SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND (Sunday, 2 June 2024) – Queensland’s best junior surfers brought the heat today for Event One of the 2024 Queensland Junior Titles. The champions were decided in excellent conditions at Coolum Beach with offshore winds and fun 3-foot surf.
It was a day of all-time matchups as we saw Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast’s best junior surfers go head-to-head for a Queensland Title and a position at the 2024 Australian Junior Surfing Titles set to hit Wollongong later this year.
The Under 16 Girls Division was the first final off the mark and was won by Rosie Richardson in an intense final battle going blow-for-blow against her sister, Eliza. Eliza’s last wave made it a close finish, with less than half a point between their total scores (out of a possible 20).
After coming runner-up in this same event last year, Caden Francis was determined to claim victory this weekend. He dominated with powerful surfing and won against a stacked Under 16 Boys final with fierce competition from the likes of Jai Nield, Jesse Fergusson and Hayden Danswan.
Sarah Young got the win against Jordy Halford and the ISA World Junior Champion, Ziggy Mackenzie, in the Under 18 Girls final.
Sarah said she is stoked to win the first event in the Queensland Junior & Grommet Title series.
“I was just trying to stay busy, the waves were starting to slow down a bit, but there were still plenty of opportunities,” said Young.
“I’m looking forward to doing it all again in the Gold Coast to get a spot in the Australian Junior Surfing Titles.”
To finish off the event, Rico Haybittle won in a nail-biting Under 18 Boys final, defeating Zyah Hession and last year’s Junior Title Event One winner, Landen Smales.
View full results here.
Full event results and series placings are listed below.
Junior competitors will now head to the Gold Coast on the 24-25 June, and their results from the two competitions will be added together to determine the overall series winners and State Champions.
The 2024 Queensland Grommet and Junior Titles are supported by Cooee, DriTimes, We Are Feel Good Inc, Suzuki Queensland, QMS Media, The Point Coolum Beach, Queensland Government, Sunshine Coast Council and Ancestral Nutrition.
EVENT WINNERS
U16 Girls
1st – Rosie Richardson
2nd – Eliza Richardson
3rd – Brisa Canina
4th – Sea White
U16 Boys
1st – Caden Francis
2nd – Jai Nield
3rd – Tommy Horn
4th – Hayden Danswan
U18 Girls
1st – Sarah Young
2nd – Jordy Halford
3rd – Ziggy Mackenzie
4th – Stella Green
U18 Boys
1st – Rico Haybittle
2nd – Zyah Hession
3rd – Landen Smales
4th – Darcy Dwyer
