Harriet’s chance at history
OCEAN Grove’s Harriet Brown is one swim away from Lorne Pier to Pub immortality.
Gunning for her fourth win on the trot, the world champion can etch her name in the history books with a recordbreaking seventh title today.
The Queensland-based ironwoman champion can also equal ocean-swimming giant Sam Sheppard on seven wins, if the Melbourne maestro is beaten in the super fish this afternoon.
Brown equalled Naantali Marshall’s longstanding women’s record of six Pier to Pub victories last year when she crossed the line in a slick time of 12.13.
It’s been a busy year for Brown, who is the defending Nutri-Grain ironwoman champion and current series leader. It is also a busy weekend for Brown, who will back up tomorrow in the next round of the ironwoman series.
A proud Victorian, Brown is looking forward to the series making the move south, with competition at Fairhaven tomorrow.
A great advocate for the sport, Brown actively promotes surf lifesaving in her home state, dropping into home club Ocean Grove to coach nippers when in Victoria, as well as mentoring a group of athletes from the Mornington Peninsula.
“Whenever I go home to train, I often pop in to Ocean Grove and other clubs to coach the kids and it’s really cool to see how passionate they are about the sport and how they really follow the sport as well,” she said.
“I think a lot of athletes don’t actually realise how much of an impact they have.
“I only start to realise when I’m a bit more engaged with some of the young kids and they love the sport, they love watching all the athletes. It really means so much for them to get there to watch.”
Brown’s family will also be among those watching this weekend — a luxury not usually afforded the Northcliffe ironwoman.
MEANWHILE, Matt Bevilacqua (Kurrawa) and Naomi Scott (Manly) won Torquay’s Jim Wall Ironman yesterday.