Southern Cross Credit Union Open Pro winner Dimity Stoyle. All photos All Girls Surf Showdown
Lennox Head Northern NSW – The 18th annual All Girls Surf Showdown enjoyed great waves at Lennox Head today .
This is the biggest All Girl event in Australia and the finals day standard highlighted the strength of girls surfing in Australia .
The blue ribbon Southern Cross Credit Union Open Pro division saw a high quality field attack the final and the result went right down to the final two minutes when Sunshine Coast Queensland surfer Dimity Stoyle found the days highest scoring ride posting an outstanding 9.0 score to take a narrow victory over Cabarita’s Airini Mason (NSW).
“I knew I required a great score on that final ride and the wave lined up really well and I sort of threw caution to the wind, went for some big moves and stuck them – I felt good when I finished the ride and even better when I realized that wave won the final for me” said an elated Stoyle after her win.
Stoyle picked up a handy $1000 for her win and she’ll shortly resume her competitive season travelling to South Australia for the Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior in July.
“ It’s a fantastic event here at Lennox Head, the waves have been great and the standard of girls surfing all weekend has been amazing” added Stoyle.
The two other Pro divisions saw wins to 18 year old Newcastle surfer Phillipa Anderson who defeated Kirby Wright in the Freeform Junior Pro while local Ballina surfer Melissa Combo surfed with superb style and confidence to win the All Girls Surfriders Club Longboard Pro final defeating Kirsty Webster (Banora Point).
Local Lennox and Ballina surfers Jenny Boggis and Melissa Combo were a popular winners in the over 28 division and the Longboard Pro division respectively and both picked up good prize money for their success.
Dimity Stoyle joined a list of great winners of this prestigious event which include Stephanie Gilmore, Samantha Cornish, Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright and all who witnessed the surfing at this event throughout the weekend agreed, Women’s surfing in Australia will remain strong in the immediate years ahead!
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
(click on image to enlarge)
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
(click on image to enlarge)
.....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
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Central Coaster Melissa Sherringham (Wamberal) placed fourth in the All Girls Surfriders over 28 division.
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
(click on image to enlarge)
.....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
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Jenny Boggis (Lennox Head) winning the All Girls Surfriders Club over 28 Women’s division
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
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Jenny Boggis comfortably won the All Girls Surfriders O' 28 women division defeating Byron Bay’s Michel Blinkhorn - to the right. Note Michel Blinkhorn also placed 2nd in the All Girls Surfriders over 40’s division!
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
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Phillipa Anderson (Merewether/NSW/Newcastle) won the Freeform Board Junior Pro division.
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
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Freeform Board Junior Pro finalists– Phillipa Anderson (Newcastle/NSW), Kirby Wright, Dimity Stoyle, Kirsten Ogden.
....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
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Skye Burgess (Lake Heights/NSW) surfed great throughout the weekend placing equal 7th in the Freeform Board Junior Pro and equal 5th in the Southern Cross Credit Union Open Pro
.....Photo: All Girls Surf Showdown.
(click on image to enlarge)
Results – 1st to 4th across all divisions –
Southern Cross Credit Union Open Pro – Dimity Stoyle (Sunshine Coast), Airini Mason (Cabarita), Tyler Wright (Lennox Head), Kirby Wright (Lennox Head).
All Girls Surfriders Club Longboard Pro – Melissa Combo (Ballina NSW) , Kirsty Webster, Mel Mott, Sharon Jackson.
Freeform Board Junior Pro – Phillipa Anderson (Newcastle/NSW), Kirby Wright, Dimity Stoyle, Kirsten Ogden.
All Girls Surfriders Over 40’s – Sandra English, Michel Blinkhorn, Sharon Jackson, Mel Mott.
Hive Swimwear Open B - Ashlee Spence, Kimberly Hassel, Jenny Arnold, Eleanor Robertson.
Inner Beauty 14 and under – Kiani Dobbyn, Lucy Callister, Kobie Enwright, Olivia Wheeler.
Inner Beauty 16 and under – Letarcia Hurt, Kirsten Ogden, Bridget McCulloch, Stephanie Single.
All Girls Surfriders Club Over 28 – Jenny Boggis, Michel Blinkhorn, Sandra English, Melissa Sheringham.
Lennox Head is recovering after being hit by a tornado and the clean up is in full swing with the Ballina Shire Council co-ordinating the work with NSW state government natural disaster funding assistance. Despite the storm damage the community is in good spirits and is looking forward to hosting competitors and their friends and family for the 18th annual “All Girls Surf Showdown”.
The event is made possible with sponsorship from local businesses and assistance from local organisations. While you are in town for the event please let people know you’re here for the event and that you appreciate the town getting behind the competition.
The “All Girls Surf Showdown” was established in 1993 and turns 18 in 2010.
This event is the biggest competition for female surfers in Australia with more surfers and more divisions than any other. It is the longest running event of it’s kind and also one of the few events that has always had women on the judging panel.
The mix of ages and abilities participating is inspirational. Surfers from 8 years old to over 50 join together in a celebration of women’s surfing.
Click here for 2009 All Girls Surf Showdown Finals Day
