The Iron Series (known as the Shaw and Partners Iron Series under naming rights) is a professional iron man and iron women racing series operated by Surf Life Saving Australia. It is best known for its time as the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series; the cereal company sponsored the event for almost 40 years.

The series has over the years taken place over various locations, including: Smiths Beach in the Margaret River region of South West Western Australia; Newcastle Beach in Newcastle, New South Wales; North Cronulla Beach in Cronulla, New South Wales; Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland; and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Queensland.

History Professional ironman racing was born out of the movie The Coolangatta Gold which featured multiple Australian Ironman champion Grant Kenny and was won by Guy Leech. With significant media attention beginning to grow, Surf Life Saving Australia established the ‘Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Grand Prix’ in 1986. The aim of the series was to generate a high public profile and showcase for the sport, the athletes and the surf life saving movement.

Formats The Iron Series is contested over a various race formats which help to create an even playing field for the competitors.

Loop Format Description: A continuous race over a conventional Ironman course, swim, board, ski and run. Each 'Loop' consists of one lap of each discipline. A race may consist of three Loops for men and two loops for women, depending on conditions and the course. The order of the disciplines in the race will vary depending on the event.

M-Shape Description: A continuous race over a modified course, where the competitors round 3 markers, two beyond the swell, and one on the beach. A race may consist of three loops for men and two for women, depending on conditions and the course.

Triple Sprint Pursuit Description: Two conventional Ironman races with the combined points totals to determine handicap starting positions in a third race. The result of the third race determines the round placings. Introduced in Round 1 of the 2015/16 series at Coolum Beach.

Endurosurf Endurosurf is a 40-minute Iron race over an M-Shaped or traditional course. Each of the disciplines of swim, board, ski will be completed two or three times, with competitors taking on the surf break again and again.

Super Sprint The Super Sprint involves three separate, 10-minute races with 5-minutes rest between each race. Equal points are allocated for races 1 and 2 with double points being awarded for the final race.

The Specialist The Specialist is four separate races, one for each discipline of swim, board, ski and run. There will be a 5-minute countdown between each race. At the conclusion of the four separate races, the final race will be conducted with a staggered start commencing from the finish arch. The athlete ranked 1st after the four Specialist races will start on ‘GO,’ with the remaining athletes then starting 2-seconds apart in sequential order in accordance to their ranking.

Eliminator The Eliminator event, also known as the "Survival" event, involves three separate, 10-12 minute long Iron races where the last five to six finishers of each race are eliminated, leaving six to eight competitors to start the final race.

WaveCross WaveCross is a 12-minute traditional iron-man race is held. The fastest 16 competitors qualify for the quarter-final stage.

The quarter-finals feature four groups of four competitors each, the discipline order is swim-board-ski, and the top two from each group qualify for the semi-finals.

The semi-finals feature two groups of four competitors each, the discipline order is board-ski-swim, and the top two from each group qualify for the final.

The final features four competitors, and the discipline order is ski-swim-board.

The format is based on the traditional course however single buoys may be utilised.

In the event that the WaveCross format cannot be run due to weather or surf conditions, SLSA will advise of an alternative format.

Points Since the 2011/12 series, the following points awarded for each competitor per round were as follows:

2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/1620172017/182018/192019/20 to 2021/221st 20 202023100100100202nd 17171720988888193rd 15151518967878184th 13131316947070175th 12121215926464166th 11111114906060157th 10101013885757148th 99912865555139th 888118454531210th 777108253511111th 66698152491012th 5558805147913th 4447795045814th 3336784943715th 2225774841616th11 -4764739517th - - -3754637418th - - - -2744535319th - - - - -734433220th - - - - -7243311

