Coolangatta Gold is Dunn’s new focus as hard work pays off
THE disappointing end to the Australian championships will be Maddy Dunn’s springboard for a Coolangatta Gold campaign she hopes could take her to a maiden ironwoman series.
The Northcliffe competitor was among many shattered when the Australian titles were called off early in April due to former Tropical Cyclone Debbie, forcing the blue riband ironman and ironwoman events to be cancelled.
And with doubt hanging over the future of the Nutri-Grain series until last week’s announcement of the new Ocean 6 competition, Dunn turned her attention to the Gold.
“I thought I’d just relax and not do it but with the Aussies being cancelled it was a bit of a downer, it wasn’t a great way to end the season, so I thought, let’s give the Gold a go,” Dunn said.
Dunn will face one of the best women’s fields in recent memory, with defending champion Courtney Hancock, ski specialist Danielle McKenzie and veteran Tiarne Smith forming just the Northcliffe contingent.
Two-time Australian champion Rebecca Creedy, last year’s Gold runner-up Allie Britton, Manly’s Naomi Scott, Newport’s Georgia Miller and Noosa’s
Lana Rogers will also compete in a crack field.
“I’ve got Courtney Hancock to train with and then about a month ago Danielle McKenzie came over and decided to do it and it’s been great having those girls to push you,” Dunn said. “It’d be amazing to come out and win it but top three would even be great. “Even I don’t finish in the top three, I’ll be happy with the way I’ve prepared for it.”
That preparation under Northcliffe’s head women’s coach, two-time Olympian and former ironwoman champion Naomi Flood, will stand Dunn in good stead for the six-round Nutri-Grain series.
“It’s great (having six rounds again). Having that one weekend it didn’t feel like a series,” Dunn said of last season’s abbreviated event held over just three days at North Cronulla.
“When I first made the series, you were going into six rounds, you were going somewhere different every time.
“Just having that one weekend, if you were sick or not feeling the best, it was very unfortunate.”
Now 23, Dunn has learnt from the past two years, where she was in contention for part of the series before dropping away late.
“I guess you learn from your mistakes,” she said.
Hancock aims to become the fourth woman after Hayley Bateup (2005-06), Alicia Marriott (2009-10) and Liz Pluimers (2013-14-15) to win back-to-back Golds.