Teen Star Leads Trifecta Triumph With Ironman Racing Primed For Olympics Debut In ’32
A Gold Coast teenager touted as the future of Australian ironman racing, has led home an historic club trifecta as the 2026 Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships came to a thrilling climax at North Kirra on the Gold Coast on the weekend.
Nineteen-year-old Ethan Callaghan and his Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park teammates Sean Reilly and Joel Piper etched their names into the annals of Australian ironman racing, first contested 60 years ago on nearby Coolangatta Beach in 1966.
It’s the first time that three members of one club have taken home the trifecta in this blue ribband event of Surf Life Saving – one that is primed for an Olympic debut at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
On the eve of the Championships two of Australian ironman racing’s favourite sons – the Eckstein brothers, eight-time National champion Shannon and five-time Coolangatta Gold winner Caine gave their blessing for ironman racing to debut in ‘32.
TRI TIME: Triumphant Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park trio Sean Reilly, Ethan Callaghan and Joel Piper. Photo Courtesy: John Veage (SLS-Australia).
“It would be the perfect opportunity for lifesaving to join surfing as an Olympic sport,” Shannon told a select audience at a pre-Championships luncheon at North Kirra Surf Club in the countdown to the IOC’s decision on what new sport’s will be added to the Brisbane program.
“If it doesn’t happen here it will probably never happen….it would be great for the sport and great to get it done.”
Younger brother Caine saying: “It’s a pretty special thing to be at the Olympics….kids growing upon on the Gold Coast now would get the chance to do it.”
And the Burleigh Heads boys certainly led a perfect showcase for ironman racing – the pinnacle of an iconic Australian pastime on a picture-perfect finale to nine days of racing.
O’Callaghan, the youngest ironman in the final won the blue-ribbon title at his first crack, powering home in the swim leg after showing his board and ski prowess.
It was a dominant display ahead of former Warnambool (VIC) product Reilly and ex-Northern Beaches product Piper, the former Under 17 star from Newport.
It was a special moment too for out-going champion and all-time great Ali Day who farewelled the sport for the last time in the final at 35-years of age.
Callaghan was also the winner of the prestigious Dean Mercer Memorial Shield, after the youngster announced himself as a major player on the Ironman stage in 2026 adding the crown to his two National Series podiums this season.
Callaghan’s first move after the race was to shake Day’s hand and apologise to him for taking the fairytale away from legend and paid tribute to his idol.
HUGS ALL ROUND: Ethan Callaghan, Sean Reilly and Jol Piper. Photo Courtesy John Veage (Harvpix).
“This means a lot. That was obviously a stacked field and I am so thankful of Ali [Day] and everything he has done for me, so it is a bit bitter-sweet beating him but I am very thankful for him and everything he has done for me and done for the sport,” said Callaghan.
“It is such an honour to go out with him this weekend in his last race. I just want Ali to know he has always been my idol and I am so thankful for everything he has done.”
Callaghan was presented the Dean Mercer Memorial Shield, by the late Mercer’s wife Reen Corbett, herself an Ironwoman legend of the sport – the Shield dedicated to the former two-time Australian Ironman champion who died suddenly in 2017.
“No one has ever got the Dean Mercer trophy and then won the race so I went out there for Dean…..it makes it super special,” said an elated Callaghan.
“I was cheering for Sean and Joel to get across the line… standing all of us on the podium is so amazing.”
The Ironwoman also saw a new Australian Champion crowned, with Maroochydore’s Tiarnee Massie leading from the outset and fishing ahead of Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) and Gemma Smith-Welch (Northcliffe).
The win caps off a breakout season for Massie who also won her maiden Shaw and Partners Iron Series crown.
“I was just standing on the line 15 minutes ago with an opportunity to go after a childhood dream and 15 minutes later I’ve achieved it,” said Massie.
OMG MOIMENT for Tiarnee Massie the2026 Australian Iroinwoman champion. Photo Courtesy John Veage (Harvpix).
