NIPPERS from across Port Stephens caught more than a glimpse of Australia’s best surf athletes at Fingal Bay on the weekend.
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Fingal Beach hosted the third of six rounds in the Summer of Surf (SOS) series sponsored by Port Stephens Council.
Former ironman champion, now a commentator, Ty Dowker, said he was excited to return to his hometown to showcase the region to visiting athletes.
“I was lucky to grow up and do Nippers in the stunning Port Stephens region; undoubtedly one of Australia’s great natural wonders and best-kept secrets,” Dowker said.
“Helping bring the SOS stars to the region was a real pleasure; I’m sure it will have a lasting impact on the current crop of Nippers in the area as well as being an amazing spectacle for spectators.”
After an extended off-season and just three weeks of pool training, Redhead’s Justin McMorland was hoping to simply survive at Fingal.
The 19-year-old, though, turned out to be the shining light for the Hunter in challenging surf.
The Caves Beach local was knocked out in the first round of the ironman at the Alexandra Headland and Newport events but progressed all the way to the final at Fingal, which was won by Manly’s Kendrick Louis on Sunday.
“I’m heaps stoked to come away with a 15th,” McMorland said.
Rebecca Creedy took out the ironwoman decider.
The ironman/ironwoman finals results on Sunday were:
Nutri-Grain Ironman Final Results
1) Kendrick Louis - Manly
2) James Lacy - Mermaid
3) Hayden White - Currumbin
4) Shannon Eckstein - Northcliffe
5) Jackson Maynard - Currumbin
6) Luke Cuff - Mermaid
7) Max Brooks - Newport
8) Tanyn Lyndon - Burleigh
9) Ben Carberry - Burleigh
10) Simon Murfet - Mermaid
11) Cory Taylor - Northcliffe
12) Jay Furniss - Manly
13) Matt Poole - Kurrawa
14) Matt Bevilacqua - Kurrawa
15) Justin McMorland - RedHead
16) Jarryd McDonell - Northcliffe
17) Cam Cole - Alex Headlands
18) Nathan Gray _ Surfers Paradise
19) TJ Hendy - Surfers Paradise
20) Hamish Chapman - Mermaid
21) Kody Innis - Burleigh
Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Final
1) Rebecca Creedy - Kurrawa
2) Lizzie Welborn - Nth Bondi
3) Emma Dick - Burleigh
4) Brielle Cooper - Nth Burleigh
5) Kristyl Smith - Northcliffe
6) Taylor Puskaric - Manly
7) Lana Rogers - Noosa
8) Harriet Brown - Northcliffe
9) Ella Heiniger - Nth Burleigh
10) Naomi Scott - Manly
11) Devon Halligan - Burleigh
12) Alex Nolan - Northcliffe
13) Jade Mikle - City of Perth
14) Lara Moses - Newport
15) Courtney Hancock
16) Olivia Heaton - Newport
17) Tara Coleman - Nth Burleigh
18) Kirsty Higgison - Surfers Paradise
19) Amy Nurthen - Currumbin
20) Jayde Hardstaff - City of Perth
21) Allie Britton - Nth Burleigh