Maroubra United Boardriders have finished on top of a stacked field to win the Sailor Jerry Surftag Cronulla Qualifier. Held in ideal three foot and offshore conditions at North Cronulla Beach the Maroubra team held off a late charge from runners up Werri Beach Boardriders with Bronte finishing third and Elouera fourth.

The Maroubra team of Monty Tait (23.33), Jake Scott (17.03), Blake Thornton (25.6), Troy Van Vliet (16.57) and Max McGuigan (18.83) led the one hour final from the opening wave and when team captain Blake Thornton locked in a 9.17 Powerwave (double points) the Sydney based club had established a fifteen point lead. 

Blake Thornton leading Maroubra to victory (Bernadette McAlinden)

Thornton was a standout over the weekend with excellent wave choice that enabled the powerful natural footer to score big when needed. “Competing in team events over the past few years has bought the Maroubra community together and stronger than we have ever been”, Thornton said. “We have so much depth in our ranks and there is no better feeling than competing for your club with the backing of all the locals from back home. We couldn’t have done this without our strong management team, without them we don’t exist. Bring on the Nationals and bring on the next few years for Maroubra United”.

Werri Beach Boardriders finished strong with fourth surfer Doug Chandler posting a 9.17 and 8.77 late in the final elevating the South Coast Club into second position. Werri’s Dean Bowen surfed with plenty of commitment in the punchy left-handers with the explosive goofy footer locking in the best Powerwave of the event in Round 1 – 9.60. “The boys are all keen to do their best and have been training and working hard together as a team”, Bowen said. “I really enjoy the pressure of surfing for the club and look forward to turning up and putting in 100%. The waves on the weekend were really good, stoked to get a few fun ones and nail the 9.60”.

Dean Bowen for Werri (Bernadette McAlinden)

Bronte’s team captain Ryan Clarke was pleased to qualify to the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships being held next month on the Gold Coast. “Always a fun weekend of team surfing and Bronte are stoked with a third place finish and to qualify to the Aussie Titles”, Clarke said. “Team surfing is the best format, catching up with all the other clubs and the added pressure of surfing for your club brings out the best or worst in everyone. All the clubs were ripping so a third place for us was unreal and we are pumped for a big weekend at the Aussie Titles”.

With the top six teams qualifying to the Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships from the Cronulla Qualifier, Maroubra, Werri Beach, Bronte and Elouera will be joined by Scarborough and Cronulla Sharks who finished in fifth and sixth position.

In the Women’s Division the Christian Surfers Cronulla defended their regional title with Paris Whittaker taking advantage of the excellent conditions. Cronulla Girls Boardriders “A” finished second with Cronulla Girls Boardriders “B” third.

Nichola Turner (13.00), Akemi O’Leary (12.67), Paris Whittaker (25.1), Sam Oaks (10.73) and Sophie Turner (5.97) are excited to be heading to the Australian Championships and representing the Christian Surfers.

Whittaker scored the best Powerwave in the final – 9.17 and highest two-wave combination – 25.1. “We all had such an awesome day, the girls put in 100% and our team really worked well together”, Whittaker said. “The waves were pumping, conditions were perfect and we really feel like the Women’s Division was included in the event so well. We all felt equal to the boys and felt like female surfing was really being embraced, thanks to Sailor Jerry and the event crew for welcoming us and really valuing female surfing. Our goal coming into the event was to have fun, enjoy or day, and to surf our best as a team and we all achieved that so coming away with the win was a bonus and really finished our day off perfectly”.

Paris Whittaker for Cronulla Christian Surfers (Bernadette McAlinden)

Kathryn Ward was Cronulla Girls best posting an 8.5 on her opening wave in the final. The Cronulla Girls held an early lead over the Christian Surfers with Jazmyn Turner (17.47) and Ward (11.57) both executing some big carving manoeuvres.  

Results - 2018 Sailor Jerry Surftag Cronulla – Men

• 1st Maroubra 104.36 Q
• 2nd Werri Beach 91.76 Q
• 3rd Bronte 65.89 Q
• 4th Elouera 61.70 Q
• 5th Scarborough Q
• 6th Cronulla Sharks Q
• 7th Culburra
• 8th Woonona

Best Powerwave – Dean Bowen (Werri Beach) & Caleb Reid (Bronte) – 9.60

Results - 2018 Sailor Jerry Surftag Cronulla – Women

• 1st Christian Surfers 71.47 Q
• 2nd Cronulla Girls “A’ 51.70   Q
• 3rd Cronulla Girls “B”

Best Powerwave – Paris Whittaker (Christian Surfers) – 9.17

2018 Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Series

• 13 January – Newcastle (Area - Umina to Port Macquarie)
• 20 January – Northern Beaches (Area – Northern Beaches, Sydney)
• 17 March – VIC & SA (Area – Victoria & South Australia)
• 24 & 25 March – Cronulla (Area – Bondi to Ulladulla)
• 14 & 15 April – QLD & Northern NSW (Area – Coffs Harbour to Noosa)
• 27 & 28 April – Australian Championships – Duranbah Beach, Tweed Heads

(Includes Trials for TAS & WA Clubs)

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