Hero Bev and his aqua girl

BEVILACQUA WINS IRONMAN TITLE FOR TASSIE — AND HIS GIRLFRIEND TAKES WOMEN’S CROWN

MEET Australia’s first couple of surf. Tassie’s own Matt Bevilacqua and his girlfriend Brielle Cooper have written surf history as the first couple to win the prestigious Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series.

“I had dreams of winning this series and to do it with Brielle is amazing. I can’t believe it, “said Bevilacqua, 25.

And his win has motivated a new breed of surf lifesavers at his former Clifton Beach Surf Lifesaving g Club who celebrated

the victory at home yesterday. yes

YEARS of slogging it out in the morning darkness — and on occasions in winter snow — have been made worth it for Matt Bevilacqua (above) after he created history yesterday by becoming the first Tasmanian to win the iconic Nutri-Grain ironman series. And in a double cause for celebration, girlfriend Brielle Cooper took out the ironwoman series as the pair were crowned king and queen of the sport.

WHEN Matt Bevilacqua woke yesterday to chilly conditions, a howling southerly and white water, he turned to partner Brielle Cooper and joked they should spend the day in bed.

Instead they spent it writing surf history at North Cronulla as the first couple to win the prestigious Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series.

Cooper, at just 18, became the youngest winner of a professional ironwoman series after a day of drama that saw her knocked out in the first of three races in wild, messy surf.

Convinced her tilt for the crown was over, Cooper had to be convinced by officials she had won the series title on a countback when rival Harriet Brown was knocked out in the second race of the day.

“It really is unbelievable. I really didn’t expect this at all,” said Cooper, who competed in last year’s series as an unknown wildcard.

“I didn’t do very well and I really just wanted to prove this season I wasn’t just a name on a pair of togs.”

Instead Cooper became the first teenager to win a professional series crown despite not even qualifying for the first round of the six-event series at Queenscliff back in October

Waiting to congratulate her was Bevilacqua, 25, who also overcame the odds to win his first professional men’s title in five years of trying.

The Tasmanian lifesaver, now based on the Gold Coast at Kurrawa with Cooper, had to beat rival and training partner Ali Day to claim his maiden crown, a feat he did with a second place over Day’s third.

Bevilacqua, who has trained in snow over the years in Tasmania, said all the early-morning wake-up calls were worth it when he realised he had won.

“I had dreams of winning this series and to do it with Brielle is amazing. I can’t deal. I can’t believe it, “he said.

Bevilacqua said he and Cooper had avoided talking about the prospect of winning on the same day.

“We just keep things calm and easy. We said this morning can’t we stay in bed all day. It’s dark and windy out there,” he laughed.

Northern Beaches ironman Max Brooks won the Cronulla round yesterday from Bevilacqua and Day. Lana Rogers, who grew up at Cronulla but is based on the Sunshine Coast, won the women’s round from Newport’s Georgia Miller and North Bondi’s Lizzie Welborn.