“Honestly, I won the Iron Series about a month ago and I never really thought anything could get better than that.”
A wave of supporters lined the shoreline to cheer on Massie, including her brother-in-law, Olympic silver medallist Jackson Collins, who just moments earlier won his fourth Open Ski title.
“I wanted to win this… I gave everything to achieve that and so the people that have supported me along the way and helped me achieve that dream and that we did it together. I am just so so proud,” said Massie.
“It means everything to have them here, I would not be the person or athlete I am today without my family, they are my rock, my backbone to everything I am and every fall they lift me back up.
“It is a fairytale end of the season. At the start of the season, I set huge goals for myself and honestly I had that huge setback in the [Coolangatta] Gold with my paddle snapping at the beginning of the race… from there, I said to myself I can’t lose anything by dreaming big and going absolutely after it.”
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Northcliffe Taplin winners (L-R) Naomi Scott, Claudia Kelly, Hannah Scully. Photo Courtesy: John Veage (SLS-Australia)..
NORTHCLIFFE EDGES WANDA AND BURLEIGH IN POINTSCORE
Gold Coast club Northcliffe has once again taken home Aussies Club pointscore, capping off their stellar campaign with the double win in the prestigious Taplin Relays, winning the prestigious Open Men’s and Women’s finals.
The men’s team led by the Morris brothers, Zach, Mitch and Jake alongside team captain Matt Bevilacqua, Olympic kayaker Riley Fitzsimmons and newly crowned Australian surf race champion Bailey Armstrong were too strong in the end to take the coveted title from Newport and Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park.
With the Northcliffe women’s team of ironwoman Naomi Scott, Kiwi ski paddler Claudia Kelly and board-paddling star Hannah Scully scuppered the field to also beat Newport and Burleigh.
While the Mixed Taplin saw Alexandra Headlands come from behind to beat Northcliffe and Newport, thanks to a mammoth final swim leg from Olympian Lani Pallister.
In the end Northcliffe kept their overall dominance intact with 275 points from the big movers, Sydney club Wanda moving up from fourth in 2025 to share pointscore honours with Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (both on 223).
SKI PATROL: Jemma Smith the best of the best. Photo Courtesy John Veage (SLS-Australia).
NEWPORT’S GOLDEN JEM
Meanwhile Newport’s Jemma Smith was crowned Competitor of the Carnival, having won two individual gold medals in the Open Champion Lifesaver and Open Surf Ski, as well as helping her Club take home gold in the Open Ski Relay and Board relay.
In the Open Ski final, Smith took the gold medal ahead of Avoca Beach paddling Olympian Ella Beere and kayaking teammate Natalia Drobot.
“It really means a lot. I have missed the two previous Australian ski finals and so I was just really happy to be back in there,” said Smith.
“To have the chance to put a good race forward and to execute it like that today, I couldn’t have asked for much more today.
“I was giving it everything I have to pull on that little runner, which is really tricky, and I knew that if I didn’t get down it, there was a good chance that the rest of the field was going to be coming right behind me.
“The depth of the woman’s ski field is so strong at the moment so I really had to make the most of what mother nature threw my way.”
OLYMPIANS STEAL THE SKI SHOW
In what mimicked an Olympic final, the Open Male Ski saw Paris Olympic silver medallist Jackson Collins (Kurrawa) claim his fourth Australia title in a photo finish ahead of Newport’s ageless paddle master Mitchell Trim and fellow Paris Olympics K4 teammate Fitzsimmons (Northcliffe).
“It was so close and so hard. I knew being in that first alley that I was going to be fighting the wind a bit to the first can, so I wanted to spend all my energy early to make sure I didn’t put myself out of the race too early,” said Jackson.
“I just got a little bump and just had to try work it through the gutter and then a couple of boys picked one up. I was just trying to stay in front of that bump that they were on.
“For ski paddlers, Aussies is the pinnacle event. To line up in a final like that with people that have won Olympic medals, it is such a difficult race to win.”
ALL ABOARD: Wanda boy Dane Sutton Photo Courtesy John Veage (SLS-Australia).
DANE’S A TRUE BLUE WANDA-BOY
Wanda’s Dane Sutton took home the Male Competitor of the Carnival, after winning gold in the U19 Ironman and U19 Male Surf Race as well as spearheading Wanda’s strong team efforts that saw them finish equal second place.
In the U19 Men’s Surf Race, Sutton delivered an impressive finish to win gold ahead of Byron Oliphant (Alexandra Headland) and Josiah Short (Maroochydore).
“It was tough. I knew there were going to be some waves coming through, so I worked hard from the first string [of swim cans] to the second string and got to the front and got a little waves and went from there.
“I think for a swim race it will take a while to sink in as I wasn’t expecting it… but I am just so proud.”
LILY O JUST SUPER ON SUNDAY
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park’s Lily O’Sullivan had one of the strongest Super Sunday finishes of any athlete, taking gold in the Open Women’s Surf Race and Board race as well as silver in the Ironwoman.
“I am so stoked to back that one up, it was a long swim out there. The waves at Kirra are always quite tricky. There are always people coming from behind and I just kept my head down and went the whole way,” O’Sullivan said
“I watched the races before and saw the boys were getting swept across that string of nine.
“It’s anyone’s race. I am just grateful it was me today.”
VICTORIOUS VIKINGS: Currumbin’s victorious men’s open surf teams (L-R) Gus Shivnan, Riley Brennan, Callum “CJ” Brennan, Charlie Walker. Photo John Veage (SLSA-Australia).
VIKINGS BROTHERS IN ARMS
Currumbin Beach Vikings’ brothers “CJ” Callum and Riley Brennan created their own slice of Aussies history too, winning gold and silver in the esteemed Open Male Belt in a weekend to remember for the family.
The boys had already combined with Charlie Walker and Kiwi gun, Gus Shivnan to break a 16-year Northcliffe domination in the open surf teams (32 points) to win the club’s first open teams title from Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (43) and Northcliffe (47) with Callum backing up to edge out brother Riley to take bronze in the open surf race behind Bailey Armstrong (Northcliffe).
Not be outdone, their little brother Jackson Brennan chimed in for his own slice of glory in the gold medal winning Currumbin team for the Rescue Tube Rescue.
“It was pretty special, I don’t think there is brothers that have gone one-two in the belt race so we made history,” said Callum.
“(And in the surf race)…there wasn’t too much assistance coming in…so I had to work all the way to the end…with 30 something blokes in the final and so to go three-four is pretty special.”
Surf Life Saving Australia today announced the 2027 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will be held Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba from 10-18 April 2027.
