2 April, 2013 2 April, 2013

Western Province defend Mandela Trophy at 2013 Billabong Grommet Games in PE

A stoked team WP grommet team successfully defended their Billabong Grommet Games title in PE.

A stoked WP grommet team successfully defended their Billabong Grommet Games title in PE.

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

Groms

Pipe offered perfectly rippable waves for the groms throughout the event.

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

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