Live Heats
2024 Australian Waveski Circuit Results

Official Report & Results of the 2024 Australian Championship Tour



The completion of the recent Australian Open also capped off the 2024 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR. The tour comprised of contests at Kingscliff, Coffs Harbour, Ballina and Newcastle across the year.
In the Open Mens division, close championship points existed between multiple competitors leading into the Australian Open. Michael Feenan’s recent result in the Sharon Samways Waveski Classic in Newcastle, combined with his 2nd place in the Australian Open, placed him within reach of Cherry and McIntrye . However, the Australian Open set the tone between Cherry and McIntrye as to who would emerge as the leader on the 2024 Australian Championship Tour. It seemed fate would determine that both Cherry and McIntrye would meet in a Man on Man semi-final within the Australian Open to determine 3rd and 4th places. Yet, this semi-final would ultimately determine the leader of the Championship Tour. The result saw Cherry defeat Darren McIntrye and relegate him into 4th place in the Australian Open. Therefore, Tony Cherry’s 3rd place in the 2024 Australian Open saw him close out the lead in the 2024 Championship tour overall.
The Open Womens Division was contested throughout the year at the various contest locations and ultimately decided at the Australian Open in Yamba. Jackie Dillon performed consistently at all contests attended and consolidated her results in Yamba to establish her position as the Championship Tour leader ahead of her nearest competitor in Milly Heycott.
Congratulations to the following competitors2024 Australian Championship Tour Results
OPEN1st - Tony Cherry2nd - Darren McIntyre3rd - Michael Feenan4th - Darren Bason5th - Brett Cronin6th - Stephen Blatchford7th - Tim Kierle8th - Graham Lancaster
OPEN WOMEN'S1st - Jackie Dillon2nd - Milly Heycott
STEPHEN HOWARTH CHALLENGERS DIVISION1st - Robert Wilson2nd - Steve Flanagan3rd - Milly Heycott4th - Dave Andrews
SCOTT MURNAIN QUALIFIERS DIVISION1st - Paul Gray2nd - Ben Baxter3rd - Steve Sargent4th - Jeff Gray
SENIORS1st - Oliver Burgess-Buxton2nd - Luke Mcaulay
MASTERS1st - Ben Baxter2nd - Steve Flanagan3rd - Michael Feenan4th - Guy Zerbst
GRAND MASTERS1st - Stephen Blatchford2nd - Darren Bason3rd - Brett Cronin4th - Darren McIntyre
LEGENDS1st - Steve Sargent2nd - Russell Hudson3rd - Francisco Nascimento4th - Brian Spicer
GRAND LEGENDS1st - Jeff Gray2nd - Jackie Dillon3rd - Chris Cook
CHAMPIONS1st - Graham Roberts2nd - Garry Ross3rd - Bill Gray4th - Steven Bailey

