Top pair battle it out on the sand
THE script writers got a little lazy with the finish to Sunday’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series but that didn’t make it any less thrilling.
Only a day after Georgia Miller (pictured) and Lana Rogers captivated the crowd at Kingscliff with a neck-andneck beach sprint to the finish, the pair put on a repeat performance for the final round in what was a fitting end to an incredible series.
On Saturday it was Miller who pipped her rival to the line but in the final round, with her series win secured, Rogers claimed line honours just ahead of Miller, with Lizzie Welborn again not far behind in third.
“Lana has been incredible. She’s been so consistent over the past two years and we’ve been tussling it out the whole way,” Miller said.
“I’ve won some; she’s won a few more, but it’s been really tight. We’ve all been so consistent and that’s shown in the pointscores.
“I already can’t wait for next year. So many things I really want to work on.”
Miller’s two round wins both came in beach sprint successes against Rogers.
After Saturday’s victory Miller declared she “does love a sprint finish” and had to laugh at how the final round played out.
“Can you believe it they just keep on coming and they get harder and harder each time,” Miller said.
The Northcliffe ironwoman’s second-place on Sunday meant she edged out Welborn for second overall.
“Things weren’t looking great after that first round (when eighth). I’m really proud of myself to pull it back and end with a second overall,” Miller said.
LEGENDARY broadcaster Bruce McAvaney has called his last AFL match, revealing he won’t be a part of Channel 7’s calling team this season.
But the 67-year-old won’t be lost to the network that has played such a huge part in his life as he will continue to lead its horse racing and Olympic coverage.
In a surprise move that followed post-season discussions with his wife Anne and network boss Lewis Martin,
McAvaney said it was the right time to scale back some of his commitments.
“I was confident I could continue on (calling) strongly but I just felt it was the right time for me,” McAvaney said.
McAvaney said the decision to stop calling AFL matches came as a result of some deep thinking following one of the most challenging seasons in the game’s history.