Power couple on top
SURF lifesaving power couple Matt Bevilacqua and Brielle Cooper have had a Valentine’s Day weekend to remember – walking away with $40,000 prizemoney in their richest ever payday on the Gold Coast.
The star Kurrawa couple combined to take out both the ironman and ironwoman finals at the Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic in pounding swell at Northcliffe beach on Saturday.
A decision by 20-year-old Cooper to run 150m south before heading out on the final board leg of the gruelling 20 minute ski, swim and board event paid huge dividends.
As many of her opponents struggled to negotiate the break, Cooper picked her mark perfectly and had time to hug boyfriend Bevilacqua on the run home to claim the $20,000 prize cheque ahead of Lizzie Welborn and Harriet Brown.
“I turn 21 next month so that’s going to come in handy,” Cooper said when asked how she would spend her prizemoney.
While the women’s race was run and done early, seven ironmen contested a sprint to the finish line in the men’s.
While Bevilacqua and Northcliffe’s Caine Eckstein paddled away from the chase pack during the final board leg, the ocean didn’t honour their lead as five more ironmen came from behind to find themselves on the same wave into shore.
In what was a thrilling finish, it was Bevilacqua who jumped to his feet first to win the sprint to the line ahead of Manly’s Jay Furniss and Cooper Williams (Alexandra Headland).
“Watching those guys come down that wave I thought ‘here we go’ and then I thought I mistimed my jump off but it was OK in the end,” Bevilacqua said.
“I reckon there are people at my place already getting ready to party.”
Maroochydore’s Joel Piper took out the under-17 ironman final ahead of Currumbin teammates Zac King and Beau Meehan.
Currumbin Viking’s Charlotte Cross won a sprint finish in the under-17 ironwoman final.
It may not have been Valentine’s Day but the New South Wales/Queensland combination of Charlie Brooks (Newport) and Maddy Dunn (Northcliffe) loved their performance in the Dash for Love – netting themselves a Michael Hill ring and watch for their troubles.
Currumbin’s Ky Kinsela and Maddy Dunn took out the male and female Dash for Cash surf contest, riding the waves to perfection to claim $2000 each.