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SEASONED professional Dave Winchester from Mullumbimby took out the open men’s division of the Jeff Wilcox Memorial bodyboarding competition at the weekend.
Winchester, who is a multiple IBA world tour event champion, took advantage of the consistent, four-foot swell, posting a 19.2 to take the win ahead of South Africa’s Daniel Worsley.
In the drop knee division, Grant Molony from Berkeley Vale edged out the Sunshine Coast’s Gary Thatcher for the title.
Emma Roby, who is originally from Old Bar but now resides in Port Macquarie, took the win in the women’s division ahead of Emma Cobb of Oak Flats.
In the juniors, it was Forster Tuncurry Bodyboarding Association (FTBA) member and Harrington local Jacob Dunn who took the win over Coffs Harbour’s Keiran Riches.
Fellow Coffs local Mitch East defeated Luke Jackson from Runaway Bay to take the masters division crown.
Some of the best riders from across Australia combined with international talent to celebrate the life of Jeff Wilcox who tragically died at the age of 14 from an aggressive form of cancer.
Riders enjoyed favourable swell conditions all weekend with day one of the event staged at Tuncurry Beach and day two at Bulls Paddock – also known as The Ruins.
The competition also involved a coaching clinic hosted by Heydon ‘Da Boogie Man’ Bunting and Brenden Newton for juniors under 16 years of age.
Local and visiting competitors also enjoyed live music at the Bellevue Hotel in Tuncurry on Saturday night.
FTBA president and event organiser Aaron Dodds said after a 10 year hiatus, the 17th Jeff Wilcox Memorial couldn’t have better.
“If one word could be used to sum up the event it would be awesome,” he said.
“Conditions both days were consistent four foot, off shore, clean big barrels with big sections. We had really consistent peaks and a phenomenal display of barrel riding and aerial acrobatics across all divisions from the juniors through to the masters.
“The best of the best put on a great phenomenal show all weekend.”
Dodds said with some of the best bodyboarders in town, including professionals like Dave Winchester, local riders did well considering the tough challenge they were up against.
“Local riders did the best in the juniors division. Two of our club members from Harrington placed second and fourth,” he said.
“Unfortunately other club riders like Thomas Donnelley and Adam Cheers were knocked out in the semis of the DK (drop knee) and Zac Williams was knocked out in the open men’s quarter finals.
“They were up against some tough competition but our guys did extremely well. Our juniors definitely put a spotlight on the region.”
Former world champion, Dave ‘Eppo’ Epplestun was the head judge of the competition.
Epplestun said it was a great weekend of bodyboarding and he was glad to have been part of it.
“There was definitely quality waves around and no heats that got starved. The quality of riding was exceptional,” he said.
“It was a really well run event and I’d be glad to accept an invitation to come back next year and judge.”
Results:
Open Men: 1st Dave Winchester (Mullumbimby), 2nd Daniel Worsley (South Africa currently resides in Sydney), 3rd Chase Oleary (Port Macquarie) and 4th James Nymeyer (?Nelson Bay)
Drop Knee: 1st Grant Molony (?Berkeley Vale), 2nd Gary Thatcher (Sunshine Coast), 3rd Shane Griffiths (Kingscliff) and 4th Azza Glossop (Cronulla).
Open Women: 1st Emma Roby (Port Macquarie, originally from Old Bar), 2nd Emma Cobb (Oak Flats), 3rd Mandy Zieren (Avalon) and 4th Shauna Gillett (Newcastle)
Masters: 1st Mitch East (Coffs Harbour), 2nd Luke Jackson (Runaway Bay), 3rd Shaun Peterson (Cronulla) and 4th Mathew Mytka (Kogarah).
Junior Men: 1st Jacob Dunn (Harrington - FTBA Member), 2nd Keiran Riches (Coffs Harbour), 3rd Josh Selmes (Tumbi Umbi) and 4th Flynn Dunn (Harrington - FTBA Member)