MARGARET River Senior High School officially rules the waves, winning the title of WA Champion Surfing School for a record seventh consecutive year.
Competitors for the Brownes Chill WA School Surfing Titles Finals were greeted by perfect conditions with clean 2-3 feet waves (1.5 metres) at Trigg Beach, which suited the South West surfers who dominated this year’s competition.
The State Final was the conclusion to a two-week long state-wide search for WA’s best school surfing talent, with Margaret River winning four out of eight divisions.
Twenty-six high schools from as far north as Kalbarri and as far south as Albany converged for their chance to represent WA in the upcoming Australian Junior Titles, to be held in Nubeena Beach, Tasmania in December.
Standout surfers for the event were Margaret River’s junior pairing of Jacob Willcox and Shaun Manners who provided the day’s highlights with some electric surfing. Manners threaded some amazing tube rides and Willcox was the only surfer to claim a perfect 10 point ride en route to the win.
The duo displayed futuristic moves and smooth flowing styles which made the difference as Margaret River went on to defeat Lachy Ross and Austin Taylor from Denmark Senior High in second, with Fletcher Cremasco and Riley Hole from Kalbarri District High in third place.
“I’m just really happy to have the chance to surf with Jacob at the National Titles, the waves were really fun today which made a big difference,” Shaun said.
Margaret River’s Josh Burke and Harry Wise were pushed in the senior boys surfing final by Peter Dwyer and Mitch Corbett from John XXIII College in Mount Claremont.
Burke and Wise adapted to the afternoon conditions best and the duo will now head to Tasmania in December to take on the best U19 schools teams in the country.
Sister act Hannah and Ella Massie of Margaret River took out the Senior Girls Surfing division from MacKillop Catholic College’s Marie Bradley and Abbey Thomas in second, with St Mary’s pairing of Maddi Sharpless and Nicola Tate in third place.
“This is the stuff all sisters dream of doing, winning surfing events and getting to go away to compete together is going to be so exciting,” Hannah said.
Margaret River’s Molly Ryan and Indi Nikulinsky also defeated Prendiville College in the Junior Girls Bodyboard final.
Results:
Champion School: Margaret River Senior High, Runner -Up: Mackillop Catholic College, Third Place: Prendiville College
Senior Boys Surfing: Champion School: Margaret River Senior High (Josh Burke, Harry Wise), Runner-Up School: John XXIII College (Peter Dwyer, Mitch Corbett)
Senior Girls Surfing: Champion School: Margaret River Senior High (Hannah and Ella Massie), Runner-Up School: Mackillop Catholic College (Marie Bradley, Abbey Thomas)
Junior Boys Surfing: Champion School: Margaret River Senior High (Jacob Willcox, Shaun Manners), Runner-Up School: Denmark Senior High (Lachy Ross, Austin Taylor), Third Place School: Kalbarri District High (Fletcher Cremasco, Riley Hole)
Junior Girls Surfing: Champion School: Mackillop Catholic College (Eliza Greene, Maleeka Gasbarri), Runner-Up School: Denmark Senior High (Emi Campbell, Ruby Adams)
Senior Boys Bodyboarding: Champion School: Mandurah Catholic College (Davis Blackwell, Billy Jones), Runner-Up School: Christchurch Grammar School (Dave Barclay, Beau Christian)
Senior Girls Bodyboarding: Champion School: Prendiville College (Tarnica Golisano, Jorja Murphy), Runner-Up School: Mackillop Catholic College (Remy Bernhardt, Amalia Lambert), Third Place School: St Stephens Duncraig (Lisa Hindmarsh, Chantelle Herman)
Junior Boys Bodyboarding: Champion School: Peter Moyes Anglican School (Blake Gerrard, Matt Roberts), Runner-Up School: Prendiville College (Josh O’Brien, Nathan Hutchins)
Third Place School: Ocean Reef Senior High (Bailey Holmes, Jesse Franklin)
Junior Girls Bodyboarding: Champion School: Margaret River Senior High (Molly Ryan, Indi Nikulinsky), Runner-Up School: Prendiville College (Ruby Cunningham, Ashlen De Prizio).
