Locals Shine at the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp – Coffs Harbour

Stop No.2 of four of the NSW based Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps was held in small yet contestable conditions at Coffs Harbour, NSW. Commencing at Diggers Beach, it seemed to be the locals who had an advantage and in turn managed to find some great results for the Coffs Harbour Boardriders.

Starting with one of the youngest athletes in the draw, seven-year-old Austin Reynolds (Coffs Harbour) blew the judges away in U8 mixed. The local junior well and truely topped his division in both rounds to claim his first ever chair up the beach after a great win.

Continuing the glory for the Coffs Harbour crew was U14 boys winner Hamish Harrigan who narrowly came out on top after a close battle with fellow Coffs Harbour Boardriders surfer Rio Luther Barr (Sawtell). With a 5.83 and a 4.23, Hamish walked away with his first win of the year by just 0.02.

In the girls draw, U10 winner Cleo Beesley (Broadwater) was undefeated throughout the rounds of competition as she surfed her way to the top. The up-and-comer says she’s now hooked as this wasn’t just her first big win, but her first competition outside of local club rounds.

Another reoccurring theme over the weekend was sibling duo’s doing it for themselves. With many athlete’s coming from ‘surf-heavy’ families, it’s not uncommon to see dynamic sibling duo’s take to the stage. Special mention goes to the sister’s, Frankie and Lyla Freudenstein who were placed head-to-head in the U14 girls Quarterfinal. Unfortunately both were knocked out. Similarly, Coolangatta brothers Chaise and Flynn Swierczewski left a significant impact on the judges with Chaise finishing second in U8 mixed and Flynn taking out the U10’s after coming in at a very close second place in 2022.

All results here.

Results

Under 8 Mixed
1^st Austin Reynolds (Coffs Harbour)
2^nd Chaise Swierczewski (Coolongatta)
3^rd Saxon King (Austinmer) 
4^th Francis Huggett (Collaroy)
5^th Tarro Boxsell (Scotts Head)

Under 10 Girls
1^st Cleo Beesley (Broadwater)
2^nd Rosie Barron (Byron Bay)
3^rd Matilda Harrigan (Coffs Harbour)
4^th Sage White (Coffs Harbour)

Under 10 Boys
1^st Flynn Swierczewski (Coolangatta)
2^nd Clive Morriss (Avoca Beach)
3^rd Noah Colebert (Elanora)
4^th Luca Dart (Tugun)

Under 12 Girls
1^st Navah Holmes (Tugun)
2^nd Alanni Morris (Shelly)
3^rd Piper O’Sullivan (Sawtell)
4^th Shelby O’Rourke (Woodburn)

Under 12 Boys
1^st Tully Crompton (Tugun)
2^nd Asher Winters (Port Macquarie)
3^rd Jay Whitfield (Bogangar)
4^th Phoenix Talbot (Wooloweyah)

Under 14 Girls
1^st Gidget Kowalski (Kirra)
2^nd Maddison Kenchington (Tallebudgera)
3^rd Mali Adam (Crescent Head)
4^th Navah Holmes (Tugun)

Under 14 Boys
1^st Hamish Harrigan (Coffs Harbour)
2^nd Rio Luther Barr (Sawtell)
3^rd Carter Crowley (Coffs Harbour)
4^th Joe Rocco Sommerville (Sandon Point)

Regarded as one of the major stepping stones in the development of young Australian surfers, the 10-event Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps series caters for surfers from U8 to U14 and will be held in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia over summer.

As an added bonus, the respective winners of the Under 14 boys’ and girls’ divisions from each event will receive an invite to attend an all-expenses-paid, three-day Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps National Final Surf Camp, (1-day coaching clinic, two days of competition and heat analysis coaching) at the Surfing Australia High-Performance Centre (HPC).

For the South Australian, Victorian and Tasmanian events, the Woolworths Surf Camp prize will be awarded to the highest place U14 Boy and Girl who reside in that respective state.

2023 Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps Series:

Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 1 – Kiama, NSW – Sep 2 – 3, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 2 – Coffs Harbour, NSW – Sep 9 – 10, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 3 – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA – Sep 30, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 4 – Gold Coast, QLD – Oct 7 – 8, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 5 – Torquay, VIC – Oct 14 – 15, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 6 – Clifton Beach, TAS – Oct 28, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 7 – Northern Beaches, NSW – Nov 4 – 5, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 8 – Trigg, WA – Nov 18 – 19, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 9 – Cronulla, NSW – Dec 2 – 3, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 10 – Sunshine Coast, QLD – Dec 9 – 10, 2023
Surfer Groms Comps – National Final – Surfing Australia HPC, Casuarina QLD – Dec 16 – 18, 2023

The Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps Series is proudly supported by Le Tan, Ruffie Rustic Foods, Wax Fresh and Surfing Australia.