Women's series results (top five) SeasonCompetitorsWinnerSecondThirdFourthFifth1990/91Samantha O’Brien1991/92Karla Gilbert1992/931993/941994/951995/961996/97Stacey Gartrell1997/98NilNot Conducted1998/99Denby Stokes1999/00Denby Stokes/Kristy Munroe2000/01Karla Gilbert2001/02Karla Gilbert2002/03Karla GilbertPenny TurnerKristyl Smith2003/04Kristy CameronKristyl SmithHayley BateupNaomi FloodLee Vrolyks2004/05Kristy CameronKristyl SmithChelsea Mackenzie2005/06Kristy CameronKristy MunroeEmma Wynne2006/07Kristy Harris (née Cameron)Liz PluimersKristyl SmithAlicia MarriottAllira Richardson2007/08Liz Pluimers2008/09Naomi FloodKristyl SmithLiz PluimersCourtney Hancock2009/102010 series results. 23 Alicia Marriott Liz Pluimers Naomi Flood Kristyl Smith, Hayley Bateup (tied) 2010/112010/2011 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Women's Results. 21 Courtney Hancock Liz Pluimers Alicia Marriot Kristyl Smith Gemma Newbiggin2011/122011/2012 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Women's Results. 21 Liz Pluimers Kristyl Smith Courtney Hancock Jordan Mercer Brodie Moir2012/132012/2013 Women's Results. 17 Courtney Hancock Naomi Flood Brodie Moir Jordan Mercer Rebecca Creedy2013/1416Courtney HancockLiz PluimersKristyl SmithMaddy DunnRebecca Creedy2014/15 15Liz PluimersRebecca CreedyHarriett BrownCourtney HancockJordan Mercer2015/16 18Jordan MercerKirsty HiggisonBrodie MoirGeorgia MillerMaddy Dunn201720Harriet BrownCourtney HancockKarlee NurthenMaddy DunnGeorgia Miller2017/1820Brielle CooperHarriet BrownGeorgia MillerLana RogersCourtney Hancock2018/1920Georgia MillerMaddy DunnLana RogersKirsty HiggisonBrielle Cooper2019/2020Lana RogersGeorgia MillerLizzie WelbornHarriet BrownDanielle McKenzie2020/2120Lana RogersGeorgia MillerLizzie WelbornDanielle McKenzieTiarnee Massie2021/22The 2021/22 Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series21Harriet BrownDanielle McKenzieCourtney HancockHannah SculleyAly Bull2022/2322Georgia MillerLizzie WelbornDanielle McKenzieLucy DerbyshireTiarnee Massie2023/2428Lana RogersGeorgia MillerOlivia CorrinElectra OutramTiarnee Massie2024/2528Lucy DerbyshireTiarnee MassieLizzie WelbornGeorgia FitzsimmonsElectra Outram

In the 2010/11 series, Pluimers won four of the five rounds, but her 17th-place finish in the fourth round meant she finished second in the series, six points behind series winner Courtney Hancock.

Men's series results (top five) SeasonCompetitorsWinnerSecondThirdFourthFifth1986/87Darren Mercer1987/88Darren Mercer1988/89Darren Mercer1989/90Trevor Hendy1990/91Darren Mercer1991/92Darren Mercer1992/93Darren Mercer1993/94Darren Mercer1994/95Dean Mercer1995/96Dean Mercer1996/97Dean Mercer1997/98NilNot conducted1998/99Dean Mercer1999/00Zane Holmes2000/01Zane Holmes2001/02Ky Hurst2002/03Shannon EcksteinDean MercerSteve Meredith2003/04Zane Holmes2004/05Zane HolmesShannon Eckstein2005/06Shannon EcksteinPierce LeonardZane Holmes2006/07Shannon EcksteinZane HolmesWes BergDean MercerNathan Smith2007/08Zane HolmesShannon EcksteinPierce Leonard2008/09Shannon EcksteinZane HolmesMatt PoolePierce Leonard2009/1025Shannon EcksteinHugh DoughertyKy HurstRhys DruryCorey Jones2010/1121Shannon EcksteinMatt PooleZane HolmesCaine EcksteinHugh Dougherty, Wes Berg (tied)2011/1221Caine EcksteinAlastair (Ali) DayShannon EcksteinKy HurstZane Holmes2012/1317Shannon EcksteinKendrick LouisAlastair (Ali) DayMatt PooleKy Hurst2013/1416Shannon EcksteinKy HurstKendrick LouisMatt PooleCaine Eckstein2014/1515Alastair (Ali) DayShannon EcksteinMatt PooleKy HurstKendrick Louis2015/1618Shannon EcksteinAlastair (Ali) DayMatt BevilacquaMatt PooleLuke Cuff201720Matt PooleShannon EcksteinKendrick LouisAlastair (Ali) DayLuke Cuff2017/1820Matt BevilacquaAlastair (Ali) DayJames LacyMax BrooksShannon Eckstein2018/1920Alastair (Ali) DayKendrick LouisMatt PooleBen CarberryCory Taylor2019/2020Kendrick LouisMatt BevilacquaMatt PooleTanyn LyndonTJ Hendy2020/2120Alastair (Ali) DayJy TimperleyJoe CollinsMatt BevilacquaCory Taylor2021/2221Alastair (Ali) DayMatt BevilacquaJy TimperleyDan CollinsKendrick Louis2022/2321Matt BevilacquaBen CarberryJoe CollinsCory TaylorFinn Askew2023/2420Alastair (Ali) DayJoe CollinsMatt BevilacquaZach MorrisFinn Askew2024/2528Conner MaggsJoel PiperZach MorrisMatt BevilacquaFinn Askew

See also

The Coolangatta Gold Uncle Toby's Super Series

References

External links The Nutri-Grain Ironman/Ironwoman Series 2014/2015