The contest format for the winter championships is a straight knockout and 48 competitors registered which was two down on last year, but with the flood driving rain this was a fantastic turn up.

The first division to hit the water was the Open Longboard. There were 5 surfers in this division therefore it was a straight out final, but the competition was hotly contested between Kelly Fyfe and Liz Murray. Kelly demonstrated why she is the winter champion for 2011 trimming and carving every wave she caught.

Intermediate longboard competitor Di Hughes surfed with the open longboard ladies and held her own therefore placing 1st and winning the title of winter champion for 2011.

The U/21 Longboard had to contend with mother nature. It was keenly contested once again by Nikki Seymour, Emily Graham and Brooke Stevens with Brooke Stevens taking the winter champion crown for 2011.

As the day progressed the weather deteriorated along with the size of the swell therefore all remaining heats surfed were testing the skills of all surfers. The Mini Mal saw 10 surfers competing for the title with Donna Liver pipping young surfer Jade Gaul in the final to claim winter champion for 2011.

The Intermediate Shortboard saw eight girls striving to be the winter champion for 2011. There were 2 heats contested where the top 3 place getters progressed to the final. On both occasions tally sheets were used to confirm count back results, a reflection on how competitive this division has become. Congratulation goes to Chelsea Green for 1st place followed closely by Grace Monaghan in 2nd.

The prestigious Open Shortboard division resulted in the finest surfing all day. The most improved surfer for this year at representative level and club level Elly Muir reveled in the conditions and after coming second last year upped the ante to be named Open Shortboard winter champion 2011.

The club’s future surfing world champions are in the Beginner Girls “No Caddy” and Beginner Girls “Caddy”. All these girls and their caddies displayed “no guts, no glory” attitude as they took to the water in such trying conditions. In fact one of our competitors in the “caddy” division was discharged from hospital only 90 minutes prior to competing. Inspirational stuff! The results for both these divisions were decided by count backs. Beginner Girls “No Caddy” 1st place Ashleigh Gately Beginner Girls “Caddy” 1 st place Lucy Green.

These Winter Championships are always memorable with a combination of typical winter weather. It was lucky for our dedicated committee members that the club’s new all-weather jackets were ready in time. Congratulations to all for another successful winter championship where members go surfing for fun, fitness and friendship

The 2011 club focus is on paying members entry fees to representative contests. Just in this last month Mel McLure competed in the State Longboard Titles held at Bonny Hills where she made it through to the repo charge round where she was just unlucky to miss out in making the final. Wendy Yarnold successfully competed in the All Girls Surf Showdown at Lennox Head and is currently competing in the VB Surfmasters 2011 on the south coast of NSW. Chelsea Green competed at the Fox Grom on the Central Coast recently in treacherous and dangerous conditions and gained valuable “contest” experience. We also have Jade Gaul and Elly Muir competing in the Hurley NSW Junior Surfing Titles to be held in Forster in July.

Mid North Coast Girls Surfriders Inc. would like to announce The 2011 Mid North Coast Girls Surf Classic will be held on Saturday 8 and 9 October, 2011. The entry forms will be available to download from our website www.mncgs.org.au.in August 2011.