OPEN RESULTS
2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, North Kirra,
MALE
Ironman
- Ethan Callaghan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Sean Reilly (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Joel Piper (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
Taplin (Ironman) Relay
- Northcliffe
- Newport
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
Curlewis Open 6 Person R and R
- Wanda, NSW
- Coogee, NSW
- Freshwater, NSW
5 Person R and R
- Coogee, NSW
- Seacliff, NSW
- Freshwater, NSW)
Surf Race
- Bailey Armstrong (Northcliffe)
- Henry Simpson (Alexandra Headland)
- Callum Brennan (Currumbin)
2km Open Water
- Bailey Armstrong (Northcliffe)
- Thomas Raymond (Maroochydore)
- Dougal Richmond (Mermaid)
Belt race
- Callum Brennan (Currumbin)
- Riley Brennan (Currumbin)
- Sam Harris (Maroochydore)
Surf teams
- Currumbin
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
- Northcliffe
Rescue Tube Rescue
- Currumbin
- Seacliff, SA
- Cronulla, NSW
Board
- Ethan Callaghan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Charlie Morris (Wanda, NSW)
- Angus MacPhail (Manly, NSW)
Board Relay
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, D (Taj Andrews, Benjamin Highfields, Nathan Jay)
- Northcliffe, A (Mitch Morris, Matt Bevilacqua, Zach Morris)
- Northcliffe, B (Wes Gould, Cory Taylor, Joe Collins)
Board Rescue
- Blake Cook/Dan Collins (Redhead, NSW)
- Angus MacPhail/Hayden Cotter (Manly, NSW)
- Noah Steiner/Bailey Krstevski (Wanda, NSW)
Beach Sprint
- Asher Ward (Northcliffe)
- Matthew Lloyd (North Cottesloe, WA)
- Jackson Symonds (Sorrento, WA)
Beach Flags
- Sam Zustovich (Mollymook, NSW)
- Jett Milford-Ferguson (Surfers Paradise)
- Jason Gough (Alexandra Headlands)
2km Beach Run
- Samuel McAuliffe (Kurrawa)
- Kyle Mason (Wanda, NSW)
- Nathan Breen (Cronulla, NSW)
Beach Relay
- Northcliffe
- Cronulla, NSW
- Noosa Heads
Single Ski
- Jackson Collins (Kurrawa)
- Mitchell Trim (Newport, NSW)
- Riley Fitzsimmons (Northcliffe)
Double Ski
- Jackson Collins/Kalani Gilbertson (Kurrawa)
- Riley Fitzsimmons/Joe Collins (Northcliffe)
- Harrison Taurins/Mitchell Trim (Newport, NSW)
Ski Relay
- Northcliffe A (Riley Fitzsimmons, Tom Green, Jake Morris)
- Northcliffe B (Mitch Morris, Joe Collins, Zach Morris)
- Newport (Ziko Vesely/Bailey Clues, Jackson Borg)
Open Boat
- Wanda Weapons, NSW
- Avalon Beach Pinkies, NSW
- Elouera Wilko, NSW
Reserve Boat
- Freshwater Pigs, NSW
- Northcliffe Hurricanes
- Fremantle Burritos, WA
Open Longboard Riding
- Finn Wilkie (Coogee, NSW)
- Anthony Carroll (Bondi, NSW)
- Jack Lewis (Noosa)
Open Short Board
- Fred Carmody (North Bondi, NSW)
- Finn Wilkie (Coogee, NSW)
- Georgie Messiter (Coogee, NSW)
FEMALE
Ironwoman
- Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore)
- Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Gemma Smith-Welch (Northcliffe).
Champion Lifesaver
- Jemma Smith (Newport, NSW)
- Phoebe Savage (Newport, NSW)
- Grace Young (City of Perth, WA)
5 Person R and R
- Coogee, NSW
- Anglesea, VIC
- North Cronulla, NSW
Taplin (Ironman) Relay
- Northcliffe
- Newport
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
Surf race
- Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Naomi Scott (Northcliffe)
- Gemma Smith-Welch (Northcliffe)
2km Open Water
- Mia Feltham (Southport)
- Katelyne Irwin (Kurrawa)
- Sara Tazaki (Northcliffe)
