The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Glenelg Sprint Challenge delivered two days of high-octane racing as the World Ocean Series lit up South Australia’s iconic coastline.
Running from Friday afternoon through to Saturday, Glenelg came alive with sprint racing, stacked fields, and a buzzing seaside atmosphere as athletes chased 7,000 crucial series points. From emerging local talent to established World Ocean Series megastars, the depth across both the women’s and men’s fields ensured relentless, fast-paced action across the weekend.
The standout performer of the competition was homegrown star Lucy Derbyshire, who delivered a dominant display on home sand. Derbyshire claimed three race victories across the weekend, feeding off the local support and stamping herself as one of the form athletes heading deeper into the season.
On the men’s side, Matt Bevilacqua continued his love affair with Glenelg, going back-to-back at the Sprint Challenge. The reigning champion once again rose to the occasion, navigating stacked fields and intense sprint formats to defend his title in emphatic fashion.
Friday night proved one of the most exciting afternoons of racing all season, with the Dash for Cash igniting the beach as the sun dipped over Glenelg. Short, explosive formats and cash on the line created fearless racing, razor-thin margins, and a genuine beach-festival atmosphere, with packed crowds lining the shore for an electric start to the weekend.
One of the standout moments came in the Men’s Board, where a breathtaking three-way finish between Cruz McKee, Jake Mail and Paddy O'Brien had the crowd on its feet. Locked together into the final turning pole, the race descended into chaos, with several crucial legal decisions adding another layer of drama before an all-out sprint to the line. Separated by mere centimetres, it was an unbelievable finish that perfectly captured the intensity of Friday night racing at Glenelg.
From tight finishes and standout performances to packed crowds and festival energy, the Glenelg Sprint Challenge delivered on every front .cementing its place as one of the most exciting and complete events on the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series calendar.
Watch the Replay from the Shaw and Partners World ocean series Glenelg sprint challenge here :
Let’s look at the results
MEN’S BOARD
1st: Joe Collins
2nd: Cruz Mckee
3rd: Tex Dixon
WOMEN’S BOARD
1st: Lucy Derbyshire
2nd: Brodee Trinca
3rd: Kaitlin Rees
MEN’S SKI
1st: Harrison Taurins
2nd: Piran Phillips
3rd: Joe Collins
WOMEN’S SKI
1st: Lucy Derbyshire
2nd: Kaitlin Rees
3rd: Elissa Johnson
MEN’S SWIM
1st: Henry Simpson
2nd: Hayden Cotter
3rd: Jackson Borg
WOMEN’S SWIM
1st: Kaitlin Rees
2nd: Naomi Scott
3rd: Emma Woods
IRONMAN
1st: Matt Bevilacqua
2nd: Brayden Casamento
3rd: Joe Collins
IRONWOMAN
1st: Lucy Derbyshire
2nd: Naomi Scott
3rd: Emma Woods
Mixed Taplin
1st: Northcliffe
2nd: Alexandra Headland
3rd: North Burleigh
A huge thank you to Shaw and Partners Financial Servies , Surf Life Saving South Australia, Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club, Race One Surf Craft, Taplin Real Estate, Surf life saving Queensland and Jayd Swimwear for helping deliver an absolutely amazing Glenelg Sprint Challenge.
Next up the Shaw and Partners World Ocean series Torquay Jim wall classic 5,000 pts on January 4th.