Rusty Gromfest 2006

Surfing Australia
Lennox Head, NSW
7  - 11 July 2006

Future Champions Set to do Battle at Lennox Head in the Rusty Gromfest 

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 June, 2006 : - - With 350 competitors coming from all over Australia and New Zealand  along with numerous highly credentialed internationals, this years Rusty Gromfest  is almost certain to have future world championship tour surfers  in the field, utilizing this event as a significant "stepping stone" toward their aspiring professional careers. 

Check out the entire 10 year  history of winners and finalists of this event (scroll down). It highlights where this years Rusty Gromfest  could be heading in future years. Women's ASP World Champion Chelsea Georgeson along with World Championship Touring surfers Jessi Mylie-Dyer, Mick Fanning and Bede Durbridge were dominant Rusty Gromfest surfers before they entered the professional stages of their successful careers. 

Recent Rusty Gromfest winners  Luke Munro, Ben Dunn, Bobby Hansen (NZ), Stephanie Gilmore and Karina Petroni (USA) are now racing through World Qualifying Series ranks and look set to join the World Championship Touring ranks next year with a strong likelihood of more world champions appearing shortly with winning  histories in the Rusty! 

This years field is probably the strongest ever and many surfers will be out to add to their already imposing competitive records. 

South Coast NSW youngster Tyler Wright has an amazing record of three wins in the 12 year and under Girls division and will be favourite to extend that to four wins this year. Last year her scores were some of the highest of the entire event and she is confident in all surf conditions with an exciting and powerful attack. 

A number of other surfers will be looking to extend their winning record at this event including Garret Parkes (Byron Bay), Laura Enever (Narrabeen), Matt Banting (Port MacQuarie), Dean Bowen (Gerroa) and many more super talents. 

To compliment the caliber of great surfers , the event will run duel banked computer scoring systems to ensure a precisely run event.   Contest Director Max Perrot added  “ Rusty Gromfest will be the first event in the world to have the ASP computer scoring system operating simultaneously on two banks. 

It will be very exciting for spectators to follow the judge’s scores and hear the lead changing throughout a heat.  This innovation along with the introduction of current WCT commentators allows the competitors and spectators to experience professional cutting edge competition.”

The professional commentary team is - Ronnie Blakey -  29 years old, lives in Sydney, Former Waves editor. Brother of Vaughn Blakey. One of the best surf journalists in the world today. Knows every surfer, every wave and almost everything about the sport of surfing.

Mitch Ross – hails from Newcastle Beach. Age 25. Spent 5 years surfing the WQS. Former state champion surfing champion. Also knows everything about everyone.The two have been working together for the last year or so doing commentary for the ASP world tour. They were live at The Quiky pro in Feb and have just returned from Teahupoo in Tahiti were they were doing the commentary for the ASP Billabong pro.

Toby Ratcliffe – Age 31, has been doing the commentary for the Rusty Gromfest for the few years. Electric Visual Evolution NSW Sales expert, knows all the groms names and where they come from. Solid Commentator with a good personality and well traveled internationally – for surfing enjoyment. One of the best surfers out at Lennox Point and Le-Ba Boardriders member, Toby is the ideal hook up with Mitch and Ronnie.

Past event results:

1996
16 BOYS: 1. Paul Evans, Scotts Head, 2. Michael O'Rafferty, Port Macquaire, 3. Kyle Simes, Lake Cathie, 4. Jock Barnes
16 GIRLS: 1. Amee Donohoe, Central Coast, 2. Jody Hunter, Lennox Head 3. Lisa Blackmore, Gold Coast, 4. Angie Murphy
 
14 BOYS:  1. Jock Barnes, Lennox Head, 2. Jay Thompson, Cronulla 3. Blake Johnson, Cronulla, 4. Joel Reading
14 GIRLS:  1. Laurina McGrath, Byron Bay, 2. Anna Date, Gold Coast 3. April Murphy, Palm Beach, 4. Jessica Levitt 

12 BOYS:  1. Travis Lynch, Newcastle, 2. Mathew Watson, Gold Coast 3. Clinton Kimmins, Palm Beach, 4. Daniel Emery
12 GIRLS:  1. Melissa Cook, Lennox Head, 2. Jaye Butler, Lennox Head 3. Jenna Hunter, Lennox Head, 4. Adeley Ricketts

1997
16 BOYS:  1st Mick Fanning, 2nd Blake Johnston, 3rd Jono Shade, 4th Matt Toghill
16 GIRLS:  1st Melissa McDonald, 2nd Laurina McGrath, 3rd Anna Date, 4th Dara Penfold
 
