Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA (Sunday, February 15, 2015)
IN a huge day of surfing that required double banking for much of the day and heats of four competitors right through to the finals, Brazilian Deivid Silva and Australian Macy Callaghan were crowned champions at the Hunter Business Boardriders Pro Juniors.
Following yesterday’s forced abandonment of competition due to beach closure in the Newcastle area because of a reported sighting of a shark off Burwood beach, the all clear to surf was given this morning after a grid search by Newcastle City Council’s professional lifeguards and competition commenced at 8am.
And at the other end of the day, Brazilian Deivid Silva took out his first ever major win. The 20-year-old from São Paulo left it until the last minute to secure victory with a 9.85 and end up with a heat score of 18.35 (out of a possible 20).
“I’m so happy to have won. The waves are very like home with so much wind, but one wave was so good. I am so happy,” Silva said.
The Brazilian said he will put celebrations on hold for the moment, as he is scheduled to hit the waves in the first heat of tomorrow’s Burton Automotive Pro round of 144 which is scheduled for 7.30am start.
West Australian Jacob Wilcox (13.5) and New South Wales duo Sheldon Simkus (12.2) and Kai Warner (11.1) followed Silva in the final.
Macy Callaghan from Avoca Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast easily won the 1,000 point World Surf League Hunter Business Boardriders Womens Pro Junior at Merewether beach today. Callaghan, who racked up a 17 (out of a possible 20) continued the terrific form that saw her came second in the Australian Open of Surfing at Manly.
In shifting, wind-blown peaks, the 14-year-old Kincumber High student – who started surfing at just five years of age – also took out the U/16 Dalton Lawyers Girls competition yesterday just a few hundred metres north of today’s final at Merewether beach. Callaghan won the U/16 Australian surfing title in West Australia in December in 2014 and the U/14 division in 2013. She also has state titles in both iron-women and board relay events.
“I was confident going into the final and was really stoked when I had scored a 9 on my fourth wave,” she said.
But Callaghan can’t put away the board just yet as she will be surfing in the Burton Automotive Pro Womens Classic at the same beach this week.
In the Burton Automotive Trials, 48 surfers contested 22 four man heats at Dixon Park in a quest to secure four spots into entry into tomorrow’s opening round of 164. Merewether local Jesse Adam, South Australian Teale Vanner, Queenslander Nick Callister and Californian Jake Davis will all wear the coloured singlets on Monday.
For further information: Ted Bassingthwaighte 0409366716.