Hayley has her sights on first place!
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Champion ironwoman Hayley Bateup and her coach Phil Clayton have their sights set on first place at this years Coolangatta Gold
Injury limited Bateup to a few races at the Australian Surf Life Saving Titles last summer but, with a big winter behind her, the 31-year-old is focused on climbing back to the top. It’s why retirement is a phase of her career Bateup is refusing to consider. In fact Bateup thought about it.
But with her Kurrawa coach Phil Clayton returning to fight for his place in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series at the trials in Noosa on August 27 and Kirsty Holmes making solid progress in her own comeback last season, Bateup slammed suggestions the end was near.
Instead Bateup’s first priority was making a strong return from major shoulder surgery in her cherished event the Coolangatta Gold, a race the Kurrawa champion has won three times.
‘‘Everybody’s perception is that you get over 30 you have to retire soon but I think that’s a load of crap,’’ fired Bateup, who will headline the women’s race alongside IronWoman Series and Aussie ironwoman champion Courtney Hancock and consistent warrior Elizabeth Pluimers.
‘‘Kirsty Holmes has come back, Phil Clayton is in good shape to win the trial and he could even win the series if things go his way and he’s has never even 36 so I wouldn’t suggest that age is a factor.
‘‘Most of the time people give up is because they’re over it or injury. I’m coming back from an injury but I’m certainly not over it.
‘‘It will be a big year for me because I’ve had an injury, but not because it could be one of my last.’’
Contracted to the IronWoman Series last year, Bateup’s shoulder injury forced her out of competition.
But with one of the biggest profiles in the sport, Bateup is expected to secure one of the four available wildcards, ensuring she will take her place in the series that could also feature Clayton.
A former world ironman champion, Clayton, who showed his class with an unexpected victory in the gruelling belt race at the Aussie championships, has remained tightlipped about his expectations for the summer. But with four months of solid work under his belt, Clayton will tackle the sport’s rising crop and a host of contenders when he chases qualification at the trial.
‘‘I’ve been working hard, but I don’t want to say much more other than I’m really excited to be getting back out there,’’ Clayton said.
And that excitement was just as strong for Bateup, who has finally been given a reprieve from the pain, ensuring she could now ramp up her training regime to ensure she was as close to, if not at, 100 per cent for the Coolangatta Gold.
‘‘I’ve actually had two weeks of swimming and paddling without pain which has been encouraging,’’ she said.
‘‘I was still training but I would get the pain and have to stop, stretch it out and go again. It’s been 11 months since the operation.’’
Source: Gold Coast Bulletin
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