Mike Clayton-Brown has added a state title to his collection of surf achievements after edging out friend Lennox Chell in the final of the under-16 boys NSW junior shortboard titles last week.
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In tricky conditions Mike, 15, went head-to-head with Avoca surfer and 2017 under-16 boys state title winner Chell in the final at Coffs Harbour.
The Nelson Bay teen found a handful of punchy right-handers to post a near excellent 7.83 wave score, which gave him the upper hand in the exchange and claim the win by 0.53.
Mike made an impressive entrance to the competition, which kicked off on July 20, putting on an early display of speed, power and flow.
Continued top performances throughout the week saw Mike in the final with Chell, Jordan Liackman (Caves Beach) and Jarvis Earle (Cronulla). Liackman and Earle placed third and fourth respectively.
Mike was not the only Port Stephens teen to surf for a state title in Coffs Harbour.
His older sister, Elle, and Jasmine Sampson from Anna Bay surfed in the under-18 girls event while Josh Stretton, also from Anna Bay, competed in the under-18 boys.
Elle and Stretton, both aged 16, found themselves in the winners circles after round one of their events.
A third placing from Sampson, 16, in round one saw her move into the requalifying round where she placed second and earned a quarter-final spot.
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Elle and Sampson went head-to-head in the quarter-final but were knocked out by Madison Poole and Nica Frayne who, with a one and two placing respectively, moved through to the semi-final.
Stretton was knocked out in round two after placing third.
Following the junior state titles, Mike and Elle were back in the water at Coffs Harbour for the NSW High School State Titles.
The Tomaree High School students both placed a respectable second in their events – under-16 boys All Stars for Mike and under-19 All Stars girls for Elle.
Elle surfed three rounds to get into the final.
She led for the entire final but was just beaten by Sawtell’s Helalia Phillips on the buzzer.
The placing gives Elle a spot at the 2018 Australian Junior Surfing Titles, which will take place in South Australia in December.
Mike will join Elle at the Australian titles. His state title win earned him a spot at the national titles.
But first, he will compete in the Australian Longboard Titles to be held at Tweed Heads in August.
While primarily a shortboard rider, Mike placed second in the junior men’s longboard state title event held as part of the Port Stephens Surf Festival in June.
Stretton, while missing out on a shortboard state title, will compete in the Australian SUP Titles in Queensland in November after winning the junior men’s division of the SUP State Titles in Port Stephens last month.
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