Another epic weekend on the Sunshine Coast for the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Murphy Homes Maroochy Classic. The Black Swans put on an awesome, athlete first carnival that is a “must” on everyone’s calendar.
It falls at the perfect time to have a huge impact on the overall series standings and is the perfect springboard into the backend of summer and didn’t it deliver!!
Let’s check out the results.

MEN’S BOARD
1. Zac Morris (Northcliffe)
2. Brayden Casamento (Alex)
3. Tex Dixon (Burleigh)

Aussie champ Zac Morris won the 6 way sprint up the beach to storm back into the winners circle here at the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series ahead of Brayden Casamento and Tex Dixon – with Fletcher, Bevilacqua and Cruz McKee also in the mix at the end.

Overall Series
1. Conner Maggs (Newport) 32,011pts
2. Charlie Verco (Newport) 30,989pts
3. Corey Fletcher (Burleigh) 28,870pts

The Newport boys remain in 1-2 ahead of the defending champion – and while the title is wide open technically – given the form these men are in, I think the winner comes from the current top 3.

WOMEN’S BOARD
1. Brodee Trinca (Southport)
2. Olivia Corrin (Northcliffe)
3. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochy)

Trinca won her first race since the Australian title on the exact same stretch of sand almost 10months ago and didn’t it come at the right time for the Southport flyer. She led from the jump and found her own way to the line ahead of Olivia Corrin (who sits in the exclusive second tier of board paddlers (With Lily O, Kibble, Fitz and maybe Outram), while the hometown girl Tiarnee Massie delivered another result that cemented her place on top of the pointscore.

Overall Series
1. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochy) 38,330pts
2. Lizzie Welborn (Newport) 33,710pts
3. Hannah Sculley (Northcliffe) 32,390pts

I work off the idea you need a 10,000 point win and then 4 other top 5/6 results (not at 5,000s) to win the title in any event – Massie already has that with 2 events to go – Maroochy was her worst result in 3rd. She could be home, but this is the most competitive event in the sport and those girls are going to fight all the way to the end.
If you want to know how tough this board series is… Sculley in 3rd has more points than all the other SERIES LEADERS, except Hayden Cotter in the swim and Naomi Scott in the Iron… AND SHE IS IN THIRD!! THIRD!!!

MENS SWIM
1. James Koch (Burleigh)
2. Hayden Cotter (Manly)
3. Kai Harland (Northcliffe)

James Koch said he’s been doing less work than he ever had but enjoying it way more, and that seems to be the key with a big win here in the Maroochy surf race. He’s certainly heading in the right direction with two 20+ results so far this summer but now he is back in form.
Hayden Cotter finished up in second to all but solidify his third straight surf race title, while young gun and future champ Kai Harland finished up in third.

Overall Series
1. Hayden Cotter (Manly) 37,720pts
2. Riley Brennan (Currumbin) 25,466pts
3. Conner Maggs (Newport) 25,154pts

I’m calling it, it’s over – Hayden Cotter is the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Surf Race Champion…
He has the most points of anyone in any series with just 2 majors to go…
Mathematically he can still lose, but I’m calling it.
Well, done champ.
Oh and its his THIRD STRAIGHT SERIES WIN

WOMEN’S SWIM
1. Lani Pallister (Alex)
2. Jayda Kempton (Burleigh)
3. Bella Williams (Northcliffe)

Lani Pallister did Lani Pallister things to collect a second win for the summer and remain undefeated in the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series for the last 3 summers (and 9 of her last 10 over 4 seasons)
Young gun Jayda Kempton got her best result in the World Ocean Series and Bella Williams stormed back into swim form to finish third in a strong field.

Overall Series
1. Charlotte Cross (Burleigh) 28,330pts
2. Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh) 27,980pts
3. Pipi Te Pania (Newport) 26,635pts

Cross holds onto the lead ahead of her clubmate while u17 Pipi Te Pania stays in the top 3 for now. The big threat is Lani Pallister, she is in 15th place and 11,330points behind. The Olympic Gold Medallist will race the Shannon Eckstien Ironman Classic but only score 4 results for the summer – it could be enough if she wins both 10,000 point rounds – but two top 5 scores for Cross could get her home as well. I still have Pallister winning this on the final day.

