The Coffs Craft Carnival delivered one of the most efficient, fast-moving days of clubbie racing we’ve seen this summer. It was back-to-back action from the opening whistle starting with the Iron events before rolling straight through quick, sharp Ski, Swim, Board and Mixed Taplin races that kept the tension high and the beach locked in all day.
Little waves were viciously rolling through Coffs, forcing athletes to dig deep and work for every line, every run, and every finish. It created proper surf-sport racing nothing easy, nothing given.
There were plenty of standout stories across the weekend, but none bigger than Tom Ryan from Mermaid Surf Club. Some of you might not know the name… yet. But wow he put on a show, walking away with two podiums (3rd in the Swim and 3rd in the Board) in a class field. A breakout weekend from a young athlete who’s now firmly on the radar heading into summer.
The Iron racing was another highlight. Finn Askew continued his red-hot start to the season with a crafty, composed and vintage Ironman victory. On the women’s side, Lana Rogers banked another massive result, taking home the 5,000-point win and reminding everyone why she sits at the top of the sport.
Read below for full results and the complete wrap from an iconic day at the Coffs Craft Carnival — and if you didn’t make the trip… you missed out.
Opens Ironman
1. Finn Askew | Surfers Paradise
2. Conner Maggs | Mermaid Beach
3. Byron Dieckmann | Maroochydore
The Open Ironman kicked off the day, running the order of Board → Ski → Swim, and the start was red hot, almost the entire field hit the opening board wave together. From that moment, it was Connor Maggs (Mermaid Beach)and Finn Askew (Surfers Paradise) who took control, breaking into a two-man match race that set the tone for the rest of the final.
The final swim leg was sharp and fast, with two of the sport’s best swimmers going stroke-for-stroke. As they approached the beach, a weak, tricky little wave began to stand up. Both Maggs and Askew managed to lift onto it, but Askew milked every ounce out of the run, sliding just ahead to hit the sand first and claim the win.
A big mover this summer is Maroochydore’s Byron Dieckmann, who clutched up to finish third. His back half of the race was exceptional strong, composed and showing the kind of closing speed that will make him dangerous all season.
The Burleigh trio of Kye Taylor, Ben Carberry and Jy Timperley rounded out the top six with a super-consistent showing.
This win is quietly massive for Askew’s series campaign. With a 1st in the 5,000-point round and a 2nd in the 7,000, he now sits in a very comfortable position early in the hunt for over all series title and a brand-new car..
Open Ironwoman
1. Lana Rogers | Northcliffe
2. Bella Williams | Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
3. Lily Finati | Northcliffe
The Open Ironwomen final had a fireworks-level start list honestly, 20 of these girls could’ve taken it out.
Off the board, it was tight and compact with Lily Finati and Bella Williams pushing to the front early. It set up a four-way shootout off the ski, and Lana Rogers threw herself right into the mix with an electric transition heading into the swim.
Bella and Lily were holding strong in the water, but the last 30 metres is where Lana really clinched the win. That’s her second 5,000-point victory of the series a huge statement from the Northcliffe star.
Special shoutout to young Sienna Bush from Burleigh Heads, who hung tough the entire race in an incredible field.
Kaitlin Rees is still the lady out the front as she still leads the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Ironwoman standings.
Open Men’s Ski
1. Jy Timperley | Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
2. Jackson Borg | Newport
3. Kai Onley | Southport (QLD)
The Open Men’s Ski was short, fast, and absolutely chaotic , more like watching the Melbourne Cup than a ski race. Jy Timperley is back. He’s been quietly building into his season, and this win against such a stacked field will spray a huge amount of confidence across the weeks ahead. It was powerful, controlled, and a reminder of just how dangerous he is when he’s on.
Jackson Borg nearly had him. Borgy’s start to the summer has been massive racing everything, everywhere and still producing world-class form. With Alex in a few weeks’ time, everyone’s keen to see what he can put together with a fresh reset.
Rounding out the podium was Kai Onley, best known as a great board paddler but proving once again he’s an elite ski paddler too. He charged home late for third with a classy finish in the bumps.
All three men will be stoked to bank these points at the Coffs Craft Carnival —valuable momentum early in the season.
Open Women’s Ski
1. Claudia Kelly | Northcliffe
2. Emily-Louise Doyle | Northcliffe
3. Dakota Luke | Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
The Open Women’s Ski came right down to the wire, ending in a four-way sprint up the beach between Claudia Kelly, Emily Doyle, Dakota Luke, and Ally Clarke.
Olympian Ally Clarke exploded off the start, with Northcliffe’s duo of Doyle and Luke tacking on early to form the front pack. But in the final moments, it was the New Zealander Claudia Kelly who found another gear, surging up the sand to take a massive win.
Against a field stacked with world-class paddlers, this is a breakout result for Claudia a huge statement victory and one that will give her serious confidence for the season ahead.