Belt Race
- Cyra Bender (Northcliffe)
- Zoe Crawford (Northcliffe)
- Chelsea Jones (Currumbin)
Surf teams
- Northcliffe A
- Northcliffe B
- Kurrawa
Rescue Tube Rescue
- Northcliffe A
- Northcliffe B
- Kurrawa
Board
- Lily O’Sullivan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Brodee Trinca (Southport)
- Emily Gauld (Northcliffe)
Board Relay
- Newport (Lizzie Welborn, Analise Kibble, Jemma Smith
- Northcliffe (Hannah Scully, Lana Rogers, Naomi Scott)
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (Lily O’Sullivan, Chelsa Wood, Carla Papac)
Board Rescue
- Lana Rogers/Emily Gauld (Northcliffe)
- Lizzie Welborn/Sarah Locke (Newport, NSW)
- Naomi Scott/Olivia Corrin (Northcliffe)
Beach Sprint
- Briana Irving (Waikanae, NZ)/Tahlia Sunderland (Currumbin)
- Imogen Herrington (City of Perth, WA)
- Payton Williams (Mollymook, NSW)
Beach Flags
- Elizabeth Forsyth (Currumbin)/Annah Abravanel (Biarritz Sauvetage Cotier (FRA)
- Patyon Williams (Mollymook, NSW)
- Lainey Shockro (Surfers Paradise)
2km Beach Run
- Kate McHardy (Northcliffe)
- Georgia Stroud (Sunshine Beach)
- Rique Miroshnik (North Bondi, NSW)
Beach Relay
- City of Perth (WA)
- Noosa
- Northcliffe
Single Ski
- Jemma Smith (Newport, NSW)
- Ella Beere (Avoca, NSW)
- Natalie Drobot (Avoca, NSW)
Double Ski
- Jasmine Rayward/Dakota Luke (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park)
- Jemma Smith/Olivia Clues (Newport, NSW)
- Ella Beere/Natalie Drobot (Avoca, NSW)
Ski Relay
- Newport, NSW (Jemma Smith, Olivia Clues, Piper Harrison)
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park (Carla Papac/ Jasmine Rayward/Dakota Luke)
- Northcliffe (Claudia Kelly/Julia Padrutt/Emily Doyle)
Open Boat
- Collaroy Giants, NSW
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Broadbacks
- Port Kembla Parasites, NSW
Reserve Boat
- Freshwater Freaks, NSW
- Northcliffe Hurricanes
- Fremantle Burritos, WA
Open Longboard Riding
- Kirra Molnar (Noosa)
- Rori Reyntjes (Torquay, VIC)
- Caitlin Brouckaert (Noosa Heads)
MIXED
Open Champion Patrol
- Newport, NSW
- Currumbin
- Northcliffe
5 Person R and R
- Coogee, NSW
- Wanda, NSW
- NSW
Taplin (Ironman) Relay
- Alexandra Headland
- Northcliffe
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
Double Ski
- Piper Harrison/ Harrison Taurins (Newport, NSW)
- Jett Kenny/Emma Woods (Alexandra Headland)
- Jake Morris/Julia Padrutt (Northcliffe)
Beach Relay
- Sorrento (WA)
- City of Perth (WA)
- Northcliffe
March Past
- Collaroy Ladies, NSW
- Collaroy Bears, NSW
- Sorrento, WA
Boat Relay
- Palm Beach, NSW
- North Cottesloe, WA
- Avoca Beach, NSW
*QLD unless otherwise stated
OVERALL POINTSCORE (TOP 20 CLUBS):
- Northcliffe, QLD 275pts
- Wanda, NSW 223
- Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, QLD 223
- Newport, NSW 174
- Alexandra Headland, QLD 159
- Maroochydore, QLD 156
- Currumbin, QLD 128
- South Maroubra, NSW 94
- Noosa Heads, QLD 89
- Kurrawa, QLD 74
- Manly, NSW 70
- Mermaid Beach, QLD 69
- Coogee, NSW 68
- Swansea Belmont, NSW 67
- Trigg Island, WA 64
- North Cottesloe, WA 62
- Sorrento, WA 60
- North Burleigh, QLD 59
- Grange, SA 46
- Avoca Beach, NSW 44
PARTING PIC…NORTHCLIFFE’S TRIUMPHANT TAPLIN RELAY TEAM
NORTHCLIFFE’S TRIUMPHANT TAPLIN RELAY WINNERS, (L-R) Mitch Morris, Bailey Armstrong, Riley Fitzsimmons, Zach Morris, Jake Morris and Matt Bevilacqua. Photo Courtesy John Veage (SLS-Australia).
