Reef Wetsuits SA Grommet Games
Presented by Mandela Bay Tourism

Surfing South Africa
The Pipe Pollock Beach Port Elizabeth South Africa
4 - 8 April 2007

2007 Reef Wetsuits SA Grommet Surfing Games most successful yet

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 April, 2007 : - - The 2007 Reef Wetsuits SA Grommet Games, presented by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and supported by funding from Sport and Recreation SA was completed at the Pipe, Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth Sunday (April 8) and was by far the most successful in the sixteen year history of the tournament.

Over 150 girls and boys from seven provinces took part in the event which is Surfing South Africa's most significant and important entry level interprovincial competition. Reef Wetsuits, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and Sport and Recreation South Africa all contributed to the success of the Games, one of the highlights of the annual Splash Festival held in the Friendly City every Easter.

Despite difficult conditions and inclement weather the Grommet Games were completed without a hitch and the surfers, who came from the rural villages in KZN, from all parts of the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, took the opportunity to compete as well as enjoy themselves. The SA Grommet Games are all about transformation and development within the sport and provinces are set strict criteria when it comes to selecting their teams for the tournament.

While the main focus of the event is on surfing, participation in events such as a paddle battle, flags and tag team competition is also encouraged and the most participative and successful team wins the Best Team Trophy at the tournament. This year the coveted Best Team trophy went to Border who drew a large majority of their team members from the Cadema Surf Club in the Port Edward area

In the individual categories Matt Pallet of KZN won the Under 16 Boys Title and Beulah Buitendag won the Under 16 Girls Final. Kane Bennewith of KZN took the Boys gold medal in the Under 14 Boys group with Gina Smith of Border taking honours in the Under 14 Girls Division.

The Under 12 Boys winner was Vuyani Makanye of Southern KZN, Paige Meecham took honours in the Under 12 Girls Division, Jordan Maree won the Under 10 title and fellow WP surfer Ethan Fletcher, won the Under 8 gold medal.

The Surfer of the Contest Trophy was awarded to plucky 10 year old Simo Mkhize of Southern KZN and Kapil Surajlall of Zululand won the Sportsmanship trophy. Team honours for the Surfing Award, which is determined by an aggregate of scores, went to Western Province with Boland second and Border third. KZN were fourth, Eastern Province came fifth, Zululand were sixth and the Southern KZN team came seventh.

Western Province added another trophy to their impressive collection when they took the Tag Team title ahead of KZN with Southern KZN coming third and hosts EP ending fourth. In the Boys Beach Flags race Khaye Ncgobo of Southern KZN took gold and Jessica Allsop of KZN won the Girls Beach Flags. The tough Paddle Battle was won by Storm Seaman of EP.

FULL RESULTS : 2007 REEF WETSUITS SA GROMMET SURFING GAMES

U16 BOYS
1. MATT PALLET - KZN
2. ELROY THOMAS - WP
3. KHAYE NCGOBO - SKZN
4. ROSS KIRBY - BOL

U16 GIRLS
1. BEULAH BUITENDAG - BOL
2. JESSE GOODMAN - WP
3. CARLA MCKENZIE - BOR
4. MARIELLE DIRCKS - WP

U 14 BOYS
1. KANE BENNEWITH - KZN
2. JP OLIVIER - BOL
3. HILTON CLEOPHAS - WP
4. BRIGHT NTULI - SKZN

U14 GIRLS
1. GINA SMITH - BOR
2. CHELSEA REECE - KZN
3. MU'MINAH CONNELLEY - EP
4. AMY BOSWORTH - WP

U12 BOYS
1, VUYANI MAKANYE - SKZN
2. BRANDON BENJAMIN - WP
3. LUKE MCCRAKEN - ZUL
4. MURRAY VARNIFIELD - BOR

U12 GIRLS
1. PAIGE MEECHAM - BOR
2. BRITTANY MAREE - WP
3. NICOLE PALLET - KZN
4. TARA UREN - EP