Bateup’s build-up

Hayley Bateup says she can return to the form which made her one of the country’s best despite a nagging shoulder injury that nearly forced her to withdraw from the opening round of the Ironwoman Series.

The Kurrawa star missed the entire 2010-11 season while recovering from a shoulder reconstruction and made her return to the professional scene in September’s Coolangatta Gold, finishing third.

But the injury flared up again and Bateup, who is also battling a foot injury, plantar fasciitis, is well below peak fitness ahead of the Surfers Paradise series opener on December 18. 

‘‘I was even thinking about pulling out of the first race up until a few days ago,’’ the 31-year-old said.

‘‘My shoulder has been really inflamed for the last month.

‘‘I got through the Gold OK and it pulled up really well but then it got really painful and inflamed.

‘‘I had a cortisone injection last week and took the whole week off.

‘‘I haven’t been able to do the kind of workload I’d like to.’’

Bateup, a three-time winner of the Gold, said her chances of winning a maiden Ironwoman Series had been crushed but she was still hopeful of making a charge late in the season.

‘‘If it was a month ago I would have said yes (I can win) but this has been a major setback,’’ she said.

‘‘Realistically I’m not having any expectations but it’s not out of a lack of confidence, I’ve just got to be realistic.

‘‘I definitely think I can (win a series) and I still think I can this year. I’m just not expecting it in the first race.’’

Bateup and Kellogg’s NutriGrain Ironman Zane Holmes yesterday taught some Miami State School students the secrets behind being a successful athlete.

Northcliffe’s Holmes finished third in last season’s series, winning the last two rounds in his comeback from back and finger injuries.

Holmes, 30, said he was hoping to head to Surfers Paradise without any injury concerns after missing the entire 2009-10 series.

‘‘ I’ve had a rough couple of years,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m looking forward to hopefully an incident-free season.

‘‘The preparation this season has been really good. My back’s been up and down but it’s been really good the last few months.

‘‘I’m pretty confident that I’m in much better shape for the first round than the first round last year.

Holmes said he was hoping to compete at next year’s Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, which would be his first in three years.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin