Pittwater Online News

September 13 - 19, 2020: Issue 466

Fletcher Kelleher - Ruby Trew claim victories at the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp. On Northern Beaches

Rene Galloway (Newport) - 1st in Under 12's - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

Locana Cullen (Avalon) 1st in Under 10's - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

CURL CURL BEACH, SYDNEY
Saturday, 12 September 2020
Report by Surfing NSW

Northern Beaches duo Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater) and Ruby Trew (Manly) have taken out the Under-14 age division on the opening day of the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps pres. by Pic's Peanut Butter in punchy one-to-two-foot beach break conditions at Curl Curl Beach.

Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater) added another Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp title to his mantlepiece, taking out the Boys division. The lightning-fast goofy-footer performed a healthy mix of hacks and snaps in the final to take top honours with a solid 13.67 two-wave heat total. Kelleher claimed the win ahead of fellow Freshwater local Lex O’Connor who claimed second position.

Local Northern Beaches competitor Ruby Trew (Manly) put on a clinic in the small conditions, executing an array of beautiful snaps and carves to finish the final with an 11.84 two-wave heat total. Runner-up and fellow Northern Beaches local Milla Brown (Bilgola) put on a valiant performance, posting 6.90 but was unable to topple Trew from the top spot.

Day two of the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps pres. by Pic's Peanut Butter will resume tomorrow.

The elite event will see male and female surfers competing in four different age divisions, starting at Under-8’s right through to the Under-14’s.

Close to 70 competitors are competing in the event.

With the current NSW Health recommendations in relation to community sport, Surfing NSW has implemented regional boundaries for Woolworths Surfer Grom Comps for each respective event location. The Northern Beaches region spans from Manly in the south to Port Stephens in the north.

Surfing NSW requires all competitors to complete a survey on your health status and where they have been 14-days prior to competition.

Regarded as one of the major steppingstones in the development of young Australian surfers, the 10-event Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps series caters for surfers from Under 8 to Under 14 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, 2 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 Under-14 Boy and Girl who reside in that respective State.

Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps pres. by Pic's Peanut Butter 2020 Series Schedule:

EVENT 1 - Kiama, NSW - Sept 5 - 6, 2020
EVENT 2 - Northern Beaches, NSW - Sept 12 - 13, 2020
EVENT 3 - Coffs Harbour, NSW - Sept 26 - 27, 2020
EVENT 4 - Cronulla, NSW - Oct 17 - 18, 2020
EVENT 5 - Torquay, VIC - Oct 24 - 25, 2020
EVENT 6 - Clifton Beach, TAS - Oct 31, 2020
EVENT 7 - Trigg, WA - Nov 7 - 8, 2020
EVENT 8 - Fleurieu Peninsula, SA - Nov 14, 2020
EVENT 9 - Gold Coast, QLD - Nov 21 - 22, 2020
EVENT 10 - Sunshine Coast, QLD - Dec 12 - 13, 2020

National Final - Surfing Australia HPC, Casuarina QLD - Dec 18 - 20, 2020 - Entry by qualification.

The Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps is proudly supported by Woolworths, Pic’s Peanut Butter and 2XP.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and Surfing Australia's commitment to comply with all State and Federal regulations, series dates are subject to change at any time.

RESULTS:

Under-14 Boys

1 – Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater)
2 – Lex O’Connor (Freshwater)
3 – Sol Gruendling (Manly)
4 – Lachlan Smith (Merewether)

Under-14 Girls

1 – Ruby Trew (Manly)
2 – Milla Brown (Bilgola)
3 – Sydney Chevalier (Dee Why)
4 – Ali Ockwell (Avalon)

Champions crowned on finals day of the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp on northern beaches

CURL CURL BEACH, SYDNEY
Sunday, 13 September 2020
Report by Surfing NSW

Event two on the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps pres. by Pic's Peanut Butter series wrapped up today with surfers being greeted by one-to-two foot peaks at Curl Curl Beach.

Rene Galloway (Newport) put in a dominant display to claim the Under-12 Boys. Galloway shone in the all Northern Beaches final, posting a solid 13.50 two-wave heat total. Galloway synced his powerful forehand snaps and carves with the small left-handers to take the win and earn the win ahead of Under-12 NSW Champion Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why).

Mia MacMahon (Norah Head) claimed a title for the Central Coast surfers, taking out the Under-12 Girls. MacMahon put on a blistering performance in the final, executing a handful of beautiful snaps and carves to gain the upper hand against her opposition and take the title back to Norah Head.

Locana Cullen (Avalon) showed he would be a name to watch in the coming years as he shredded through the Under-10 Boys division. Cullen took dual wins across the two finals thanks to some mature surfing that was rewarded with a handful of excellent wave scores (eight-and-above).

Talia Tebb (Kincumber) ensured a title would be heading north to the Central Coast, taking out the Under-10 Girls division. Tebb surfed well beyond her years in her dual heats with fellow Central Coast surfer Olive Morriss (Avoca), claiming two wins and earning herself the overall title.

The elite event saw male and female surfers competing in four different age divisions, starting at Under-8’s right through to the Under-14’s.

Close to 70 competitors competed in the event.

National Final - Surfing Australia HPC, Casuarina QLD - Dec 18 - 20, 2020 - Entry by qualification.

The Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps is proudly supported by Woolworths, Pic’s Peanut Butter and 2XP.

Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW

RESULTS:

Under-12 Boys
1 – Rene Galloway (Newport)
2 – Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why)
3 – Sullivan Tucker (Freshwater)
4 – Murray Bamberry (Northern Beaches)

Under-12 Girls
1 – Mia MacMahon (Norah Head)
2 – Annalise Wong (Cromer)
3 – Bodhi Jay Moana (North Narrabeen)
4 – Milli Trew (Manly)

Under-10 Boys
1 – Locana Cullen (Avalon)
2 – Liam Gason (Collaroy)
3 – Jacques Callebaut (Northern Beaches)
4 – Max Bakker (Queenscliff)
5 – Clyde Benschop (Newport)

Under-10 Girls
1 – Tahlia Webb (Kincumber)
2 – Olive Morriss (Avoca)

Pic’s Peanut Butter Star Performer Award
Olive Morriss (Avoca)
Locana Cullen (Avalon)

Woolworths Fresh Wave Award
Mia MacMahon (Norah Head)
Sullivan Tucker (Freshwater)