RABBIT’S MEDAL
SURFER TAKES MANTLE
GOLD Coast missed the main prize but Liam O’Brien has left the Australian Boardriders Battle National Final with a slice of bling.
Merewether yesterday claimed the final in front of a huge crowd at Newcastle Beach.
A field of 70 clubs was whittled down to 24 for the final weekend, which saw Merewether eventually claim it’s first national title in fun 2-to-4 foot waves.
In the final team heat of the day, Merewether came up against former two-time champions Snapper Rocks Surfriders, an inform North Shelly Boardriders and event dark horse North Shore.
After falling just short of the win at last year’s event and losing two of their top surfers to injury this year, Merewether came into the event with relaxed expectations.
The shift in attitude seemed to help them as Jesse Adam, Mike Clayton-Brown, Philippa Anderson, Mitchell Ross and Morgan Cibilic brought home their club’s first ABB title.
“This is the best day ever,” club president Jesse Adam said.
“All of the team members are such legends I can’t believe how proud I am of them all.
“We had two of our guys pull out of the team with injuries so we had a different lineup to normal and came in with low expectations. After coming so close a few times and feeling the heartbreak of just missing the win, this has made it all worth it – and to do it at home is so sick.”
While star-studded Snapper had to settle for fourth place, Burleigh’s O’Brien – whose club could only manage a semi-final appearance – was crowned with the Rabbit Bar- tholomew Medal for top male performer.
Merewether’s Philippa Anderson was a standout all event, posting solid scores to help her team to the final.
Fresh off a win at the first QS1000 of the year, Anderson hopes this experience will spur on her to more success in 2019.
“This has been such a cool weekend,” Anderson said.
“I had a lot of my friends here on the beach so the support was so awesome.”
Women’s Championship Tour rookie Macy Callaghan made competition history, representing North Shelly as the team ‘Power Surfer,’ the first time it’s been done by a female.
“When it was suggested that I surf as the Power Surfer I was a bit hesitant, but everyone in the club supported the decision,” she said.
The series is officially sanctioned by the WSL.