The 37-year-become the first woman since Chrissie Wellington in 2008 and 2009 to win successive Ironman Australia events in an overall time of 9:05:58.

New Zealand’s Melanie Burke (9:29:49) and American Kelsey Withrow (9:44:49) rounded out the top three.

Siddall’s performance was workmanlike as she chased down compatriot Annabel Luxton on the bike who was then forced out of the race shortly after with asthmatic issues.

Once Siddall went past Luxton there would be no catching her.

“I caught her pretty quickly on the second lap and was expecting as I went past her that she’d come with me,” Siddall said.

“When I looked around and she wasn’t there I suspected something wasn’t quite right.”

Siddall said it was a special feeling to be in the mix with previous greats of the sport.

“The win last year was pretty special and you dream about going back to back, but you have to be practical,” she said.

“It’s a completely different year, there are new women on the start line and you still don’t know what’s going to happen on the day.

“It was a long marathon to get there and the finish line didn’t seem to want to come, but it’s an amazing feeling to back up and get that win.”

Siddall admitted it was difficult to split her 2017 success with her victory in 2018.

“Every win is pretty special,” she said.

“You really have to treasure them because they don’t come around often and last year was my first professional win over the Ironman distance.

“To have that here in Port Macquarie was really special, but to back it up and come away again is special as well.

“I love coming here to race and I’ve got a lot of fondness for this place because Australia is where I started in the sport.”

After winning in New Zealand earlier in the year, Siddall has started her season in the best possible fashion.

The question now is whether she will return to attempt a three-peat next year.

“That’s the only thing I was thinking when I was running – I’m going to have to come back and try and do it again,” she said.