Taylor, Corrin on the podium

WELL WON: Midway and Northcliffe (Australia) surf lifeguard Cory Taylor scored a huge win on Saturday when he won the open ironman at the NZ$263,000 Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic on the Gold Coast. He pocketed NZ$27,000 for a win his father reckons was one of his best ever. Picture supplied

Gisborne's Cory Taylor and Olivia Corrin mastered demanding surf at Northcliffe on the Gold Coast on Saturday to finish first and second respectively in their divisions of the rich Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic.

World ironman champion Taylor, from the Northcliffe Club, won the men's event ahead of clubmate and well-performed Nutri-Grain ironman Matt Bevilacqua.

Taylor pocketed $A25,000 for his efforts out of a total prize pool for the event of $A240,000.

His father Dave Taylor reckons it was one of the best races he has seen his son perform.

“It was awesome,” he said.

“The surf was huge, driven by Cyclone Gabrielle — around six to nine feet.

“Cory was in the leading three after the board and swim legs, and then managed to fight his way out through the waves on the ski.

“He got engulfed by one wave on the way out and we lost sight of him — so did the TV commentators — but somehow he managed to get back on his ski and get round the turning cans.

“On the way back in he came off another couple of times but managed to stay with his ski, got back on it and rode a wave to the beach.”

Taylor finished a wave in front of the second and third placegetters.

“Given those conditions, I reckon it was among the best races he's ever done and he was rapt with the result,” his father said.

Olivia Corrin finished second behind Surfers Paradise athlete Courtney Hancock in the women's “iron” final.

“The surf was crazy big; I think it's the biggest surf I've ever raced in,” she said.

“The big surf took the pressure off and made me less nervous for racing, although I did feel quite sick with nerves watching the races before the ironwoman and seeing all the carnage.

“I just knew I had to focus on each aspect of each leg one at a time, because it really was about that crucial timing of picking your line out and in through the surf.”

Corrin got “a bit smashed” on her board leg in the women's iron final, but made it out relatively untouched.

“I had a strong swim leg and got back up towards the front few and knew that I just had to be close by in the ski leg and be ready to attack the shore break to get out cleanly.”

The shore break was very big.

“Paddling out the back on my ski was quite terrifying,” she said.

“I had to roll a decent eight-foot set wave on my ski and I thought I was gone but surprisingly held on to my ski.

“Once I was around the can I just had to pick my way in, which I managed to do well.

“It wasn't until I was on the sand that I realised I was in second and I couldn't believe it.

“I was just relieved to be back on shore, let alone walk away with second place and a nice $8000 in my pocket.”

Her Gisborne clubmates celebrated the results.

“What an unbelievable afternoon for Olivia and Cory,” a Dawson Building Midway post said yesterday.

“The club could not be more proud.

“Keep smashing those goals and being the best possible role models to our groms.”