| 
Sunday
11th February 2007 (Pt Cartwright): SOUTH East Queensland’s dream run of
swell continued on the Sunshine Coast today for the final of the Billabong Pro
Junior Series. Pt Cartwright turned it on for
the countries best juniors, churning out ideal 1.5-2m barreling right-handers.
It was the best surf seen in a pro junior event for over a year and the first
time an event had been held at the fickle break in over a decade. 
Maroochydore surfer Mitch Coleborn used local knowledge to
full effect, defeating Angourie’s Laurie Towner in a decidedly one sided
affair to secure his second ever Pro Junior Series victory. The
stocky goofy footer led from word go, an 8.00 and a 7.33 setting up a commanding
lead for an emphatic win. Coleborn, 19, was simply untouchable on the final day,
posting the highest wave and heat score of the event in his semi final, a 9.70
setting up a two-wave total of 17.53 out of 20.00. 
“I use to surf Cartwright a bit when I was a grommet,”
said Coleborn. “I haven’t surfed here a lot lately but it was insane
to see it turn on for the final day.” “I
was definitely looking for a strong result here after my last bow out down at
Burleigh,” said Coleborn. “I’m just stoked to get a win, the points
are very valuable to me.” 
“All my mates are down here and they are stoked so it
amazing to win in front of a local crew.” The
final scores from the final had Coleborn taking the win with 15.33 to Towner’s
6.67. The hometown win has boosted the 20-year-old into fourth position on the
ASP Australasian Junior Rankings. 
Towner had the proverbial shocker, breaking two surfboards
in the 25-minute final and leaving his opponent in the line-up unchallenged for
much of the encounter. “It sucks to win like
that, it would have been great to have a nice close final for all the spectators
because I know how good Laurie surfs,” said Coleborn. “It was a bit
unlucky for him in the final but I’ll take the win.” 
Fighting back from injury, Towner’s second place finish
at the Billabong Pro Junior signified his return to the top level of competition
for his age group. “That was probably the worst
heat I have ever had,” said Towner. “I got really unlucky and broke
a couple of boards but even so, Mitch got a couple of really good scores so it
would have been tough for me to come back.” 
“I’m stoked to get to the final, I would have loved
to have done a little bet better but sometimes it just goes that way,” said
Towner. “Well done to Mitch, he surfed really good. “It’s
definitely a good confidence booster, I’ve just come out of a shoulder injury
and have been struggling to find some form so to come this contest and get some
good waves and get a strong result is awesome.” 
Securing his best result in an Australasian Junior Series
event today was Lennox Head hotshot Stuart Kennedy. Kennedy, 17, was a standout
performer across the six-day event, defeating ratings leader Jayke Sharp and local
star Blake Wilson (Alexandra Headland) on his way through to the semis.
Facing Towner in the penultimate final, Kennedy started strongly
with a 7.50 before being forced to play catch up after Towner notched up a 9.23
ride. The smooth surfing natural footer fought valiantly to post a 7.00 followed
by an 8.17 but it wasn’t enough to reel in his breakaway opponent, still
left needing an 8.40. 
“I’m really happy with that result, I would have
loved to be in the final but well done to Laurie,” said Kennedy. “I
just kept calm through the whole event, just concentrated on getting my scores
in every heat and it worked out for me.” “We
don’t really get to surf many point breaks throughout the year so it was
good to get Pt Cartwright firing today.” 
Gold Coast natural footer Brendan Leckie rocketed into the
top ten on the ratings with an equal third placed finish. Leckie accounted for
an inform Lincoln Taylor (Pt Lookout) in the Quarters before going down to a rampaging
Coleborn in the Semi Final. The powerful backhand of
Coleborn blasted Leckie out of contention within the heats opening minutes, locking
in a near perfect 9.70 to take the lead. Leckie was never in the hunt, requiring
a combination of 17.54 at the death to progress. “Mitch
nailed it on his first wave in the first few seconds and then he had me from there,”
said Leckie. “I tried to come back but couldn’t find any good ones.”
“I’m definitely stoked to be in the top ten again,
my goal is to stay there all year and then be in with a chance of making the top
five at the end of the year.” Despite bowing out
in the Quarter Finals to Towner, Coffs Harbour surfer Jayke Sharpe claimed the
ASP Australasian Series lead, knocking Coolum’s Julian Wilson off top spot.
After breaking through for a maiden victory at the second event of the year at
Burleigh Heads, Sharpe is in an ideal position to cement his lead leading into
the Billabong Pro Junior Series at his home break next week. “Laurie
is definitely surfing well, he hasn’t had too good a start to the year but
he had all the good ones in that heat,” said Sharpe. “There are good
waves out there, perfect for the contest so whoever gets the best waves is going
to get through, which I didn’t.” “I’m
definitely stoked on leading the series, it’s something I never thought I
would be able to do or ever thought would happen,” he said. “I’m
looking forward to next week, they are the waves I’ve surfed my whole life
so a good result there to set up the rest of the year would be perfect.”
The Billabong Pro Junior Series event on the Sunshine
Coast is supported by Vodafone, Panasonic, UV Triplegard, Clearasil, Von Zipper,
Kustom and Surfing Queensland. | 
