Thirroul Beach hosts Shaw and Partners Iron Series championship this weekend
Elite ironman racing returns to Thirroul Beach on November 14-15, where Darren and Dean Mercer trained as champions.
Thirroul Beach will host the latest round of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series this weekend, bringing professional ironman racing back to the Illawarra coastal town. The beach holds legendary status in Australian surf lifesaving.
Brothers Darren and Dean Mercer trained there to become ironman champions during the sport's golden era in the late 1980s and 1990s. Darren Mercer won the Coolangatta Gold in 1991 and captured back-to-back Australian Open Ironman championships in 1996 and 1997.
Dean died in 2017 at age 47 from cardiac arrest. An annual Dean Mercer Dash is now held at Thirroul in his memory.
The event will be broadcast on Channel Ten from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Races alternate between ironwomen and ironmen, with the top 20 advancing to Newcastle races on January 10.
- November 14-15, 2026
- Event dates
- Thirroul Beach, Illawarra
- Location
- 1pm-3pm on Channel Ten
- Broadcast times
Why it mattersThe return of elite racing to a beach with deep history reconnects the community with its champions and reignites interest in a sport that once drew national TV audiences.
