Ironwoman Courtney Hancock in round 1 of 2012-2013 series at Scarborough, WA. Picture: Delly Carr / Sportshoot Source: Supplied
IT was a day ironman Ky Hurst would rather forget but ironwoman Courtney Hancock is happy to remember.
It was a day last year when both former champions of the surf suffered racing mishaps which cost them any chance of winning series titles.
While Hurst refuses to dwell on the past, Hancock plans to use the devastation of her failure at Newcastle a year ago to rediscover her winning edge at the same beach this weekend.
"When I heard there was going to be a round in NSW this series I hoped it was going to be at Newcastle," said Hancock, who is currently second in the six-leg ironwoman series after the opening round in Perth on December 23 last year.
"I wanted to go back and prove that this beach is not cursed for me, that I can get a good result at Newcastle after what happened last year.
"It's just made me extra motivated to do well." A mishap with a ski during the previous series saw Hancock finish 19th in Newcastle, effectively ending her hopes of winning a second ironwoman crown last year.
Hurst was disqualified after he missed rounding a mark, costing him a shot at the Nutri-Grain ironman crown.
"It ruined my whole series. I don't like to think about it," Hurst said.
An unwell Hurst finished fifth in Perth - won by Shannon Eckstein - but hopes extra time on his craft will be rewarded with a top result today.
"To be honest, to come away with a fifth in Perth was unreal because on the day I didn't even feel like I could manage a top 10," Hurst admitted.
"I'm looking forward this weekend to seeing how I can do when I feel fit and well."
The second round of the Nutri-Grain series will be raced today, with Hurst and the men's field contesting a four-race eliminator from 2.30pm.
The ironwoman racing will kick off at 12.30pm.
TV: Channel 10 from 2-5pm.
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