14 BOYS:  1st Luke Munro, 2nd Shaun Cansdell, 3rd Cory Ziems, 4th Daniel Emery
14 GIRLS:  1st Chelsea Georgeson, 2nd Kelly Dahlberg, 3rd Stacey Holt, 4th Nava Young
 
12 BOYS:  1st Adam Melling, 2nd Paul Antonieff, 3rd Ben Dunn, 4th Andrew Levitt
12 GIRLS:  1st Lauren McGregor, 2nd Jaye Butler, 3rd Haylie Doyle, 4th Jade Antonieff

1998
16 BOYS:  1st Bede Durbridge(Nth Stradbroke Island, Qld), 2nd Nic Muscroft  3rd Kirk Flintoff 4th Jay Thompson
16 GIRLS:  1st Melissa McDonald  2nd Chelsea Georgeson, 3rd Stacey Lancaster 4th Laurina McGrath 

14 BOYS:  1st Travis Lynch , 2nd Leigh Sedley (Mooloolaba, Qld), 3rd Dave Mellon, 4th Clint Kimmins
14 GIRLS:  1st Jenna Hunter (Lennox Head, NSW), 2nd Louise Picton, 3rd Linda Fisher, 4th Julia Lennon
 
12 BOYS:  1st Lawrence Towner(Angourie, NSW), 2nd Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld), 3rd Mat Capel,  4th Andrew Levitt
12 GIRLS:  1st Renee Hyman (Palm Beach, Qld), 2nd Adeley Ricketts (Bogangar, NSW), 3rd Rachel Dahlberg, 4th Brooke Bijl

1999
16 BOYS:  1. Luke Munro (GC),2. Daniel Emery (Lennox Head), 3. Ross Castel,  4. Jai Boyce
16 GIRLS:  1. Lauren Ringer (SC), 2. Chelsea Georgeson (Avalon), 3. Rebecca Woods (Central Coast), 4. Emma Butler 
 
14 BOYS:  1. Bobby Hansen (NZ), 2. Rye Craike (WA), 3. Wade Goodall (SCoast), 4. Brad Wilcox (Lennox Head).
14 GIRLS:  1. Lauren McGregor (GC), 2. Jessi Miley-Dyer (Bronte), 3. Jessie Buchan (Sydney), 4. Louise Picton  

12 BOYS:  1. Laurie Towner (Angourie), 2. Brent Dorrington (Coolangatta), 3. Reuben Levitt  4. Tim Wrench
12 GIRLS:  1. Karina Petroni (USA), 2. Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff), 3. Renee Hyman(Palm Bch), 4. Lori Kelly

2000
16 BOYS:  1 Leigh Sedley - Sunshine Coast, NSW, 2. Adam Melling - Lennox Head NSW, 3. Mitch Semple, 4. Jay Levitt -
16 GIRLS:  1. Jenna Hunter - Lennox Head , 2. Lauren McGregor , 3. Rebecca Woods  4. Sheridan Shields

14 BOYS:  1. Laurie Towner - Angourie NSW, 2. Reuben Levitt - Palm Beach Qld 3. Sam Page  4. Wade Goodall-
14 GIRLS:  1. Jessi Miley-Dyer - Coogee NSW, 2. Renee Hyman - Palm Beach Qld 3.Chani Deane  4. Karlie Black

12 BOYS:  1. Karl Wright - Cowes Vic, 2. Matt Wilkinson - Copacabana NSW 3. Brendan Leckie  4. Jamie Adlingto
12 GIRLS:  1. Karina Petroni - USA,  2. Stephanie Gilmore - Kingscliff Qld 3. Lori Kelly - Moffat Beach Qld, 4. Ashleigh Smith

2001
16 BOYS:  1 Ben Dunn (Old Bar NSW), 2 Shane Carroll (Nth Avalon) 3 Adam Melling 4 Michael Banks
16 GIRLS:  1. Jessi Miley Dyer (Bronte NSW), 2 Nicola Atherton 3 Jessie Buchan, 4 Amanda Clegg

14 BOYS:  1 Tom Wimmer (Trigg Point WA), 2 Jay Davies (Yallingup WA) 3 Reuben Levitt 4 Laurie Towner
14 GIRLS:  1 Renee Hyman (Palm Beach QLD), 2 Ena Clarke (Coolangatta QLD) 3 Ashley Cheadle, 4 Karina Petroni

12 BOYS:  1 Owen Wright (Culburra Beach NSW), 2 Stuart Kennedy 3 Michael Levitt,4 Sam Wrench
12 GIRLS:  1 Jessica Welch (Gisborne NZ), 2 Ashleigh Smith(Cabaarita NSW) 3 Raimy Mathews, 4 Georgie Roach