Official Contest Report Australian Open 2024 - Yamba, NSW

The Australian Open Waveski Surfing Championships is the biggest contest for Waveski Surfing Australia and competitors to conclude the 2024 competition calendar year. Held at Turners Beach, Yamba, New South Wales over an exciting week of competition between Australia’s best waveski surfers. The event saw 80 entrants contest 10 divisions covering multiple Age and Qualifications categories. Waveski Surfing Australia receives great support by the Clarence Valley Council to be able to hold this contest over 6 days as needed. The new Mayor, Ray Smith PSM - Mayor Clarence Valley Council joined us for the opening day of the contest.
Waveski Adventurers incredible contribution towards the event ensures the calibre of the Australian Open is recognised by the World Waveski Surfing Association as one of only 5 sanctioned international events each year. Professional judges, priority surfing, with man-on-man rounds ultimately determining the Open Men and Open Women winners. Results in both Open divisions contribute towards rankings for the next World Waveski Championships in Peru, South America.
Competitors experienced a variety of surfing conditions over the week from solid 4 ft ground swell at the beginning of the week with variable wind and swell conditions each day. The event window ran through to Saturday. Opening day of the contest greeted competitors with a sunny day, light winds and clean surf conditions. The first rounds were completed for Qualifiers, Seniors, Masters, Open Womens, Champions, Legends and Grand Legends. Competitors began understanding what the judges were looking for to achieve maximum scores for their surfing. Some slight damage occurred to a couple of Waveskis that met the sand but fortunately there were no injuries to any competitors other than wounded pride. As low tide occurred, contest organisers paused the contest for 2 hours anticipating the swell to increase with the incoming tide. However, Mother Nature was determined to have her say and sent a summer storm towards the Yamba region. With competitor safety being a paramount concern, the contest was called off for the remainder of the day. Strong winds, rain and lightning blew through the area justifying the decision to halt proceedings. The Grand Masters division was the only category not contested on the day. With that division becoming the opening round to start proceedings the following day. An increase in swell greeted competitors the following morning. Winds had also picked up overnight too which made for some slightly bumpy and challenging conditions. Wave selection was crucial and critical manoeuvres essential to be rewarded points by the judges. Both the Grand Masters and the start of the Main Round Open Division ran through their first-round completions and some dynamic surfing was witnessed. The Grand Masters division was completed as far as the Quarter Finals. The second round for the Masters Division was held with competitors results accumulating to determine the most consistent surfer (across 3 rounds). The third round of the Qualifiers Division was completed to close out the end of the day. Warmer sunny conditions greeted competitors at Turners Beach the following morning. A consistent 3-4ft swell was rolling in and a number of competitors took the chance for a free surf before the contest got underway at 8:00am. The competition schedule came down to the business end of the week with Semi Finals, Man on Man heats, priority surfing and additional rounds of the Open Women’s and Grand Legends. The Top 8 Open Men competitors who had battled it out to this point of the contest now faced each other across 4 x Man on Man heats in elimination rounds. The contest draw and progression saw the following match ups with priority bringing the focus purely upon the standard of surfing. - Tony Cherry / Darren Bason - Darren McIntyre / Darren Kearns- Michael Feenan / Tim Kerle - Brett Cronin / Cisco Nascimento The contest was halted for the day after these rounds were completed. The tide receded along with the swell. Yet there were some incredibly close results with judges needing to split hairs in allocating scores, an example being a 0.07 lead determining Darren McIntyre’s advancement into the Top 4 Open Men ahead of Darren Kearns. Cherry, Feenan and Cronin joined McIntrye in the final 4 of the competition.
Organisers had built in sufficient time within the contest draw to account for delays. Each day, the event ran through to approximately 2:00pm to capitalise upon optimum surf conditions in the prevailing weather and swell forecasts. The decision was made to push the event to conclusion by Friday in anticipation of forecasted conditions significantly deteriorating by Saturday. In hindsight, the wisdom of this decision proved to be 100% the right call !This set the tone for finals day across all divisions!
The Top 4 Open Men’s winners progressed into 2 x 2 Man on Man heats with priority. The 4 x 2nd place holders in the Quarter Finals dropped across to a Minor Final for determining 4th to 8th place. The Minor Final with resulted Bason taking the win ahead of Kearns, Kerle and Nascimento in that order.
The 2nd places in the 2 x Man On Man Semi Finals were relegated to battling out for 3rd and 4th positions having to sit back and watching the remaining 2 compete for the title in the Australian Open Men’s Final. A hotly contested Open Men’s division witnessed excellent surfing across the whole week with consistent surfing in a variety of conditions deciding who advanced among the tough competition present. Spectators witnessed Darren McIntrye (Coffs Harbour) against Brett Cronin (Brisbane) and Tony Cherry (Gold Coast) against Michael Feenan (Newcastle). McIntrye and Cherry were relegated to surfing for 3rd and 4th places whilst Cronin and Feenan advanced to meet each other in the Open Mens Final. Michael Feenan held a solid lead for the most part with a solid wave in the opening stages of the Open Final, until the dying minutes, when Brett Cronin consolidated his last 3 waves as his best with his best 2 highest scores pushing him into the lead to claim victory as the Australian Open Champion for 2024.
The Open Women’s title was won by Perth based, Jacqueline Dillon, with consistent surfing throughout the whole week against Milly Heycott (Wollongong) and international competitor Heather Seaton (New Zealand).Results and scores for the Australian Open can be viewed on Live Heats here : https://liveheats.com/events/201417 Australian Open - ResultsOpen1st - Brett Cronin 2nd - Michael Feenan3rd - Tony Cherry4th - Darren McIntrye5th - Darren Bason6th - Darren Kearns7th - Tim Keirle8th - Cisco Nascimento
Open Women’s 1st - Jackie Dillon2nd - Milly Heycott3rd - Heather Seaton
Challengers1st - Milly Heycott2nd - Robert Wilson3rd - Bill Gray4th - Dave Andrews
Qualifiers1st - Ben Baxter2nd - Paul Gray3rd - Andrew Daff4th - Chris Cook5th - Jeff Gray6th - Steve Sargent 7th - Russell Hudson 8th - Brian Spicer
Champions 1st - Graham Roberts 2nd - Garry Ross3rd - Andrew Daff4th - Bill Gray
Grand Legends1st - Jeff Gray2nd - Chris Cook3rd - Jackie Dillon
Legends1st - Cisco Nascimento2nd - Steve Sargent3rd - Brian Spicer 4th - Russell Hudson 5th - Milly Heycott
Grand Masters1st - Steve Blatchford2nd - Brett Cronin3rd - Tony Cherry4th - Darren Bason
Masters1st - Michael Feenan2nd - Ben Baxter3rd - Steve Flanagan4th - Guy Zerbst
Seniors1st - Ollie Burgess-Buxton2nd - Luke Macaulay

