(image- Stephen Harman)

The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Southern States Showdown kicked off in emphatic fashion over the weekend at the  Shaw and partners World ocean Series Warrnambool Battle of the Bay 5,000-point round. Walking over the hill at the glorious Warrnambool surf club the conditions were onshore, cold, and overcast, with more than 250 athletes ready to launch their Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series campaigns the energy was electric . By 1pm, the wind backed off , the cloud cleared, and Warrnambool delivered turning the afternoon into an ideal setting for high-quality racing. The event attracted strong numbers from South Australia, Victoria and several ex-Victorians now competing in the Sunshine State who made the trip home for the Southern States leg.

With a consistent 2-foot wave on tap created tense close action, from the open athletes to the u13 athletes. Very light onshore runs helped on the board and ski.  A few athletes had a momentous start to the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series southern states showdown, head lining this was Melbourne raised Tom Lewis who now competes for Alex headland, was dominant taking out the iron board and swim, additionally showed strength in the ski rounding out the podium in an unreal ski field. In the woman’s a standout was Ocean Groves Georgie McIntyre who is in the junior age group, the u17 stepped up to the opens taking out the Open Women’s Board, second in the Open Ironwoman. She also cleaned up in her respected age group. Do we have a Harriet Brown 2.0 in the making? In the most anticipated and largest field of the day South Australian Harry Stevenson ripped through the field to claim an enormous win. In the women’s it was a South Australian 1 and 2 in Zalika Cederblad and Laura Campbell who will have a continued rival throughout the Shaw and Partners Southern State Showdown. The swim races were quick, and surf skills paid dividends with Amy Buck showing class to take her first win of the season. Overall clinical performance’s in each race with shake ups and victories we didn’t see coming, creating a few tensions early in the Shaw and Partners World Ocean series southern states showdown.

 Find The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Southern States Showdown Rankings below:

 

 

Lets have a look at the results:

 

 

MEN’S BOARD;

1. Tom Lewis  (Alexandra Headland)

2. Lestyn Knapp (Ocean Grove)

3. Jack Webster (Mentone)

 

 WOMEN’S BOARD:

1. Georgie Mclntyre (Ocean Grove)

2. Chelsea Hanks (Ocean Grove)

3. Georgia Lerodiaconou (Warrnambool)

 

 MEN’S SKI;

1. Harry Stevens ( Grange)

2. Xabian Cederblad (Seacliff)

3. Tom Lewis (Alexandra Headland)

 

WOMEN’S SKI:

1. Zalika Cederblad (Seacliff)

2. Laura Campbell ( Christies Beach)

3. Elissa Johnson (Warrnambool)

 MEN’S SWIM:

1. Tom Lewis (Alexandra Headland)

2.Lestyn Knapp (Ocean Grove)

3. Harry Charlesworth ( Lorne)

 

 

 WOMEN’S SWIM:

1. Amy Buck ( Grange)

2. Caitlin Huell (Half Moon Bay)

3. Zoe Mckenna (Jan Juc)

 

 

IRONMAN:

1. Tom Lewis (Alexandra Headland)

2. Jack Travers (Glenelg)

3. Jack Webster (Mentone)

 

 

IRONWOMAN:

1. Elissa Johnson (Warrnambool)

2. Georgie Mclntyre ( Ocean Grove )

3. Georgia Lerodiaconou ( Warrnambool)

 Mixed 6 Person Taplin:

1. Warrnambool
2. Ocean Grove
3. Seacliff

 

What a day it was. As always, events like these don’t run without the support of our incredible sponsors and host club. A huge thank you to Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Race One Surf Craft, Surf Life Saving Queensland, JAYD Swimwear, and Warrnambool Surf Life Saving Club, who were outstanding hosts!

Now, our focus turns to the City of Churches as we head to South Australia for the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Glenelg Sprint Challenge this weekend.

Event preview coming in the next few days — stay tuned.