2002
16 BOYS:  1 Ben Dunn (Old Bar), 2 Dean Brady (Sunrise Beach), 3 James Wood 4 Luke Cheadle
16 GIRLS:  1 JessI Miley-Dyer (Coogee), 2 Nicola Atherton (Bronte), 3 Renee Hyman  4 Jaimee Wheatley
 
14 BOYS:  1 Heath Joske (Valla), 2 Dean Iezzi (Peregian Beach), 3 Michael Levitt  4 Nicholas Vasicek
14 GIRLS:  1 Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff), 2 Sophie Curtis (Forster), 3 Jessica Hickson, 4 Lori Kelly 
 
12 BOYS:  1 Owen Wright (Culburra Beach), 2 Dean Bowen (Gerroa NSW), 3 Sam Wrench 4 Kyohei Yamada
12 GIRLS:  1 Izzy Chilcott (Currumbin), 2 Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa), 3 Georgie Roach  4 Kelly Winter

2003
16 BOYS: 1 Beau Atchison (Copacabana), 2 Mitchel Coleborn (Maroochydore), 3 Reuben Levitt 4 Raina Hede
16 GIRLS: 1 Stephanie Gilmore (Kingscliff), 2 Rebecca Oakley (Sunshine Beach), 3 Karina Petroni 4 Ena Clarke 
 
14 BOYS: 1 Owen Wright (Culburra Beach), 2 Chris Salisbury (Newport), 3 Shaun Ward 4 Ellis Ericson
14 GIRLS: 1 Eliza Roberts (Lilli Pilli), 2 Jessica Welch (GisborneNZ), 3 Sally Fitzgibbons  4 Brianna Lenton 

12 BOYS: 1 Dean Bowen (Gerroa), 2 Wes Bainbridge (Merewether), 3 Dylan Cummings  4 Davey Cathels
12 GIRLS: 1 Tyler Wright (Culburra Beach), 2 Laura Enever (Narrabeen), Quincy Moore 4 Kirby Wright

2004
16 BOYS: 1 Julian Wilson (Coolum), 2 Ellis Ericson (Byron Bay), 3 Matt Wilkinson 4 Lincoln Taylor
16 GIRLS: 1 Mischa Davis (NZ), 2 Angela Keighran (Mullaway), 3 Jessica Hickson 4th Elkie Jones

14 BOYS  1 Owen Wright (Culburra Bch),2 Chris Salisbury (Newport), 3 Blake Ainsworth (Coolangatta), 4 Kurt King
14 GIRLS: 1 Laura Enever (Narrabeen), 2 Airini Mason (NZ), 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa), 4 Paige Hareb

12 BOYS  1 Wade Carmichael (Avoca), 2 Oscar Scanes (Old Bar), 3 Justin Arnold (Gerringong), 4 Danny Williams 
12 GIRLS: 1 Tyler Wright (Culburra Bch), 2 Naomi Stevic 3 Georgie Roach, 4 Cloudy Rhodes

2005
16 BOYS: 1. Ellis Ericson - Byron Bay NSW, 2. Stuart Kennedy -3. David Vlug  4. Dane Atcheson -
16 GIRLS: 1. Sally Fitzgibbons - Gerroa NSW, 2. Ashleigh Giffith - Cabarita NSW 3. Izzy Chilcott  4. Eliza Roberts

14 BOYS: 1. Garret Parkes - Byron Bay NSW, 2. Davey Cathels  3. Dean Bowen  4. Mathis Smith - NZ.
14 GIRLS: 1. Dimity Stoyle - Buderim QLD, 2. Phillipa Anderson  3. Laura Enever 4. Kirby Wright 
 
12 BOYS: 1. Matt Banting - Port Macquarie NSW, 2. Ezra Norris  3. Nicholas Edgerton -4. Jake Sylvester
12 GIRLS: 1. Tyler Wright - Culburra NSW, 2. Grace Spiers - NZ, 3. India Payne 4. Sarah Mason 

State by State profiled surfer samples entered in Rusty Gromfest 2006:

16 Boys division
11 New Zealand Surfers
9 WA Surfers
SA, VIC, NSW all represented.

WA
Tod Quartermaine (Halls Head) WA State Champ
Darcy Maynard  (Karrinyup)
Shaun Howe  (Geraldton) 5th King of the Groms
Matt Baldock  (Margaret River) WA 14B State Champ

NZ 
Mathis Smith  (Piha) 
Tyler Anderson  (Gisborne)
Ryan Hawker (Gisborne)
Buck Woods, Sean Peggs
Rusty Team rider Mitch Taylor

