Ali Day came close to his first win in the national ironman series at Newcastle. Picture: DELLY CARR
Ali Day's hunt for a maiden win in the national ironman series continues after good friend and Mooloolaba clubmate Matt Poole snared his first major victory in two years at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Kiama-raised Day looked destined to break his duck in the second round of the 2012-13 series, clearing out to a handy lead on the board leg during the final eliminator race of the day.
But Poole and round one winner Shannon Eckstein slashed Day's lead after benefiting from a small wave. Poole emerged from the surf just ahead of Day and won the sprint up the beach by five seconds.
He said it was only a matter of time before Day, who won the first four races under the eliminator format, would stand on top of the podium.
"There's no doubt in my mind he'll get many wins to come in a long and successful career," Poole said. "It came down to that little wave at the end.
"I feel sorry for Ali. He's my best mate and he had a good lead on us. I thought it was his day to take a win."
After finishing second in the series' opening round in Perth before Christmas, Day is now stalking leading pair Eckstein and Poole on the overall standings.
Ex-Thirroul ironman Josh Minogue finished eighth at Newcastle.
Recently-crowned world ironman champion and Coolangatta Gold winner Brodie Moir made it back-to-back wins after beating home Naomi Flood and Candice Falzon in the women's division.