SHAW AND PARTNERS IRON SERIES FULL FIELD LOCKED IN

After two gruelling days of racing on the Gold Coast, the full field for the 2026-2027 Shaw and Partners Iron Series has been decided, with 17 debutants earning their start in the professional Series.

The two day trial, presented by Race One Surf Craft, saw a field of almost 200 cut down to the top 60 for Sunday’s final day of racing.

Yesterday saw three-time former Series Champion Lana Rogers (Northcliffe) and Sunshine Coast star Brayden Casamento (Alexandra Headland) take out the one spot on offer for automatic qualification, after winning all three races. For more day one highlights – click here.

Sunday’s final day of racing opened with the enduro format – with the top five from the Ironmen and Ironwoman going straight through to the Series, as the rest of the field were forced to race twice more.

The Ironwoman enduro saw 16-year-old Jessica Conrad (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) qualify for her maiden Ironwoman Series, the youngster coming back after suffering a back injury last year and a shoulder injury leading into the weekend.

“All my family, friends and clubmates watching, that one meant a lot for me for sure. This has been a goal of mine, but I just turned 16 a couple of weeks ago, this is only my second time trialling so that [qualifying] was pretty cool to do.

“Last year was a little bit ugly and I wanted to come back because I knew I could do so so much better.

“At the end of last year I was diagnosed with bruising on my spine and it made the last end of the season a bit tricky, but I managed to race at States and Aussies. I did my shoulder [injury] a couple of weeks ago as well which has been a tricky one to manage… so with limited training I managed to make it work,” she said.

After narrowly missing the top 12 at the end of last season, Northcliffe’s Ryley Harland delivered a strong performance in the Trials, taking out the Ironwoman enduro to secure his spot in the Series.

“It’s such a big relief to be in it [the Series] again. It was pretty hard to have to do the Trials this season, as I had a pretty good Series last season except for that Saturday race at the Finals. So I had to put my foot on the line here and I was pretty grateful to be able to get that win in the enduro.

“The competition in this Ironman is just crazy, it’s getting harder and harder each year. It’s so tough to stay at that pointy end… everyone wants it,” he said.

Juggling her HSC studies with her Ironwoman training, Sydney Northern Beaches rising star Pipi te Pania (Newport) was the top ranked Ironwoman at the end of Sunday’s racing, booking her third appearance in the Shaw and Partners Iron Series.

“I’m so excited and I can’t wait to race in the Series. This weekend is so gruelling and I’m just so excited to be through.

“It’s one of the hardest races of the whole year. There are so many amazing girls that come from all over to race and I’m just excited to qualify.

“I’ve got my HSC in October so I’m studying a lot as well as trying to train as well. I’m graduating on Thursday which is another big milestone for me,” she said.

Noah Steiner (Wanda) lined up in his seventh Series Trial, the 22-year-old now considered somewhat a veteran of racing as he eyes off the strong talent coming through the junior ranks.

“It’s a bit of the ‘monkey off your back’… you train all winter, not really knowing how you’re going. “So to line up and get the job done, on the weekend when it matters, I’m stoked and just excited to get my foot on the line in the Series.

“It’s really brutal. The hardest part is you can’t have a bad race. One bad race really lets down your entire weekend so you really need to be on at all times – that’s the hardest thing, being consistent across six races over two days which is brutal, and you see really good guys miss out every year, so I’m just happy I was able to execute today and yesterday.

“There is so much depth in the field now. 106 men lining up to contest only 20 spots is really cutthroat and it makes it hard. But is shows how healthy the sport of Surf Life Saving is and how much of future we have,” he said.

With full field of 68 Ironmen and Ironwoman now decided, all eyes turn to the official start of the Series, beginning with the legendary Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold 25.6 in October before hitting the sand in Thirroul (14-15 November 2026), Newcastle (9-10 January 2027) and finals in Surfers Paradise (6-7 February 2027).

RESULTS

Full Ironman results including 2026-2027 Iron Series Qualified Athletes – click here.

Full Ironwoman results including 2026-2027 Iron Series Qualified Athletes – click here.