Ryley Harland, Callum Brennan and my hat goes out to Ethan Callaghan”

“So much of it is mental, I have a great support network around me, great sponsors, obviously Shaw and Partners, Race One, my coaches, Surfers Paradise Surf Club.

“Every time I race, I want to go for the win, I want to do my best, whether that’s first, last, third, whatever it is and that was the best I had today and I came out on top.

“The next generation is 100% here. They’ve arrived. It’s exciting and they’re making me better,” he said.

Racing for a second year in the Iron Series, Harland said he couldn’t have dreamt of a better start.

“It’s my second Series and I still don’t have a lot of pressure which is great. I love racing with no pressure. It makes it a lot more fun, which I really like,” Harland said.

“It was a good race. I was really happy with it. It’s cool seeing someone like Ali Day just in front of you there, it’s pretty special.

“We were all so cooked going into that last leg, but it was cool being up there with Ethan and Callum. They’re both great guys and I love racing with them and against them,” he said.

Brennan never thought he’d be finishing in the top three in his first ever Iron Series race.

“I’m so stoked. I’m over the moon. I didn’t expect that at all. I had a race plan that I executed, just no mistakes and that’s what I did,” Brennan said.

“Ali Day is my idol, so to be within striking distance of him, I was just so over the moon.

“We’re all the young guys of the sport, so to be up the front, it’s just so good for the sport,” he said.

In the Ironwomen, it was an emotional win for reigning champion Lana Rogers who raced for redemption in the Endurosurf format.

Surfers Paradise Ironwoman Lucy Derbyshire finished in second banking 29 points, and Maroochydore’s Tiarnee Massie in third on 27 points.

After failing to finish the Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold a few months ago, Rogers said today’s win gives her a boost of confidence to set up the rest of the Iron Series.

“I haven’t had the best start to the season, it was a little bit rocky with my mindset, and getting off the Coolangatta Gold and what happened there,” Rogers said.

“So I just wanted to go in, refocus on what I was doing and what I train to do and it paid off today, I’m really happy with that.

“I’ve lacked a lot of confidence coming into this season, so I just wanted to go out there and do my best. That’s got me a little bit more confident now heading into tomorrow.

“It’s good to be back, I did a little bit of a drive by and reminisced on my childhood memories. I never really raced at Wanda though, so it’s good to be at the other end,” she said.

The Round 1 winner will be crowned following tomorrow’s race, with a cumulative point score to determine top spot.

Lana Rogers and Ali Day sit comfortably in first position on 32 points each, while the race for minor positions will be on in tomorrow’s Eliminator format.

After tomorrow’s race, the bottom six athletes in each gender will be eliminated, with the top 22 to advance to Round 2 in Newcastle, NSW on 11-12 January 2025.

 

IRONWOMEN: 1. ROGERS, Lana (Northcliffe); 2. DERBYSHIRE, Lucy (Surfers Paradise); 3. MASSIE, Tiarnee (Maroochydore); 4. WELBORN, Lizzie (Newport); 5. OUTRAM, Electra (Sunshine Beach); 6. CORRIN, Olivia (Northcliffe); 7. SCULLEY, Hannah (Northcliffe); 8. STITT, Dominique (Mooloolaba); 9. SMITH, Jemma (Newport); 10. PAPAC, Carla (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)

IRONMEN: 1. DAY, Ali (Surfers Paradise); 2. HARLAND, Ryley (Northcliffe); 3. BRENNAN, CJ (Currumbin); 4. CALLAGHAN, Ethan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park); 5. COLLINS, Joe (Northcliffe); 6. COLLINS, Dan (Redhead); 7. ASKEW, Finn (Surfers Paradise); 8. MAGGS, Conner (Newport); 9. MORRIS, Zach (Northcliffe); 10. TAYLOR, Cory (Northcliffe)

For full results – click here