Creed McTaggart: Occy must be proud of you

West Australian charger Creed McTaggart (Margaret River, WA) today claimed the blue ribbon 16 and Under Boys division at the 2010 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp.

Timing his form peak perfectly, McTaggart was the standout surfer in the final with the polished natural footer displaying all the spoils of a noticeable growth spurt in the last 12 months as he powerfully attacked the punchy 1m conditions at Duranbah Beach (Queensland, Australia).

Going on to post an impressive two-wave heat total of 13.47 (out of a possible 20) McTaggart trumped Eli Steele (Caloundra, Qld – 11.00), Beau Cram (Avalon Beach, NSW – 7.83), and Jake Scott (Maroubra, NSW, 6.50) who finished second to fourth respectively.

“Everyone had been surfing well in the lead up to the final, Eli Steele posted a 10 point ride a few days ago, so I knew I had to be on my game,” said McTaggart.

“I set a goal to try and win the Occy Grom Comp at the start of the year, so it’s a dream come true for me today,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was a double shot for spectators as Jackson Coffey and big sister Ellie-Jean (Crescent Head, NSW) were today crowned champions of the 14 and Under Boys and 16 and Under Girls.

Both siblings dominated their respective finals with Jackson finishing on a combined two-wave heat total of 15.24 points (out of a possible 20) outscoring Michael Wright (Lennox Head, NSW – 12.44), O’Neil Mason (Tahiti – 10.07), and Kai Hing (Wurtulla, Qld – 9.54) who finished second to fourth respectively.

“I’m absolutely stoked to win the finals of the Occy Grom Comp,” said Jackson.

“Celebrating with my sister makes it even more memorable,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ellie-Jean also dominated her action-packed final finishing with a combined heat total of 13.34 (out of a possible 20) trumping local girls Eden Putland (Currumbin, QLD – 11.60), Brodie Doyle (Rainbow Bay, QLD – 10.80), and Victoria’s Nikki Van-Dijk (Phillip Island, Vic – 6.87) who finished second to fourth respectively.

Shaun Manners (Margaret River, WA – 15.33) showed blistering form to take the win in the 12 and Under Boys division with Lennox Head surfer Zac Wightman finishing runner-up on a score of 13.50 (out of a possible 20) just ahead of Joe Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC – 10.67) and Sandon Whittaker (Avoca Beach, NSW – 8.00) who finished in third and fourth respectively and will surely be back next year for another crack at the title in 2011.

Poppke Karelle (Tahiti), 13, flew the international flag today and was crowned 14 and Under Girls champion.

After a blistering display of surfing, Karelle was in a league of her own for the final with a combined heat total of 16.00 (out of a possible 20), almost 10 points more than her nearest competition of Kiani Dobbyn (Palm Beach, QLD), Cali McDonagh (Curl Curl, NSW – 6.00) and Zoe Clarke (Bells Beach, VIC) who finished second to fourth respectively.

In an unprecedented final day surprise, former world champion Mark Occhilupo, three-time world champion Andy Irons, 2009 World Tour Runner Up Joel Parkinson, and legendary former world tour competitor Luke Egan took a handful of lucky competitors into the waves for the biggest SONY expressions session on record.

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