Open Men’s Swim
1. Conner Maggs | Mermaid Beach
2. Fletcher Warn | Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park
3. Tomas Ryan | Mermaid Beach
44 men on the line and a short, brutal 100m sprint to the first can it set the stage perfectly. There’s an old surf sports saying: “What happens at the cans stays at the cans.” And this race proved exactly why.
With almost the entire field arriving at the can together, it looked like a bait ball ,arms everywhere, bodies jammed in tight, and reports of boys going 10–15 wide trying to fight for position. Pure chaos. Pure surf racing.
Connor Maggs hit the can first with clean water and never looked back, powering away to win in a seriously high-calibre field.
Fletch Warn clutched up for second with one of the most impressive swims of his young career, another huge marker in his rise through the sport.
And how about Tom Ryan? In a ridiculous field, the young lad swam through bodies, and surged home for third. A breakout podium that turned plenty of heads on the beach.
Mermaid Beach also made a statement four athletes inside the top 10, showcasing the depth and strength of their swim squad.
Open Women’s Swim
1. Kaitlin Rees | Swansea Belmont
2. Lucy Derbyshire | Surfers Paradise
3. Lana Rogers | Northcliffe
Just like the men, the Women’s Swim was absolutely stacked a field loaded with elite swimmers and genuine race-winners. They exploded off the beach and tore toward the first can, with the “big four” of Claudia Rose Slaven, Lana Rogers, Lucy Derbyshire, and Kaitlin Rees leading the way.
Around the cans it turned into classic crash-and-bash c, and heavy gridlock for anyone caught behind the front pack.
On the trip home, the pace lifted and it set up a pure sprint finish. Kaitlin Rees got to her feet first and charged up the beach, holding off the late challengers to break the tape and claim a massive win. More MVP points, more series points, and another big moment in what’s becoming an incredible season for the young gun.
Rees is putting together something special right now composed, fast, and rising to every pressure moment thrown at her.
Open Men’s Board
1. Cruz McKee
2. Conner Maggs | Mermaid Beach
3. Tomas Ryan | Mermaid Beach
The men’s board race was cut-throat from the heats right through to the final , short, aggressive, and unforgiving. Current Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series board race leader Cruz McKee came in as the favourite, and he didn’t disappoint. His electric start rattled the field straight away, and once they hit the cans, McKee simply cooked everyone. He broke clear, gave himself clean water, and put the race to bed on his own runner to bank 5,000 points.
Behind him, the wave that followed was absolute chaos , a full party wave with half a dozen blokes all in the mix for podium spots. But when the spray settled, it was Mermaid Beach all over the podium. Connor Maggs and Tom Ryan sliced through the whitewater to lock in second and third, rounding out a Mermaid 1–2–3.
A huge shoutout as well to Tugun’s rising prodigy Oliver Dillon, who has been consistently strong in the board all year. He’s knocking on the door ,his moment isn’t far away.
Open Women’s Board
1. Analise Kibble | Newport
2. Emily-Louise Doyle | Northcliffe
3. Brodee Trinca | Southport (QLD)
The women’s final lit up from the gun, with 20 athletes full-throttle to the first can. The Queen of board paddling, Brodee Trinca, was right there early, with Emily Doyle glued to her side as they fought for clean water on the way home.
But when it mattered, Kibble’s crafty skill took over. She found a bump, linked it beautifully, and turned it into a statement victory. Doyle crossed in second, with Trinca rounding out a quality podium.
Massive shoutout to young guns Abby Novosel and Milly Derbyshire, who both raced incredibly well in what was a stacked, genuinely elite field.
Mixed Taplin Relay
1. Northcliffe Team A
2. Maroochydore Team A
3. Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Team A
The final race of the day was a genuine yo-yo, with lead changes popping up early across all three legs. Teams had the choice of sending their boy or girl off first in the chosen discipline, and it made for some wild strategy plays.
But when it settled, Northcliffe proved too strong for their main rivals Burleigh Heads. Their depth, tactics, and composure under pressure once again separated them from the field.
That said keep an eye on Maroochydore heading into the Hayden Kenny Classic. They put on an incredible display here, stacked with power across board, ski, and swim. With Lana Rogers swimming them home, she had Matt Palmer and Ben Highfield absolutely steaming to the finish behind her.
In the end, Northcliffe’s game plan and horsepower were simply too good, but Maroochydore sent a message: they’re building something real.
Come Ups
- Tom Ryan’s dual podium
- Mermaid Surf Club board class
- Maroochydore’s Taplin
- Coffs Harbour SLSC hosting
- Early Finish
Huge thanks to @coffs_harbour_slsc_ for the incredible hospitality and a cracking day on the beach.
Only 18 days until the first premiere stop of the summer at the @shawandpartners_ Hayden Kenny Classic!
All results can be found at LIVE HEATS