The final stop of the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Southern States Showdown was the iconic Lorne – and didn’t it deliver! Not only did we see some great racing, the overall champions were decided and everyone had one hell of a time.
The Southern States Showdown was the brainchild of World Ocean Series creator Trent Goulding and its here to stay; Trent understands what it takes to make it from the South and he’s doing his best to give back – you love to see it.
Sooo lets take a look at the results.

MEN’S BOARD
1. Archie Vernon (Surfers)
2. Jack Webster (Mentone)
3. Boyd Wieringa (Mentone)

Vernon showed up the field here to sneak home ahead of Mentone’s pair of Webster and Wieringa. This is Vernon’s best leg and he continues to deliver when he races back in his home state.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Ethan Jackson (Burleigh) 12,681pts
2. Thomas Welch (Grange) 10,885 pts
3. Archie Vernon (Surfers) 10,646 pts

Ethan Jackson cruised to victory here over South Aus flyer Thomas Welch, while the win at Lorne for Vernon saw him leapfrog Corey Fletcher and finish on the podium in third.

WOMEN’S BOARD
1. Holy Holmesby (Burleigh)
2. Grace Harris (Alex)
3. Mae Lynch (Mentone)

Holly Holmesby has arrived in the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series; 3 wins and a third for the day makes her the best on beach for the Lorne 5000 AND any win over Grace Harris in a board race is a quality performance. Mentone’s Mae Lynch rounded out the podium.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Michaela Whitmee (Kurrawa) 12,485 pts
2. Jane McMeel (Warrnambool) 10,830 pts
3. Alexis Jane (Jan Juc) 8,750 pts

Michaela Whitmee dominated the Southern States Showdown with three overall series wins and a 4th place at Lorne wrapped this one up. McMeel and Jane snuck up onto the podium with top ten results as well. Southports Chloe Klingner was the big loser here (and in the ski and ironwoman) she started the weekend on the podium but slid off in the washup.

MEN’S SWIM
1. Ben Highfield (Burleigh)
2. Archie Vernon (Surfers)
3. Matt Gilling (Mermaid)

Ben Highfield gets a reward for effort here in the all Queensland transfer podium.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Ethan Jackson (Burleigh) 10,105pts
2. Jack Wells (Grange) 9,850 pts
3. Lachie Washington (West Beach) 8,750 pts

This one was decided prior to the final round at Lorne – another one to Ethan Jackson BUT it was the lowest scoring podium of the entire series. Wells and Washington only needed 2 scores to end up on the podium.

WOMEN’S SWIM
1. Holy Holmesby (Burleigh)
2. Riedel Smith (Half Moon Bay)
3. Jasmine Hume (Anglesea)

In the words of Khalid – ANOTHER ONE for Holly Holmesby; this was always going to be the one she was most likely to win and she got home over Smith and Hume.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Holy Holmesby (Burleigh) 9,300 pts
2. Han Deacon (Alex) 8,885 pts
3. Amy Buck (Grange) 7,716 pts

A win at Lorne was enough for Holmesby to shoot past Hanna Deacon and claim the swim title; just like the men’s this was by far and away the lowest scoring podium (read as most open) of all the women’s events.

MEN’S SKI
1. Russel Fox (Half Moon Bay)
2. Will Richards (Jan Juc)
3. Boyd Wieringa (Mentone)

Russel Fox doing THE FOX things in the most competitive event in the Southern States Showdown – and Half Moon Bay deleivered as well, 7 in the top 11, the boys came to play. Will Richards finished in second, while Boyd Wieringa had two podiums for the day.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Russel Fox (Half Moon Bay) 13,600 pts
2. Macklin Harvey (SouthPort) 12,640 pts
3. Tom May (Seacliffe) 12,045 pts

The win in Lorne jumped THE FOX from 3rd to the overall champion; A World Ocean Series favourite – no man deserves this one more than the FOX – What does the Fox say??? Give me the gold! 
Macklin Harvey was great in second while Tom May was his usual awesome self to finish in 3rd.

WOMEN’S SKI
1. Holly Holmesby (Burleigh)
2. Victoria Barnes (Port Noarlunga)
3. Mae Lynch (Mentone)

Holmesby again here over the highly rated Victoria Barnes, and another great performance from Mae Lynch.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Michaela Whitmee (Kurrawa) 10,625 pts
2. Victoria Barnes (Port Noarlunga) 9,300 pts
3. Alexis Jane (Jan Juc) 8,966 pts

Michaela Whitmee holds onto the overall title here from Victoria Barnes and Alexis Jane. Barnes only needed a win to take the overall title but fell just short and lost the title. Whitmee just dominated these Southern States Showdown and proved how good she is.

IRONMAN
1. Archie Vernon (Surfers)
2. Ben Highfield (Burleigh)
3. Ashton Roberts (Mentone)

The coldwater king returned to claim his crown and delivered in a big way – was the favourite and got home ahead of fellow vico transfer Ben Highfield and Ashton Roberts of Mentone.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Ethan Jackson (Burleigh) 13,600 pts
2. Archie Vernon (Surfers) 11,415 pts
3. Boyd Wieringa (Mentone) 8,875 pts

I called this one before Lorne started and despite maximum effort and points from the Coldwater King it was never going to be enough – I don’t know if the title gets handed over from Vernon to Jackson, but Ethan was far and away the best athlete in the Southern States Showdown and he deserves to be celebrated. While a 6th from Boyd Wieringa was enough to catapult him onto the final podium in third.

IRONWOMAN
1. Grace Harris (Alex)
2. Mae Lynch (Mentone)
3. Holly Holmesby (Burleigh)

Harris came for 5,000 points and a spot inside the top 40 in the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series and she left with exactly that; Harris is a class above and delivered on her promise. Mae Lynch impresses here to finish in second ahead of the MVP of the Lorne 5000 Holly Holmesby.

OVERALL SERIES
1. Michaela Whitmee (Kurrawa) 11,325 pts
2. Siena Bond-Scott (Mornington) 8,375 pts
3. Chloe Reyntjes (Jan Juc) 8,350 pts

This one literally went down to the final round, Whitmee finished well ahead of the field after her great early work and deserves this result. Bond-Scott and Reyntjes were separated by just 25 points, with Bond-Scott scoring that by finishing one place ahead of Reyntjes at Lorne.

Congratulations to the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series and everyone who took part in the Southern States Showdown – Southern Surf Sports is on fire right now, and this is part of the reason! Well done.