Matt Banting : photo Hilton Dawe

Taj’s Small Fries

Under 16, 14, 12 Grommet Surfing Event
Yallingup, Western Australia
January 21st-22nd 2006

www.billabong.com.au

Banting Wins Top Fry at Billabong Taj’s Small Fries at Yallingup

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 January, 2006 : - - (Yallingup) NSW surfer Matt Banting (Port Macquarie) upstaged West Australia’s next generation of professional surfers today by winning the blue ribbon 12 and under division of the Billabong Taj’s Small Fries surfing event at Indjinup Beach in the south west of the state.

The 11 year-old who spent last week surfing with world number six ranked professional Taj Burrow was too good for WA’s under 12 state champion Creed McTaggart (Margaret River), Shaun Green (Dunsborough) and Louis Eastough (Yallingup).  Banting dominated competition throughout the two day event which attracted over 100 surfers under the age of 16, a record field for surfing in Western Australia.

Shaun Howe : photo Marz Vassallo

It was a one sided final from the opening exchange as young Banting locked in two scoring rides of an 8.40 and a 7.93 to easily outpoint his fellow finalists.  McTaggart needed a near perfect 9.56 to take the lead in the dying stages of the final but was unable to find it. "It’s been heaps fun,” said Banting.  “The waves were a bit windy in the final and Creed surfed really well, but I got it.  Taj was really cool as well.”

After being relocated from Yallingup Beach due to a huge increase in swell, the young competitors charged the perfect 2m waves on offer at Indjinup, at times being hammered by the barrelling right hander.  Burrow entered the water for the second time in two days, showing no sign of the injury that has sidelined him for the past three months, demolishing the line-up during the under 12’s semi final and thrilling the 150 strong beach crowd with a series of deep tube rides.

Felicity Palmteer : photo Marz Vassallo

“I can’t believe how good it was out there, I was paddling back out just seeing perfect wave after wave,” said Burrow.  “The waves have just been insane for these little grubs all weekend.  My foot is still a bit sore but it’s been good to stretch it out a bit.”

Kalbarri’s Shaun Howe stole the show in the 16 and under boys division after pipping under 14 State Champion Todd Quartermaine in the dying seconds of todays final.  The 15-year-old sprinted back into the line-up with only one minute remaining after Quartermaine had exited the water thinking he had sealed the final.  Picking up a rougue set, Howe demolished the right hander with five huge backside turns to the beach and was rewarded with the score he required to take the win.

Danny Williams : photo Marz Vassallo 

In the 14 and under girls final, Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys) left her fellow finalists requiring a combination of scores to take first place.
The 13-year-old who won a national school championship in Tasmania late last year also dominated the 16 and under girls division, winning easily.

Geraldton duo Danny Williams and Jake Fawcett excelled in the boys 14 and under division despite a low scoring final.  Williams secured the win on two scoring rides of 6.83 and 5.93 to relegate his local mate to second.
Third and fourth were Liam Van Den Ham and Conor McGahern respectively.

Taj’s Small Fries is supported by Panasonic, Vodafone, Coca-Cola, UV Triplegard, Clearasil, Surfing WA, STAB and the local community of Yallingup.

Matt Banting : photo Hilton Dawe

Results

12 and Under Boys

1st Matt Banting (Port Macquarie)
2nd Creed McTaggart (Margaret River)
3rd Shaun Green (Dunsborough)
4th Louis Eastough (Yallingup)

14 and Under Girls

1st Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys)
2nd Laura Macaulay (Gracetown)
3rd Miaela Greene (Yallingup)
4th Kate Tarrant (Dunsborough)

14 and Under Boys

1st Danny Williams (Geraldton)
2nd Jake Fawcett (Geraldton)
3rd Liam Van Den Ham (Wangara)
4th Conor McGahern (Scarborough)

16 and Under Girls

1st Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys)
2nd Jade Hewitt (Margaret River)
3rd Ellie Macaulay (Gracetown)
4th Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown)

16 and Under Boys

1st  Shaun Howe (Kalbarri)
2nd Todd Quartermaine (Halls Head)
3rd  Mitch Taylor (Karrinyup)
4th Matt Rudland (Attadale)

Taj Burrow caught a few waves too : photo Marz Vassallo

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For more media information

Simon Barratt
Billabong Australia
0437 733 346
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

For high res complimentary images

Marz
marz@srosurf.com
0416 535 193

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