Drury wins Coolongatta Gold
October 2007

HE had planned to be cheering from the sidelines but Rhys Drury's decision to come out of retirement for one last shot at a lifetime dream yesterday saw the veteran ironman set a race record in his upset win in the NIB Coolangatta Gold.

On a day when the big names were felled by two bolters, Drury's decision to attack a race his coach Michael King won 16 years ago delivered the biggest win of his career - and made him the oldest champion of the endurance event.

"I don't know whether to laugh, cry or scream," said the 30-year-old, who beat pre-race favourite Shannon Eckstein in the gruelling 46.65km race.

Drury won in 4hr 10min 58sec. Defending champion Zane Holmes finished 10th.

"For me to win this, for my name to go on the trophy, is something I'll remember for the rest of my life," Drury said.

Drury, who collected $20,000 for his effort, was enticed out of retirement after his wife Renae urged him to enter after watching Guy Leech, winner of the first two Golds back in 1984 and 1985, talking about the race on television.

"I finished up last year, I'd been doing it since I was 17 and we've just had a baby (Taya, six months ago). I sat down with my wife and coach in the off-season and decided to come back for one more.

"Since the birth of my child it has opened a whole new world for me and put everything into perspective. It has been fantastic for me, obviously."

While Drury grabbed one for the "old boys" of surf lifesaving and definitely one for Bee-Power!