Billabong SA Grommet Games
A Surfing South Africa transformation & development project
Hosted by the Eastern Province Surfing Council
Sponsored by Billabong and supported by Sport & Recreation South Africa
The Pipe, Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth
March 28 – 31, 2013
The Fogi’s Western Province Grommet team are the champions of the 21st edition of the Billabong SA Grommet Games after beating KZN Central into second place by a significant margin of 3 347 points.
Not only did the team in blue and white successfully defend the Mandela Bay Trophy, which is awarded to the team that accumulates the highest number of points across all disciplines, but they also won the Surfing Trophy and the Best Team trophy that goes to the team showing the most team spirit throughout the event, as well as the Tag Team Trophy.
Western Province’s dominance is a credit to the excellent administration and coaching of a group of girls and boys by a dedicated management team. Western Province had their team well trained and highly motivated for the tournament and can be proud of the way they conducted themselves both in and out of the water.
Over 120 girls and boys from eight provincial associations took part in the annual event which is Surfing South Africa’s premier entry level inter-provincial tournament.
Sponsorship from Billabong and funding support from Sport and Recreation South Africa ensured that the 21st SA Grommet Games was a huge success once again. Not even a massive cold front which hit the Eastern Cape on Saturday morning, resulting in the event being run in driving rain for two days, could dampen the spirits of the surfers, underlining the fact that the event is one of the highlights of the annual Surfing South Africa calendar.
The tournament got off to a great start at the opening function held in the Victoria Park Grey Primary School hall on Wednesday 27 March when the teams were addressed by standout South African surfer and Billabong team rider Matthew Bromley, whose big wave exploits have made him one of South Africa’s rising international stars. Bromley spoke about overcoming fears and had the audience spellbound as he recounted his exploits at Sunset Reef, Dungeons, Hawaii and other iconic surf spots. Bromley began his contest career at the Grommet Games some eight years ago.
Thanks to the commitment and effort by event Secretary Shirley Fairall and her team of officials, hard work by Mike Fairall, support from SSA Vice President Johnny Bakker and his wife Hannelie and dedication by announcer Tasha Mentasti, contest director Chris Dunt and senior judge Brad Beck and his team were able to complete the tournament without a hitch.
In addition Eastern Province Surfing Council, under the guidance of Chairman Brian Abrahams, were great hosts.
In the individual surfing categories, the exciting and incredibly talented James Ribbink (KZNC) won the Under 10 Boys final and was named Surfer of the Contest for his outstanding surfing while teammate Sam Cele was awarded the Sportsmanship Trophy for her grace and courtesy throughout the event.
The Special Award recipients were Jono Coffey (EP), who won the Dakine Youthful Movement Award, Rigter Markgraaf (Boland), who took honours in the Von Zipper Expression Session, and Karl Steen (KZNC) who won the Kinetic Racing Fins prize.
Jono Coffey (EP) won the Under 16 Boys title, Bronwyn Moodie (Boland) won gold in the U16 Girls final, Gabriel Fernandez (WP) won the Under 14 Boys title and Christy Gilmour (KZNC) became the U14 Girls champion. Eli Beukes (WP) took the Under 12 Boys crown, Juliet Fiet (Boland) won the Under 12 Girls gold medal,
Ribbink added the Under 10 title to his Under 8 victory of 2012 while diminutive 7 year old Kyra Bennie (WP) was crowned the Under 8 champion of 2013. The full results of all the events are attached and are also available on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za
The SA Grommet Games is a tournament with a primary focus on transformation and development within the sport. Provincial structures are set strict criteria when selecting their teams for the four days of competition. While the main focus of the event is on surfing, participation in events such as a Paddle Battle, Beach Flags and Tag Team contest are included in the activities.
2013 Billabong SA Grommet Games Full Results
BEACH FLAGS
U12 Girls
1ST Zoe Holbrow WP
2ND Jade Vaughan EP
3RD Snenhlanhla Makhubu KZNC
U14 Girls
1ST Natasha van Greunen WP
2ND Jaylee-Ann Joseph WP
3RD Kira Bester BOL
U16 Girls
1ST Mishka Steyn BOL
2ND Sam Cele KZNC
3RD Pippa Jones WP
U10 Boys
1ST Luke van Wyk WP
2ND Tom Slater WP
3RD Declan Fiet BOL
U12 Boys
1ST Dominic Southwood KZNC
2ND Nicholas Fredericks BOR
3RD Juwandre Louw EP
U14 Boys
1ST Jarrod Higgins SKZN
2ND Gabriel Fernandez WP
3RD William Weldrick BOR
U16 Boys
1ST Bryant Issaacs SKZN
2ND Jethrow Gray SKZN
3RD Emeale Maritz BOL
PADDLE BATTLE
Girls
1st Natasha Van Greunen WP
2nd Christy Gilmour KZNC
3rd Pippa Jones WP
Boys
1st Rigter Markgraaff BOL
2nd JJ van Seumeren BOR
3rd Brandon Lange SKZN
TAG TEAM
1st Western Province
2nd Eastern Province
3rd Border
4th Southern KZN
SURFING
U8
1st Kyra Bennie WP
2nd Nate Colby KZNC
3rd Kai Fraser EP
4th Andre Roos BOL
U10
1st James Ribbink KZNC
2nd Christian Venter BOL
3rd Kye Macgregor EP
4th Reilly Mare BOR
U12 Girls
1st Juliet Fiet BOL
2nd Jade Vaughan EP
3rd Snehlanhla Makhubu KZNC
4th Zoe Holbrow WP
U12 Boys
1st Eli Beukes WP
2nd Karl Steen KZNC
3rd Juwandre Louw EP
4th Jannik Bouwer EP
U14 Girls
1st Christy Gilmour KZNC
2nd Kirsty McGillivray EP
3rd Rachel Wood KZNC
4th Natasha van Greunen WP
U14 Boys
1st Gabriel Fernandez WP
2nd Calvin Goor KZNC
3rd Nduduzo Heseshi SKZN
4th Arnold Vermaak EP
U16 Girls
1st Bronwyn Moodie BOL
2nd Pippa Jones WP
3rd Sam Cele KZNC
4th Mieke Hougaard SC
U16 Boys
1st Jono Coffey EP
2nd Rigter Markgraaff BOL
3rd Brandon Lange SKZN
4th Bruwellan Kammies EP
TEAM RESULTS
1 WESTERN PROVINCE 29302
2 KZN CENTRAL 25955
3 BOLAND 24007
4 EASTERN PROVINCE 23964
5 BORDER 20945
6 SOUTHERN KZN 14947
7 SOUTHERN CAPE 16893
8 ZULULAND 5916
Dakine Youthful Movement award
Jono Coffey EP
Kinetik Racing Fins award
Karl Steen KZNC
Von Zipper Expression Session
Rigter Markgraaff BOL
Sportsmanship award
Samukelisiwe Cele KZNC
Surfer of the Contest
James Ribbink KZNC
Team Spirit award
Western Province
Surfing Trophy
Western Province
Mandela Bay Trophy – Overall Champions of the Grommet Games
Western Province