26.5 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Like father like son, Occhilupo wins Grom

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

Byron Council staff baulk at councillors’ promise of free parking for locals

Will Byron Council deliver on its pledge to make parking permits free for locals across the Shire when paid parking comes into force in Brunswick Heads?

Democracy on the ropes?

The ancient idea of democracy is under threat around the world. Today, there are only 63 democracies compared to 74 autocracies, and many of these democracies are highly problematic.

Carrying and passing the torch

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

Roller derby rocks the Cavanbah Centre

The Red Kennedys have once again dominated the Northern Rivers Revolt Roller Derby Tournament held at the Cavanbah Centre over the weekend of March 16-17.

Hiatus Beers

Launched to market in July 2022, Hiatus Beers is all about brewing crisp, refreshing, full-flavoured, non-alcoholic beer.  The founders...

Dynamic, rustic yet polished

Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. Growing up playing punk and reggae in noisy garage bands in Southern Brazil, Aragones ventured to Australia where the eclectic sounds of the Sydney music scene beckoned.

Jay Occhilupo wins the 2015 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp. Photo Dev Lahey/Surfing Queensland.
Jay Occhilupo wins the 2015 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp. Photo Dev Lahey/Surfing Queensland.

After five days of incredible surfing the finals day of the Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp was filled with excitement and anticipation.

Some of the world’s best junior surfers converged on Duranbah Beach to participate in the afternoons finals in a bid to etch their names on one of the most prestigious trophies in junior surfing to date.

Arguably one of the biggest stories of the day was young gun Jay Occhilupo who claimed victory in the U/12 Boys division in his father’s event after a stellar performance.

Jay wasted no time locking in an early score of 7.83 (out of a possible 10 points) but he still needed a large score to take the lead.

Waiting until the final minutes Jay found the wave he was looking for which resulted in a needed 8.27 ride (16.10 out of possible 20 points) and the event win.

Jay defeated some tough competition in Lennox Chell (13.13, Avoca Beach, NSW), Codie Jeffery (12.13, Newhaven, VIC) and Noah Dupouy (7.80, Torquay, VIC) that placed respectively.

2015 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp Under 12 winner Nyxie Ryan Photo Dev Lahey/Surfing Queensland.
2015 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp Under 12 winner Nyxie Ryan Photo Dev Lahey/Surfing Queensland.

The youngest grommets were first to take on the epic Duranbah surf during their finals program with the U/12 Girls battling it out. Surfing well beyond her years was Nyxie Ryan (6.23, Lennox Head, NSW) who clenched victory against Summa Longbottom (6.03, Kiama, NSW), Sage Goldsbury (4.10, Cape Wooloami, VIC) and Ellie Harrison (2.80, Barwon Heads, VIC) respectively.

After a long week it was Piper Harrison (Coolangatta, QLD) who took out the U/14 Girls after a tough exchange during the final. Harrison used her local knowledge to help her claim the winner’s trophy over Zahli Kelly (7.77, Wooloowin, QLD), Kirra Belle Olsson (4.80, Avoca Beach, NSW) and Amuro Tsuzuki (3.37, Japan) respectively.

It was the Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head, NSW) show during the U/14 Boys final with a huge display of radical manoeuvres on offer.

McDonagh was on a hot streak during the six day event and kept the momentum into the final where he defeated Bulli (NSW) local Kennu Miller.

Macy Callaghan (Avoca Beach, NSW) took home the winner’s trophy in the U/16 Girls final after leading from start to finish. Callaghan was in a league of her own after Sophia Fulton (Cabarita Beach, NSW) struggled to find rhythm in the afternoon conditions.

In the blue ribbon division Kehu Butler (Bay of Plenty, NZ) had the final of his life to win the U/16 Boys of the Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp. Butler patiently waited for a wave that could give him the score he needed until the final minutes where locked in 7.5 point ride (out of a possible 10 points) to take the lead.

As icing on the cake Butler landed one of the airs of the comp in the final minutes to put the nail in the coffin and his name on the trophy. As a fitting tribute to Kehu’s celebration his family preformed the haka for himself and Sandon Whittaker (Avoca Beach, NSW) who finished in second place.

As added value the man himself Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo will select one lucky grom to partake in a ‘money can’t buy’ surf trip experience. The winner will be announced by Occy at the presentations on Thursday afternoon.

The 2015 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp, presented by Flight Centre will be based at Duranbah on Queensland’s Gold Coast from Saturday 27th June to Thursday 2nd July.

Results:

U/12 Girls:
1st – Nyxie Ryan (6.23, Lennox Head, NSW)
2nd – Summa Longbottom (6.03, Kiama, NSW)
3rd – Sage Goldsbury (4.10, Cape Wooloami, VIC)
4th – Ellie Harrison (2.80, Barwon Heads, VIC)

U/12 Boys:
1st – Jay Occhilupo (16.10, Elanora, QLD)
2nd – Lennox Chell (13.13, Avoca Beach, NSW)
3rd – Codie Jeffery (12.13, Newhaven, VIC)
4th – Noah Dupouy (7.80, Torquay, VIC)

U/14 Girls:
1st – Piper Harrison (10.00, Coolangatta, QLD)
2nd – Zahli Kelly (7.77, Wooloowin, QLD)
3rd – Kirra Belle Olsson (4.80, Avoca Beach, NSW)
4th –  Amuro Tsuzuki (3.37, Japan)

U/14 Boys:
1st – Mikey McDonagh (16.00, Lennox Head, NSW)
2nd – Kennu Miller (10.33, Bulli, NSW)

U/16 Girls:
1st – Macy Callaghan (12.60, Avoca Beach, NSW)
2nd – Sophia Fulton (2.77, Cabarita Beach, NSW)

U/16 Boys:
1st – Kehu Butler (17.07, Bay of Plenty, NZ)
2nd – Sandon Whittaker (12.57, Avoca Beach, NSW)

 


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.