Bevilacqua and Miller win Jim Wall Iron Man

SATURDAY’S Surf Coast Times Jim Wall Iron Man proved worth the wait after its initial postponement, with ideal conditions and high-calibre racing on display at Torquay Surf Beach.

Torquay SLSC president Tiffany Quinlan said she was delighted with how the competition ran.

“It was sensational. We had close to 150 athletes in all ages, from Under 13 through to the Opens.

“There was a really good wave, nice swell and just a really fantastic vibe around the club as well. We couldn’t be happier.”

Matt Bevilacqua and Georgia Miller won the men’s and women’s Open events respectively.

Bevilacqua and Miller are among Australia’s best iron competitors, with both having won the Nutri-Grain Ironman series in recent years.

Yet the pair only learnt they would be available to compete in the event just a few days earlier.

Ms Quinlan said the club had been delighted to hear they would be competing.

“We knew about a week beforehand that they were going to make it, which was just sensational.”

Bevilacqua and Miller had plenty of competition, though, as more people competed than signed up for the original date in January.

The Jim Wall is the longest-running iron event in Australia.

Ms Quinlan said having Jim Wall’s son and former winner of the event, Terry Wall, there to support the event helped connect the club to its roots.

“It’s not only that he’s there to support it but he’s there early in the morning to help set up, he helps on the beach, he does the presentation.

“It just makes the day even more special because he has the history and the connection for all us to appreciate.”