TENACIOUS Tugun ironman, Hugh Dougherty, has kept the pressure on series leader Shannon Eckstein with another remarkable second place finish in round four races of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series at Alexandra Headland on Sunday.

The 26-year-old bounced back from a disappointing fifth place in Saturday’s round three race to again push ever-ready Eckstein all the way up the sand.

Eckstein - beaten by Ky Hurst’s miracle last-to-first wave on Saturday - was looking over his shoulder as he again led around the final set of buoys, but this time he kept his advantage, despite the fast-finishing efforts of Dougherty, and Drury who ran third.

Sunday’s runner-up, his third of the series, ensured Dougherty remains within striking distance of the Northcliffe superstar ahead of the finals at North Cronulla on February 21.

Ekstein’s third win of the season puts him on 79 points (from a possible 80), six points clear of Dougherty (73), with Saturday’s winner Ky Hurst on 65, and with double points on offer at Cronulla, any one of the trio could prevail, especially if there is good surf.

“If there’s a wave on at Cronulla anything could happen,” Dougherty said.

“A nice three or four foot of swell would be nice.

“It’s more fun, it’s better for the spectators and we enjoy it, too.”

No more apparent was Dougherty’s very sentiment, than when Hurst turned back the clock with a staggering last-to-first win on Saturday.

The Kurrawa icon was trailing the field after being dumped off his ski while leading in the second leg, but the four-times national Ironman champion produced a piece of surf magic in the final swim leg.

As Eckstein looked to have the race wrapped up, Hurst bodysurfed a booming two-metre wave to move past the entire field and race away to a commanding victory as the big crowd cheered wildly.

The closing moments of round three of the Ironwoman series produced a finish almost as exciting, with Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) bodysurfing past leader Naomi Flood (Manly) and winning a sprint up the beach.

Flood was unable to ride a big wave all the way to the beach and Smith came from 30 metres back to edge her out, with Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) third.