Over the weekend, the second edition of the Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic took place at BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast, showcasing one of Australia’s most iconic volunteer movements, Surf Life Saving.

Shaw and Partners was again the major presenting partner and headline sponsor of the event, established in 2019 to mark Shannon’s retirement from the sport. With a $80,000 prize pool at stake, athletes came from far and wide to partake in a series of races to crown the winning Ironmen and Ironwomen.

The Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic offered the same format of a traditional surf carnival; a gruelling 10-15 minute race combining the four main disciplines of surf life saving into a single race; swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running.

This year’s entire racing package was shifted to Saturday, 15 February as Gold Coast beaches remained closed on Friday, with swell continuing to peak at around four to six feet.

On Saturday, surf life saving power couple Matt Bevilacqua and Brielle Cooper had a day to remember, walking away with $40,000 prize money in their richest every payday on the Gold Coast. In the women’s final, Cooper finished the race ahead of Lizzie Welborn and Harriet Brown. Shaw and Partners Brand Ambassadors Danielle McKenzie and Jordan Mercer finished the race in 5^th and 6^th place respectively.

In the men’s category, in what was a thrilling finish, Matt Bevilacqua jumped to his feet first to win the sprint to the line ahead of Jay Furniss and Cooper Williams.  Joel Piper took out the U17 ironman final ahead of Zac King and Beau Meehan. Charlotte Cross won a sprint finish in the U17 ironwoman final.

With the race fast becoming a favourite in the Ironman competition calendar and one the richest ironman races in the country, athletes already have the 2021 season in their sights. Shaw and Partners looks forward to partnering with Shannon to headline next year’s series again.