QLD
Blake Ainsworth (Coolangatta)
Murray Antonieff (Point Lookout)
Chris Friend  (Alexandra Headland) 6th ISA World Jnrs 06
Jasper Endersby (Peregian Bch) 14&16b QLD State Champ

NSW
Brent Savage (Casuarina Bch) 9 years surfing
Sam Wrench (Ulladulla) Aussies 4th 2005
David Vlug  (Narrabeen) 3rd RGromfest 2005
Billy Kean (Sawtell) 2nd NSW State Title 05
Wes Bainbridge (Merewether) 1st State NSW 14 Boys
Chris Salisbury (Newport) RGromfest twice runner up
Garret Parkes (Byron Bay) ISA Austr Rep 14 Boys RG 1st 2005
Dean Bowen (Gerroa)finalist 3 times RGromfest 06 Quik King

SA 
Jedd Davies  (Hope Forest) 3rd SA State 14 Boys

16 Girls
NZ Paige Hareb (Oakura)
Laura Enever (Narrabeen)
Brittani Nicholl (Cabarita)
Stephanie Sallis (Byron Bay)
QLD Izzy Chilcott (Tugun)
 Dimity Stoyle (RG 14's winner)
VIC Darci Egan (Jan Juc)
SA Anna Jenner (Kangaroo Is)
Kirstie Jones (Ulladulla) - likes big waves newcomer
Aurora Ericson sister of last year's winner Ellis is also competing in the 16 girls.
NSW  Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa) ISA rep Pro Jnr, WQS, defending Rusty Gromfest Champion
Kate Dunn - sister of famous Rusty Gromfest champ and WQS surfer (etc) Ben Dunn is also in the event. 

14 Boys
NZ Jonathan Hicks  (Gisborne) ¼ finalist Ruty Gromfest 2005
WA Danny Williams (Geraldton) 2005 Rusty Gromfest finalist
VIC Mitchell Baker  (Cowes) 2nd Vic Boys State 16's
NSW Wade Carmichael  (Avoca) 4th NSW State 2005
Ryan Callinan  (Merewether) Surfest 2006 14 Boys winner
Tahiti Tamaroa McComb (2nd King of Groms France)
Dylan Cummings (Noraville) 1st Occy 2005
Enrique Ariitu (1st specialty Tahitian events)
Baptise Prunier (Club level surfer - good)
Will McKenzie (Toorak Gardens)

14 Girls
QLD Maddison Hayles (Currumbin) 2nd Gold Coast Titles
Peru Carlos Zapata Peruvian 13 Boys National Champion
Travelling with Magoo Dela Rosa - loved last year!!
Tonga Alan Burling  Tongan Junior Champion (U/13)
NZ Tane Wallis (Waitakere City) Champ NZ Boys Series
VIC Harrison Mann (Torquay)VIC State Champion
NSW Cloudy Rhodes (Palm Bch) 4th Rusty GFest 2005
TAS only surfer in the event from Tasmania Hamish Renwick
WA Creed McTaggart (Margaret River) part of Marg's crew all together
NSW Mat Banting (Port Macquarie) Rusty Gromfest 12's defending champion
Phillipa Anderson (Merewether) surfed div above 05 placed 14Girlsfinal
Twins Olivia and Phoebe Miley-Dyer sisters of Jessi Miley Dyer (Clovelly)
NZ Grace Spiers  (Whangamatta) 2nd Rusty Grom 2005
Alexis Poulter (Albany) has brother Ben in event NZ results
WA Felicity Palmateer (Hillarys) WA State Champion
Laura Macaulay (Cowaramup) 3rd WA State 16 G titles
Ellie-Marie Macaulay (Cowaramup) 5th WA State 1`6 g Titles
(daughters of former WCT surfer (3rd?  Dave Macaulay) 
VIC Georgia Fish  (Flinders) 1st Rip GSearch
SA Brinkley Davies (Hope Forest)
SA Brae Adams (Victor Harbour)
Jessica Laing (Cowes) 
Maddie King (Byron Bay)
Ben Poulter (Albany)

12 GIRLS
NSW Tyler Wright (Culburra Bch) has won the 12 G a record 3times more than any competitor ever.
Sisters Kate and Lauren McAleer (Nth Curl Curl) competing together
WA Bronte Macaulay (Cowaramup) 4th WA State 16 Girls titles
Youngest of Dave and Lorraine's 3 daughters
VIC India Payne (San Remo) 3rd Rusyt Gromfest 2005
Nikki Van Dijk (Cowes) VIC State Champion
QLD Twins Amiya and Brodie Doyle (Rainbow Bay)
Beth Palmer (Caloundra)

www.gromfest.com.au 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Rusty Gromfest Oz attracting world's best young surfers
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Steve Robertson

Groms - Surfersvillage