2024 Australian Championship Tour Presentation night

Results of the 2024 Waveski Surfing Australia Title based on the best two events held throughout the year plus double points from the Australian Open.Congratulations to the following competitors
Open1st - Tony Cherry2nd - Darren McIntyre3rd - Michael Feenan4th - Darren Bason5th - Brett Cronin6 - Stephen Blatchford7th - Tim Kierle8th - Graham Lancaster
Open Women's1st - Jackie Dillon2nd - Milly Heycott
Stephen Howarth Challengers Division1st - Robert Wilson2nd - Steve Flanagan3rd - Milly Heycott4th - Dave Andrews
Scott Murnain Qualifiers Division1st - Paul Gray2nd - Ben Baxter3rd - Steve Sargent4th - Jeff Gray
Seniors1st - Oliver Burgess-Buxton2nd - Luke Mcaulay
Masters1st - Ben Baxter2nd - Steve Flanagan3rd - Michael Feenan4th Guy Zerbst
Grand Masters1st - Stephen Blatchford2nd - Darren Bason3rd - Brett Cronin4th - Darren McIntyre
Legends1st - Steve Sargent2nd - Russell Hudson3rd - Francisco Nascimento4th - Brian Spicer
Grand Legends1st - Jeff Gray2nd - Jackie Dillon3rd - Chris Cook
Champions1st - Graham Roberts2nd - Garry Ross3rd - Bill Gray4th - Steven Bailey

Australian Open Presentation night 2024

Official results of the Australian Waveski Open held at Turners Beach Yamba. Congratulations to all competitors, placegetters and winners. Open1st - Brett Cronin 2nd - Michael Feenan3rd - Tony Cherry4th - Darren McIntrye5th - Darren Bason6th - Darren Kearns7th - Tim Keirle8th - Cisco Nascimento Open Women’s 1st - Jackie Dillon2nd - Milly Heycott3rd - Heather Seaton Challengers 1st - Milly Heycott2nd - Robert Wilson3rd - Bill Gray4th - Dave Andrews Qualifiers1st - Ben Baxter2nd - Paul Gray3rd - Andrew Daff4th - Chris Cook5th - Jeff Gray6th - Steve Sargent 7th - Russell Hudson 8th - Brian Spicer Champions 1st - Graham Roberts 2nd - Garry Ross3rd - Andrew Daff4th - Bill Gray Grand Legends1st - Jeff Gray2nd - Chris Cook3rd - Jackie Dillon Legends1st - Cisco Nascimento2nd - Steve Sargent3rd - Brian Spicer 4th - Russell Hudson 5th - Milly Heycott Grand Masters1st - Steve Blatchford2nd - Brett Cronin3rd - Tony Cherry4th - Darren Bason Masters1st - Michael Feenan2nd - Ben Baxter3rd - Steve Flanagan4th - Guy Zerbst Seniors1st - Ollie Burgess-Buxton2nd - Luke Macaulay

Sharon Samways Classic 20, 21 & 22 September - Results

The Sharon Samways Newcastle Open was run over the past 3 days in pristine conditions. Each day the surfers where greeted with 2-3ft clean waves with offshore winds and clear blue skis. Every competitor surfed to their potential taking full advantage of these epic conditions which made for some spectacular viewing. Well done to all who attended and the committee for providing this platform to compete. Special thanks goes to Mike Feenan and Col Samways for the pre comp organisation, Mitch Samways from Loan Clothing for his generosity of vouchers and gear and Juice Plus for their ongoing support.Next stop, the Australian Open, Yamba, 28 October to 2 November. Remember this carries double points towards the Australian championship. Entries are now open via live heats. Results Open Men: 1. Graham Lancaster 2. Michael Feenan 3. Stephen Blatchford4. Darren McIntyre Open Women:1. Jackie Dillon2. Milly Heycott Qualifiers: 1. Ben Baxter 2. Jai Cooper 3. Paul Gray 4. Steven Waters Challengers1. Milly Heycott2. Steve Flanagan3. Scott Harris4. Bill Gray Champions: 1. Garry Ross 2. Steven Bailey 3. Graham Roberts 4. Dave Andrews Grand Masters:1. GrahaLancaster2. Darren Bason3. Brett Cronin4. Stephen Blatchford Legends: 1. Russell Hudson 2. Steve Sargent 3. Milly Heycott Masters:1. Michael Feenan2. Ben Baxter3. Steve Flanagan Grand Legends:1. Jeff Gray2. Jackie Dillon

