Pluimers: Britton can upset race favourites
ALI Day is one win away from setting up a mouth-watering head-to-head clash against Coolangatta Gold king Caine Eckstein after the race’s most successful competitor confirmed he would love to take the young gun on.
Day knows nothing can be taken for granted in the tortuous race. But if the Surfers Paradise ironman wins tomorrow to claim his fourth crown, he is likely to set up a duel against five-time champ Eckstein who is keen to prevent his record being equalled.
Day has won three Coolangatta Gold titles from his three race attempts and heads into tomorrow’s race an overwhelming favourite despite the talented field.
While he is not looking past tomorrow’s race, Day would relish the chance to tackle his idol, five-time Gold winner Eckstein in the iconic race.
“Caine’s definitely an idol for me, I watched him race the last time he won,’’ Day said.
“I saw him come across the line and I loved how tough he was and I loved his attitude and I just thought, ‘I’m going to do the race next year’.
“So I’ve got a lot to thank Caine for because he’s given me a lot of love for the race.
“But I’m probably not thinking about (a match-up) just yet.’’
Eckstein though is up for the challenge.
While he will not compete tomorrow having prioritised the recent world championships and the Coast to Coast endurance race in New Zealand in February, the Netherlands event refreshed Eckstein’s love for surf lifesaving and he is keen to take on the Gold again.
“I didn’t expect to go to the world titles and have such a good time and go so well,’’ Eckstein said.
“I definitely didn’t have that (love for the sport) for the last couple of years.
“It would have been good if the world titles were four months ago – if I felt like this, I would have done the Coolangatta Gold this year.’’
In his absence, Eckstein would love to see Day win a fourth title to set up a tantalising match race next year.
“I’d love him to win it this year because then it will be four for him,’’ Eckstein said.
“People that aren’t racing like to talk about it all on social media and I like people saying this guy’s going to win or that guy’s going to win.
“It puts a lot of pressure on next year if he did get four because he’d be coming back trying to tie with me and I’d love to race in that race.
“For me … that’d be a race I’d like to do, for sure.’’
Day says he still has to pinch himself when thinking he’s won the great race once, let along three times.
And while he jokes a race against Eckstein would be “scary’’, he knows it would be a boon for the event.
“I think everyone wants that but we’re chasing different goals at the moment,’’ Day said.
“I know last year he was on the beach at the end and that really gave me a big lift seeing someone like that – anyone that’s done the Gold I have a lot of respect for – but someone that’s won it the most times, it was pretty incredible.’’ COOLANGATTA Gold champion Liz Pluimers says North Burleigh clubmate Allie Britton can upset race favourites Courtney Hancock and Rebecca Creedy if she is within striking distance on the final run leg.
Pluimers, who won the event three times in succession from 2013-15 and is the only woman to have conquered the long course, will watch from the sidelines tomorrow after retiring from racing.
Hancock heads into the race as favourite having won in 2011 when the women’s race was held over the shorter course, while Creedy has finished on the podium for the past two years.
But with no other elite ironwomen in the field, Pluimers believes Britton could push the pair.
“Courtney ( Hancock) has won it before, she knows what the feeling’s like,’’ Pluimers said.
“Creedy has come close and she seems more relaxed this year and really focused on what she wants.
“And I’d just love to see Allie get up, so any one of them (is a chance).’’
Britton entered surf lifesaving with an athletics background and will charge home over the final 7.1km run leg to Coolangatta.
“She’s running amazingly,’’ said Pluimers, who has been providing race tips to Britton.
“If she is within reach, she’ll be tough to beat.’’
Britton is out to continue a strong run by North Burleigh’s women which stretches back to 2012 when Brodie Moir won, followed by Pluimers’ treble.
Pluimers has a soft spot for the Gold despite admitting to a “love-hate relationship’’ with the iconic race.
And she lamented the fact that just six women will tackle the event tomorrow.
“It is a little bit disappointing. It is hard with worlds being on at the same time and people choose one or the other,’’ she said. “But it would be nice to see some of the Kellogg’s girls get more involved and have a go at the race – even if it’s just the shortcourse.
“It is such a good event, the Coolangatta Gold. It’s iconic and it’s been around for such a long time and it’d be nice if more people git behind it and it could just keep running.’’