Champions Crowned at the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp – Kiama

Stop No.1 of four of the NSW based Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps wrapped up in challenging conditions. Starting off at North Werri Beach for day one and commencing finals day at North Jones Beach, the wild weather didn’t deter the 90 plus groms who competed over the weekend.

On the boys side of the draw, it was U12 winner Andy Blanchfield (Norah Head) who was an overall standout throughout the two days competition. Andy came away with the highest two wave heat total of day one (13.40) and won the final with a combination heat total of 10.10.

Ashton Mekisic (Scarborough) took out the Woolworths Surf Groms Comp Cronulla in 2022 and, with a stellar performance again this year,  can add another 1st place trophy to his cabinet.

Another athlete backing up his win from last year was Maverick Macgugan (Avalon) who dominated the field in the U10 Boys. The young grom finished with a combined heat total of 11.80 leaving Sani Hellman (Ulladulla) in second followed by Hayden Men (Merewether) in third and Clive Morriss (Avoca) in fourth.

In the girls draw, Everly Morgan (Ulladulla) consistently caught the judges eyes. Everly, the 2023 U12 NSW State Champion, made finals in both the U10’s and U12’s. The nine-year-old won the U10’s for her second year straight. In her U12 Girls Final it was a nail biting heat with Coco Woolley (Boomerang Beach). The pair went blow for blow and after the final siren the judges where unable to separate the pair, but it was Woolley who came out on top in a count back.

In the U14 Girls final, it was neck-and-neck between first and second. Talia Tebb (Avoca) saved her best performance to last. Tebb locked in the highest female score of the event with an excellent 8.25 to take the win over local competitor Lani Cairncross (Kiama).

The highest single wave score of the competition went to Sani Hellman (Ulladulla) with a 9.5. Sani left beachgoers shocked as he took off on waves well overhead and carved his way to the shore. The little superstar who has big ambitions is starting to pave his way in the surf community and results are following. The five surfers in the U8’s mixed surfed twice and the two results were combined to find the offical winner and final placements.

All results HERE.

Results

Under 8 Mixed
1^st Sani Hellman (Ulladulla)
2^nd Archie Darragh (Gerringong)
3^rd Indianna Elkerton (Warilla)
4^th Bonnie Tobin (Caves Beach)
5^th Chevy Macgugan (Avalon Beach)

Under 10 Girls
1^st Everly Morgan (Milton)
2^nd Callie Hull (Flinders)
3^rd Chloe Grainger (Newport)
4^th Ruby Blanchfield (Norah Head)

Under 10 Boys
1^st Maverick Macgugan (Avalon)
2^nd Sani Hellman (Ulladulla)
3^rd Hayden Mee (Merewether
4^th Clive Morriss (Avoca Beach)

Under 12 Girls
1^st Coco Woolley (Boomerang Beach)
2^nd Mila Grainger (Newport)
3^rd Everly Morgan (Milton)
4^th Coco Hamano (Terrigal)

Under 12 Boys
1^st Andy Blanchfield (Norah Head)
2^nd Jacques Callebaut (Freshwater)
3^rd Byrnn Spierings (Bondi)
4^th Henry Smith (Mona Vale)

Under 14 Girls
1^st Talia Tebb (Avoca)
2^nd Lani Cairncross (Kiama)
3^rd Pearl Eaton (Lilli Pilli)
4^th Elina Wood (Jones Beach)

Under 14 Boys
1^st Ashton Mekisic (Scarborough)
2^nd Mateus Leal (Dee Why)
3^rd Hunter Sutcliffe (Manly)
4^th Jacob Sheehan (Bronte)

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.