Tunnell, Blair Make A Splash As Big O Hits Our Shores

Sydney Morning Herald

Sunday July 13, 1997

MICHAEL COWLEY

Oceanman at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast? Let me guess ... that animated wonder of the 1970s, Marine Boy, has grown into a man and embarked on a sporting career? Wrong!

Another television hero, The Man from Atlantis, was back? Nope!

Oceanman ... sounds a bit like it could be half-man, half-fish, somehow a male version of a mermaid? No, not even close!

Then I received a tip and was steered in the right direction about Oceanman. It has the Kellogg's and Uncle Tobys groups finally coming together!

So, did this mean muesliflavoured rice bubbles? Wrong again!

This had nothing to do with breakfast cereal. It was all about ironmen - and women - and the welding of the fractured Australian ironman scene.

To pinch a line from Super League - this was the Best of The Best, competing in four different countries in a $1.2million series.

After opening rounds in New Zealand and Indonesia, Oceanman hit Mooloolaba Beach yesterday, and once the initial disappointment of not meeting Marine Boy dissipated, the excitement of the new concept rapidly took hold.

First the women who strode onto the beach in hooded robes, before the introductions and the de-robing, which revealed each competitor in a deep-blue, neck-to-knee suit, with a big O smeared across the chest. There seemed to be more Os on the sand than there were for Octagonal's farewell appearance.

But pleasantries out of the way and the Oceanwomen were away. A run, then the board, a run, the board, a run, a swim, a run, the board, then a run, more board, more run, even more swim and finally a sprint to the finish. It was exhausting just watching.

And the result - perfect for the organisers. An international victory, with a local flavour. New Zealander Kim Tunnell just held off Reen Corbett for her Oceanwoman win.

Tunnell admitted that the new series had already done wonders for the sport.

"The internationals are not as strong as the Australians, but this series gives us the chance to learn and get stronger," she said. "It's lifted the sport to a higher level."

Tunnell had made her move during one of the numerous run legs, and with three world 2km beach run crowns at home, made the most of her advantage.

"The run is obviously my strongest part of the race, and I had hoped to open up a break. But in the final swim leg, I could actually feel someone tapping on my feet as they stroked, they were that close to me. It must have been Reen. Thankfully, I just had enough to hold on."

The touch of Australian success in Tunnell's story is that she now lives and trains in Cronulla and represents the Manly club at surf carnivals. She also gave credit for her victory to former ironman Craig Riddington, who has become her training mentor.

Finally, it was time for the Oceanmen and, after a similar Ku Klux Klan-style robe entry, they were off.

A run, then the ski, another run and then the board.

World champion and series leader Trevor Hendy was up with the pace early but was soon well back in the pack. He eventually succumbed to a viral infection and pulled out of the race, as did Phil Clayton.

Another run, a swim, more leg work in the sand and then a stint on the ski, and only six competitors were in a place to challenge for a win.

With the conditions so calm - there would be more swell when Robert Ray hopped in a bath - the chances of swoopers upsetting the leaders was remote.

Josh Blair, Dean Mercer, Steve Pullen, Darren Mercer, local hope Michael King and Jonathan Crowe, fresh from his working stint in the US as technical adviser on the Baywatch set, were the only chances.

More running, then the final swim, and a Mercer quinella on, although they would have to overcome Blair and his favourite discipline. They failed, only narrowly, as Blair took the event and the outright lead in the series.

"That was one of the fastest races I've ever seen," the 19-year-old from Newcastle's Swansea club said. "There wasn't one easy leg, and having the Mercers chasing me made it even tougher.

"It was so flat out there that you really had to do plenty of work, and get no rest from the waves. I was actually overheating during the race. But it's great to get the win ..."

Dean Mercer staved off the challenge of older brother Darren to grab second.

"Both Darren and I really wanted to win this one," Dean said. "We spoke about the hunger beforehand and we were pushing each other out in the water."

Dean said competing regularly with the best ironmen - regardless of their taste in cereals - was fantastic. "It's been a long time coming, but finally it's been great to come back together after all these years. And there's no animosity among all the guys. In fact, there's a great comraderie.

"This event has given us the opportunity to compete together in a series of events, rather than just once a year at the nationals."

With the initial Australian leg behind them, the Ocean men and women pack up their circus and head abroad. The fourth leg will be held on August 17 in California, then three days later the penultimate leg hits the beaches of Hawaii.

The series culminates at Bondi on September 21.

© 1997 Sydney Morning Herald

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