Last weekend (5th and 6th of April) surfing girls of all crafts and ages took to the surf on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Saturday saw almost fifty girls visit Southport Beach on the Mid coast for the Surf Culture Australia “Girls Get Into It” learn to surf day. The girls were greeted by great weather this year and the half metre waves were close to perfect for those in the early part of their surfing career. There were grins from ear to ear as the girls experienced the fun and thrill of surfing in the beautiful Autumn conditions. A special thanks to all the parents and spectators for coming down to the event and checking out the action. All entrants in the weekend event received free entry into the raffle for a new G-Board beginners surf board.
With a dropping swell on the mid coast on Saturday contest director, Ray Palmer called for an early start for the Coastview Motor Inn Women’s Classic on Sunday.
Sunday morning and “The Bay” at Middleton on the south coast awakens with light offshore winds and reasonable 1 to 1.5 metre waves. Forty competitors of all ages would challenge their skills against the face of a fresh clean swell. In total there were 6 divisions, 24 heats, 12 volunteers, around 80 spectators and one runaway contest director.
The near perfect conditions brought the best out of Seaford surfer, former junior champion and eventual Preece’s Southport Surf open winner, Hannah Juhrmann. Chasing Hannah in the final was Laura Hill (Reynella), youngster Brinkley Davies (Hope Forest), who took out the Fly Boardriding Juniors and M & S Campbell Plumbing and Gas Grommets, and newcomer Min Cook from Mt Barker).
The Cutloose Surf Longboard division was taken out by Lisa Dry (Seaford) narrowly ahead of Karen Riley, Erika Oemcke and Cheryl Buck. All girls in this division showed great strength and stamina to negotiate the strong surf on their nine foot boards.
The Fly Boardriding under 18’s was taken out by Brinkley Davies ahead of Kaitie Langley, Anjie Collins and Carly Hamden.
The M & S Campbell Plumbing and Gas under 15’s showcased our future talent and eventually it was youngster Brinkley “marathon” Davies who took the title again from Jessica Nietz, Alice Gilbert and Angie Collins. Most girls in the under age divisions had their first experience with a contest of this calibre. Well done! Keep your eyes and ears open for these young surfers, they are the future of women’s surfing in South Australia.
At the other end of the age spectrum was the Preece’s Southport Surf Seniors where Cheryl Peat (Seaford) took the title narrowly ahead of Karen Riley (Port Willunga), Sally Shepherd (Encounter Bay) and Cathy Griffen (Middleton).
As a part of their responsibility to help with the growth of surfing in South Australia, Surf Culture Australia, the contest organisers, also provide an opportunity for first time competitors to experience the feeling of competitive surfing. The FLY / Surf Culture Australia “Novice” division had nine entries and well done to 9 year old Maddi Hay (South Brighton) for taking the trophy in the final. She out manouvred Laura Mears, Alana Borron, 7 year old Hanna Maddison-Tennant and Emily Leadbeater. Watch this space!
The weekend festival of women’s surfing concluded with a great meal at Coastview Motor Inn with presentation of awards and trophies. Special thanks to Laura Hill for the musical delights on presentation night and people are welcome to contact Surf Culture Australia if you would like to find out more about Laura’s music. Any girls who placed in the finals who were unable to make presentations can contact Surf Culture Australia to arrange collection of trophies.
COASTVIEW MOTOR INN
Women’s Classic 2008
RESULTS
Preece’s Southport Surf
Open: 1st Hannah Juhrmann (Seaford), 2nd Laura Hill (Reynella), 3rd Brinkley Davies (Hope Forest), 4th Min Cook (Mt Barker), =5th Lisa Dry & Esther Dudley, =7th Cheryl Peat & Erika Oemcke, =9th Emma Williams, Maddie Hill, Kaitie Langley, Candice Bawden, =13th Carly Hamden, Clara Germein and Jayne Parkin.
Preece’s Southport Surf
Over 28: 1st Cheryl Peat (Seaford), 2nd Karen Riley (Port Willunga), 3rd Sally Shepherd (Encounter Bay), 4th Cathy Griffen (Middleton), =5th Cheryl Buck (Colonel Light Gardens), Erika Oemcke (Port Noarlunga South).
FLY Boardriding
Under 18: 1st Brinkley Davies (Hope Forest), 2nd Kaitie Langley (Hallett Cove), 3rd Anjie Collins (Victor Harbor), 4th Carly Hamden (Glenelg East), =5th Maddie Hill, Alice Gilbert, =7th Emma Williams, Katie Hollis, Melissa Nietz.
M & S Campbell Plumbing and Gas
Under 15: 1st Brinkley Davies (Hope Forest), 2nd Jessica Nietz (Stirling), Alice Gilbert (Goolwa), Anjie Collins (Victor Harbor), =5th Lisa Denny, Morgan MacGowan
FLY / Surf Culture
Novice: 1st Maddie Hay (South Brighton), 2nd Laura Mears (Modbury), 3rd Alanna Boron (Semaphore South), 4th Hanna Maddison-Tennant (Aldinga Beach), 5th Emily Leadbeater (Woodcroft), =6th Alex Roberts, Leah Thompson =8th Tyler Orr, Selma Torronen
Cutloose Surf
Longboard: 1st Lisa Dry (Seaford), 2nd Karen Riley (Port Willunga), 3rd Erika Oemcke (Port Noarlunga South), 4th Cheryl Buck (Colonel Light Gardens), 5th Ellen Watson (Seaford)
Best Wave: Brinkley Davies – Open Semi Final
Best Wipeout: Jessica Nietz – U15 Final