Merewether 28 February 2020
NORTH Narrabeen Sports High blitzed 20 other NSW schools to take home the boys and girls trophies for both the boys and girls divisions at the Go Kindy High Schools Team Challenge as part of the 35th Surfest at Merewether beach.
The boys from North Narrabeen successfully defended the title they won here last year, while the girls from the same school last won here in 2016.
Sixty teams from 21 schools from as far north as Port Macquarie to as far south as Cronulla – comprising a total of 240 competitors, along with their teachers, parents and supporters – enjoyed a pumping Merewether point on Thursday and smaller but highly contestable waves on Friday at Merewether beach for the 18th High Schools Team Challenge. Nine of the schools were from outside the Hunter region.
Go Kindy CEO Chris Passfield said the camaraderie and fun around the event made it a pleasure for all involved.
“The surfing and the way the young people here today carried themselves throughout the competition is a credit to them, their parents and their teachers,” he said.
Surfest organiser Warren Smith said the interest in the event increases every year, along with the standard of surfing.
“We’re seeing some of the nation’s brightest surfing prospects here undertaking a very individual sport as a team member. More schools want to be involved.
“The way these young athletes mix and talk about surfing with mountains of enthusiasm is great to see,” he said.
The next event scheduled for Surfest is the Wandiyali Indigenous Classic – the nation’s richest surfing contest for Indigenous surfers – is slated to commence with a smoking ceremony on Saturday 29 February at Merewether beach at 7.30am.
Sunday will also see trials run for a wildcard spot into the round of 96 in the World Surf League’s QS5000 Doyle Partners Womens Pro and the round of 144 into the World Surf League’s QS5000 Surfest Newcastle Pro presented by Burton Automotive.
Results: 2020 Go Kindy High Schools Team Challenge
Boys
1. North Narrabeen Sports High 1 (48.2)
Luke McManus, Jack Lawson, Xavier Bryce
2. Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus 1 (38.2)
3. Tomaree A (35.3)
4. Swansea High 2 (19.7)
Girls
1. North Narabeen Sports High (40.0)
2. St Francis Xavier Hamilton (22.4)
3. St Peters Catholic College (16.3)
4. Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College (13.9)