Coffs Harbour Open - Emerald Beach - Results

The event took place in Sandy Beach, NSW, Australia and here you have all the results. Congrats to all!! RESULTS OPEN 1st Tony Cherry2nd Darren McIntyre3rd Graham Lancaster4th Stephen Blatchford Qualifiers Division1st Paul Gray2nd Steve Sargent3rd Dean Warner4th Steve Bailey (back from retirement!) Challengers Division1st Jai Cooper2nd Steve Flanagan3rd Rob Wilson4th Nigel Foss Champions Division 70-741st Graham Robert’s2nd Garry Ross3rd Bill Gray4th Dave Andrews Legends Division 60-64 1st Cisco Nascimento2nd Steve, 3rd Russell Hudson4th Andrew Smith from way down South! Grand Masters 50-59 1st Graham Lancaster2nd Stephen Blatchford3rd Darren McIntyre4th Rhys Pollett Masters- 35-49 1st Ben Baxter2nd Steve Flanagan

Ballina Open

The Ballina Open got off to a bold and successful start on Saturday 5th April with clean waves ranging from 4ft to 5ft at Flat Rock Beach. Unfortunately, Day 2 was put on hold due to deteriorating conditions. A decision was made to run the rest of the event on the sunday before the Australain Open in Yamba. Finals Day report A terrific morning with the two remaining finals run before Aus Open. Conditions were smallish yet clean and off shore.
Open Ist - Tony Cherry found the right spot to sit and waited for the set waves 2nd - Darren McIntyre smooth moves and free flowing rider. Close finish to Tony3rd - Darren Bason just needed a few more link ups, another free flowing rider 4th - Tim Kierle possibly needed to be surfing the rights instead of the left hander. Nonetheless another free flowing rider. Will no doubt be someone to notice this week. Qualifiers final results Ist - Paul Gray who left it to the dying minutes to take off an explosive set wave rewarding him with good scores2nd Russell Hudson - Mr Consistency and I think we haven’t seen the best of Russell yet - well done.3rd Geoff Cougle - Geoff has gone from strength to strength during the last 12 months.Thank you to everyone who assisted in this contest, behind the scenes with organising equipment and making sure the event ran smoothly.
Check out a quick video of day one here

Kingscliff Challengers/Qualifiers - Results

The Alan McIntosh Kingscliff Challengers was held over the weekend at Kingscliff Beach - a brilliant start to Waveski Surfing Australia's (WSA) 2024 Waveski Circuit. With Live Heats now a feature of WSA events, everyone could see scores as they were being judged.
With a new look WSA Committee underpinned by enthusiasm, experience and commitment to a wonderful year, Kingscliff definitely ticked all the boxes.As a testament to the winners from the 2023 WSA Circuit, the Challengers Div has been renamed for 2024 as the Stephen Howarth Challengers and the Qualifiers Divisions has been renamed for 2024 as the Scott Murnain Qualifiers.
The weekend was a combination of coaching with competitors hearing from the best following each heat. And with something a little different added, the second tier A grade riders had a challenger division of their own. 32 riders across all three divisions made up a for an exciting contest.Saturday morning greeted us with cross on shore winds and a small swell to go with it. The call was made to run with it as Sunday was not going to be much better. Under the guidance of Rees Duncan and Graham Lancaster - appointed Contest Directors - we enjoyed a weekend of thrills, spills, oohs and ahhs!
It was a case of catch a wave, do the best you can, paddle into shore, do a Cathy Freeman sprint up the beach and paddle out again. Otherwise you ended up at the Seaway Spit. Unfortunately Bill Gray's quarterfinal didn't end well with a wrenched shoulder courtesy of 'kissing' the sand. Hopefully Bill will be back for the next event.
With experienced A grade riders judging, riders were rewarded for their innovation and choosing the right wave as they were there to be had.Notable standouts were really everyone, as it was a marathon effort to manage the wind affected waves. However as we know there can be only one winner for each division with podium finishers.
A Grade Invitational 1. Michael Jones2. Tim Keirle3. Graham Roberts4. Cisco Nascimento5. Garry Ross
Qualifiers1. Paul Gray2. Chris Cook3. Scott Waldron4. Rob Wilson
Challengers1. Steve Flanagan2. Dave Andrews3. Rob Wilson4. Jody Dennison5. Nigel Foss
The social aspect of our event was showcased with Saturday evening spent enjoying dinner at Cudgen Surf Club with thanks to Shane McIntosh, son of Alan, for a generous donation and on going support. Thank you to everyone who made this weekend possible and the behind the scenes support from our photographers - Jeff Butterworth and Brett Cronin, our equipment manager Russell Hudson, Contest and Judging Crew - Rees, Graham, Darren Kearns, Darren Bason, Darren McIntyre, Tony Cherry, Cisco and Tim and everyone else who assisted without which our event would not have been the success that it was. Check out the photos from the weekend here Jackie DillonWSA Secretary, Beach Safety and Gender Equity Officer.