MEN’S SKI
1. Jackson Collins (Kurrawa)
2. Jake Morris (Northcliffe)
3. Jamo Porter (Alex)

Jett Kenny led this the entire way with his clubmate but just couldn’t manage to get the win, as Collins wins his second big race of the summer. While Jake Morris continues his rife as a ski paddler to finish in second, while the continually underrated Jamo Porter held on ahead of Kenny for third.

Overall Series
1. Jackson Collins (Kurrawa) 28,430pts
2. Piran Phillips (Nth Burleigh) 23,606pts
3. Mitch Trim (Newport) 21,730pts

Collins win pushed him past the Brit Phillips for the first time this summer to take the lead of the overall pointscore.
While Trim not racing dropped him just one place into third.
This one is still wide open, the lowest scoring podium of the summer so far means at least 15 men can technically take this title.

WOMEN’S SKI
1. Jenaya Massie (Burleigh)
2. Alex Clarke (Surfers)
3. Jasmine Locke (Newport)

Despite breaking her finger mid-week Jenaya Massie couldn’t be stopped for her third win of the summer back on her original home beach. It was a special one for Massie and puts the ski girls under a little bit more pressure heading into the final rounds.
It was a former Maroochy quinella as Olympian Alex Clarke looked strong to finish back on the podium for the first time this summer; with Newport contender Jasmine Locke still chasing that first major win, in third.

Overall Series
1. Jenaya Massie (Burleigh) 32,100pts
2. Jasmine Rayward (Burleigh) 30,680pts
3. Jemma Smith (Newport) 27,200pts

Burleigh girls Massie and Rayward are sitting pretty on top of this with just 2 majors to go but Jemma Smith has the edge here, with just 3 result (A win and 2 x seconds) she is the favourite to win this title for the third time in four seasons.

IRONMAN
1. Ali Day (Surfers)
2. Finn Askew (Surfers)
3. Nick Middleton (Wanda)

Damn Ali Day had to fight all the way to the end in this one: 6 men in the gutter, no waves, swimming for the win – and who would’ve thought that one of the toughest men the sport has seen ended up on top. After missing the final at Manly, this was always going to be on the cards, its moving time in the overall series and Day delivered big time. Askew was disappointed to finish in second place, which is understandable, but it was also his best result of the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series and it keeps his title hopes alive.
Nick Middleton also finished with his best result of the summer and it could be probably summed up in the text I got from one of the guys I respect most in the sport:
“Big takeaway: Nick Middleton is the real deal.”
No argument here.

Overall Series
1. Ben Carberry (Burleigh) 32,595pts
2. Ali Day (Surfers) 30,080pts
3. Charlie Verco (Newport) 28,820pts

Despite not racing Carberry remains on top and in the drivers seat (excuse the pun) for the title and brand new car. But Ali Day’s win gets him right back in the picture, while Verco is sitting pretty in third overall. In terms of who can still win the overall title, by my count (and terrible Maths) there is at least 15 men who can technically win the title, if they win both and results go their way. But if I’m honest, it’s a race in 2.

IRONWOMAN
1. Naomi Scott (Northcliffe)
2. Lana Rogers (Northcliffe)
3. Emma Woods (Alex)

After winning arguably the greatest Ironwoman race ever last weekend Scott left it to the final stages to do it again, making it three straight race wins for the World Champ. She was graceful and extremely well-spoken post-race, she’s the ultimate role model who is finally getting her dues after years of coming so close.
Lana did everything right and led from the gun to 5metres short of the shoreline at the finish – but sometimes racing can be that brutal. Rogers is in form, and could’ve had two wins in the last two weeks – it’s a scary sign for the rest of the summer.
While Emma Woods fought her way to another podium to storm back into the overall Ironwoman Series picture.

Overall Series
1. Naomi Scott (Northcliffe) 35,710pts
2. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochy) 30,155pts
3. Jasmine Rayward (Burleigh) 26,950pts

After scoring 22,000 points in three races, this one almost seems over with Scott a full 5,600 odd in front of best friend Tiarnee Massie but it just isn’t the case, there is still at least 8 girls who can technically win the title, but a lot will need back to back wins at the Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic. Massie and Rayward just need good weekends, as do Rogers (Who only has 4 results) and Welborn so it’s still up in the air BUT its Scott’s to lose. Also watch out for 5th place Emma Woods who is only carrying 4 results and won at Northcliffe last summer – she is in this up to her eyeballs.