Rusty Gromfest

Surfing Australia
Lennox Head, NSW
10 - 12 July 2009

Matt Banting and Tyler Wright are the 2009 16 Boy and Girl Rusty Gromfest Champions!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 July, 2009 : - - Matt Banting (Port Macquarie/NSW) and Tyler Wright (Lennox Head/NSW) are the 2009 16 Boy and Girl Rusty Gromfest Champions! In large clean 3 metre seas at Lennox Head huge performances were called on to win the most prestigious Rusty Gromfest titles across 12, 14 and 16 year divisions.

Multiple past winners Matt Banting and Tyler Wright took out the blue ribbon 16 year divisions. For Wright this was her 6th Rusty Gromfest title and amazingly she could make that 7 as she still has one year to compete at this age division next year. “That was one of the closest finals I’ve had to surf here, I knew my final ride had to be a good one and I was lucky to pick it up in the final minute and grab the win “ said Tyler after her win.

“Rusty Gromfest is such a great event and today’s been special with my younger brother winning as well, the waves have been big but really fun as well.” Wright was trailing in third position until that final ride when she posted the required 5.5 score to jump to first.

Kingscliff surfer Codie Klein finished the final in second place having lead for the greater part and while disappointed she can take a lot from her performance having pushed Wright who has already established one of the greatest junior competitive surfing records. For Port Macquarie surfer Matt Banting, today’s win marked his 5th Rusty Gromfest title.

“They were the biggest waves I’ve had here for sure and that final was a tough one with long paddles and super long rides as well” said Banting.
“ You really only had time to score two good rides and there was no margin for error out there at all.”

Banting opened with an excellent 8 point ride but was strongly challenged by Central Coast NSW surfer Dylan Cummings who scored an early 8.75, the highest scoring ride in the final, but Cummings ran out of time chasing just a moderate 6.9 to take the lead.

Michael Wright provided the day’s biggest highlight in his win in the 14 Boys division. Just 12 years of age, Wright opened the final with a sensational perfect 10 point ride riding a large set wave for over 100 meters through the Lennox Beachbreak and shortly after backed it up with a strong 7.25 to take the win over Tahitian surfer Keoni Yan of Tahiti.

The 14 Girls final saw great performances from all four finalists who took on the biggest sets of the day. Thirteen year old Gold Coast charger Sarah Mason took a deserved win displaying a very committed, stylish and powerful backhand attack defeating local Byron Bay surfer Kirstin Ogden.
Twelve and under surfers were unfazed with today’s big seas and attacked the waves were often three times overhead!

West Australian sensation Jack Robinson was too good for his opponents today and took a comprehensive win in the final over Newport Beach Sydney surfer Sam Bond with Kanoa Igarashi from the USA in 3rd place while in the girls 12 Tahitian Karelle Poppke took the win ahead of Laura Poncini (Moffart Beach Sunshine Coast).

Across all divisions today’s surfing highlighted the quality of the Rusty Gromfest and the young surfers charged the challenging surf. The large crowd regularly applauded the efforts of the surfers and many observed that this years event was probably the biggest surf and best performances seen in the 14 year history of Rusty Gromfest.

Held at an ideal time of the year in the surf rich Lennox head region, Rusty Gromfest remains one of Australia’s truly iconic events!

Rusty Gromfest Final Results

12 Girls: 1st Karelle Poppke (Tahiti), Laura Poncini (Moffat Beach), Iiuka Enright (Tweed Heads), Lucy Callister (Noosaville)

12 Boys: 1stJack Robinson (Margaret River), Sam Bond (Newport Beach NSW), Kanoa Igarashi (USA), Zac Wightman ( Lennox Head)

14 Girls: 1stSarah Mason (Tugun), Kirstin Ogden (Byron Bay), Coco Beeby (Scotts Head), Steph Single (Lennox Head)

14 Boys: 1st,Michael Wright (Lennox Head), Keoni Yan (Tahiti), Adam Grimson (NZ), Tommy Boucaut (Ocean Shores)

16 Girls: 1stTyler Wright (Lennox Head), Codie Klein (Kingscliff/NSW), Grace Styman-Lane (Clareville), Letarcia Hurt (Kingscliff)

16 Boys: 1st Matt Banting (Port Macquarie), Dylan Cummings (Norahville/Central Coast NSW), Sol Pereira – Ryan (Coolangatta), Niki Hoskin (Lennox Head)

About The Rusty Gromfest: Rusty Gromfest is the original and most esteemed grommet event in Australia. In its 14th year this event has enormous history in revealing great young surfers – Past winners include now great surfers like Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Bede Durbidge, Julian Wilson and these are a small sample.

Rusty Gromfest brings together Australia and many of the world’s best young surfers. Internationals surfing this year have come from Tahiti, South Africa, Hawaii, New Zealand, USA, Ireland, England, Indonesia and Japan. Rusty Gromfest is made possible thanks to the support of Rusty, FCS, Otis, Waves Magazine, Bandit FM, NBN and The Northern Star.

www.rusty.com
www.surfingaustralia.com

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Steve Robertson

Groms - Surfersvillage

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