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On a great summers day at Sydney’s Maroubra Beach talented
NSW surfers Sam Patterson (Central Coast) and Laura Enever (North Narrabeen) won
the 16 and under boy and girl divisions of the final event of the Rip Curl GromSearch
seven event series. Their wins secure both surfers qualification positions into
the National GromSearch final to be held at Bells Beach in Easter. 
The surf was perfect for the finals with Maroubra Beach turning
on three to four feet peaky waves. In the 16 and under boys Sam Patterson took
advantage shooting out of the gates with a solid 7.90 on a long left in the first
30 seconds of the final. When he found a second scoring wave, a 7.33, James Woods
(Coolangatta), Davey Cathels (North Narrabeen) and Kieran Lloyd (Kingscliff) couldn’t
find the waves needed to challenge Patterson and had to settle for second, third
and fourth respectively. 
Sam had reason to be happy with his strong start in the blue
ribbon 16’s division “When that first wave just came right to me I knew
what I had to do and take advantage of good fortune. I have never had so many
great surfers in one heat and to come out on top is amazing!” 
Laura Enever narrowly defeated her good friend Phillipa Anderson
(Merewether) in the 16 and under girls division. Enever is no stranger to winning.
Today she won her third GromSearch event of this series. “These contests
are so fun and to win another one is great! I am stoked to win a few so I have
the chance to surf Bells Beach in the National GromSearch finals”. Raine
Jackson (Palm Beach) and Paige Haggerston (Coal Point) were left wanting a better
second scoring wave finishing third and fourth respectively. 
The 14 and under boy’s division was won by an inform
Thomas ‘Tiger’ Woods (Coolangatta) claiming back to back GromSearch
wins. With his last wave of the final registering an amazing 9.93 out of a possible
10 he drew loud applause from the strong crowd and claimed the single highest
scoring wave of the event. “I knew that all surfers only needed a small score
to take the lead but after that wave in the dying minutes I felt I had done enough.
When the hooter finally sounded I was so stoked”. That magic 9.33 combined
with his second scoring wave a 6.67, which was too much for Oscar Scanes (Old
Bar), Felix Ettleson (Scott’s Head) and Zac Scott (Cronulla). 
Other winners today included Amiya Doyle (Coolangatta) in
the 14 and under girls, with Joshua Hay (Copacabana) and Ellie Jean-Coffey (Curl
Curl) too strong in the 12 and under division. Full results below are available
from www.surfingaustralia.com Specialty awards
were presented to the rising stars being presented to surfers who showed great
potential and commitment throughout the 4 day event. A Carve Skateboard went to
Max Ayshford (Maroubra) and Jack Germain (Lake Cathy) with a six month subscription
to WAVES surfing Magazine being awarded to Phillipa Anderson and Joshua Hay. 
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