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Monday 24 February 2019 Sun, Surf and Smiles at National Surfing Reserve Comp Team Crushers captained by Nick Fostin has won the sixth Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve Teams Challenge and Dave Fincher Memorial Trophy at the event held on Saturday 23 February 2019. Glorious weather and the majestic backdrop of Cape Woolamai surrounded all of the surfing action as nine teams battled it out. The classic Woolamai conditions were challenging at the start of the comp but improved on the rising tide. “For six years we’ve been chipping away at this title,” said Nick Fostin as he accepted the Dave Fincher Trophy, presented by Dave’s daughter Michelle. “Island Surfboards provided great competition, they ripped! We are stoked. It was the best day being out there surfing with our family and friends!” Event Organiser Geoff Owens made the call to hold the comp at Anzacs at 7am. Surfers gathered for a briefing, followed by a moving Welcome To Country and Smoking Ceremony from Boon wurrung Community member Steve Parker. Gutsy grommets (surfers aged 14 and under), Malibu riders and surfers of all ages took turns to paddle out to battle for their position in the final. “We were blessed with a sunny day and reasonable surfing conditions, which made it a lot more enjoyable and justified our decision to move the comp date to earlier in the year,” said Geoff. Community spirit was high all day, culminating in an exciting final where surfers showed off their best moves in high tide conditions that only Woolamai can provide. Supporters gathered on the beach and lookouts to watch all of the action and displays of skill, courage and sometimes comedy. “It’s a great reunion,” said Island’s Sandy Ryan. “It’s rare and special to have an occasion like this.”

MEDIA RELEASE

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In the end it all came down skill and teamwork as Team Crushers cruised through the final heat with minutes to spare. Island, captained by Sandy Ryan took out second prize and third prize was won by Newhaven College’s Spoonbills captained by Andy Neal. Woolamai Hards lead by Geoff Owens came in fourth place and the Penguins, captained by Andre Chiaradia made it into the final for the first time and secured fifth place. Sixth place went to Dylan Matthews’ team, Into 3000. There was a wide range of prizes and awards given out at the presentation ceremony at the Phillip Island Boaardriders Club supported by event sponsors: Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bass Coast Shire Council, Westernport Water, Phillip Island RSL, Newhaven College, Karoon Gas, The Cape Kitchen, Full Circle, Ramada Resort, Rip Curl/Islantis, Full Circle, Island Surfboards, San Remo IGA, Pro Surf Coaching, Reece and Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Highlights of the award ceremony included the Phillip Island RSL Team Spirit Award, presented to Sam Guzzardi and his No Veggies team for the second year running. Lannia Fostin, from Team Crushers shone on the day and was awarded Island Surfboards’ - Best Performance by a Non-Sponsored Surfer Award – receiving a custom made board from Island. Lannia also won the Ramada Resort Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Surfer. A new award category - Best Super Grommet, sponsored By Newhaven College, was awarded to Oliver Van Venroy from the Into 3000 team. In another double whammy, Glyndyn Ringrose from Spoonbills won both the Ramada Resort Outstanding Performance by a Male Surfer and Rip Curl Islantis Highest Scoring Wave. “It’s so great to see our community come together as surfers - I applaud all of you guys,” said Glyndyn as he accepted the award. “It was once again a great day, full of team spirit and reflecting what Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve is all about. We are looking forward to next year’s event,” said Event Organiser Geoff Owens. “I want to thank everyone for coming and continuing to support this community surfing event held in our wonderful National Surfing Reserve.” See you all next year! Check out and post event photos and see updates all year round on Facebook and Instagram: @PhillipIslandnsr #ENDS Media info Sally O’Neill 0408 101 976 sally.oneill@bigpond.com Eleanor McKay - 0422 313 847 e_mckay@icloud.com Photos: See dropbox link - please credit photographers when noted. Thank you!

• A full list of awards is below.

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GENERAL AWARDS: 1. BEST CONTRIBUTOR (as nominated by team captain) (Prize: Certificate, cap, keyring - Islantis)

TEAM 1 –: ISLAND – Blake Green

TEAM 2 –: PENGUINS – Matt Krumins

TEAM 3 –: MISFITS – Riley Johnson

TEAM 4 –: SPOONBILLS – Jamie Liatoa

TEAM 5 –: TEAM CRUSHERS – Lannia Fostin

TEAM 6 -: WOOLAMAI HARDS – Andrew Burgan

Team 7 –: NO VEGGIES – Ebony Maier

Team 8 –: HIPS HEROES – Billy Hoskings

Team 9 –: INTO 3000 – Hannah Eisen

2. BEST JUNIOR (Prize: Hoodie & fins – Rip Curl)

NAME: Codie Jeffrey TEAM: TEAM CRUSHERS 3. BEST KNEEBOARDER/40+ SHORT BOARD

(Prize: $100 Voucher – Westernport Hotel + Vissla T-shirt Full Circle) NAME: Simon Chipper TEAM: ISLAND 4. BEST SINGLE FIN RIDER

(Prize: Voucher – Musclescope Massage, Vissla Hoodie – Full Circle) NAME: Jake Eisen TEAM: TEAM CRUSHERS 5. BEST MALIBU RIDER

(Prize: $100 Voucher – Watermark Restaurant, Silverwater Resort + Vissla Boardshorts – Full Circe)

NAME: Andrew Burgan TEAM: WOOLAMAI HARDS 6. BEST OVER 50 SHORT BOARD RIDER

(Prize: Black Vissla Jacket – Full Circle) NAME: Dumpy Liddy TEAM: TEAM CRUSHERS

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7. BEST TWIN FIN (PRE-1985) (Prize: $100 Voucher – Westernport Hotel + Vissla pants – Full Circle)

NAME: Ash Easton TEAM: TEAM CRUSHERS JUDGES DISCRETION AWARDS CATEGORY:

1. RAMADA AWARD FOR BEST MANOUVRE (Prize: $500 voucher – 2 nights accommodation at Ramada Resort) NAME: Cody Jeffrey TEAM: TEAM CRUSHER

2. REECE AWARD FOR TWIN FIN EXCELLENCE (Prize: $300 voucher from Reece Plumbing) NAME: Sandy Ryan TEAM: ISLAND

3. AWARD - ENTERTAINMENT (Prize: PINP T-shirt) NAME: Selim Delvan TEAM: WOOLAMAI HARDS

4. Award - DUMBELL (Prize: PINP Hoodie) NAMES: Ian Garrett TEAM: WOOLAMAI HARDS

SPONSORED AWARDS: 1. ISLAND SURFBOARDS - BEST PERFORMANCE BY NON-SPONSORED

SURFER AWARD (Prize: Custom surfboard valued at $800)

NAME: Lannia Fostin TEAM: TEAM CRUSHERS 2. PHILLIP ISLAND RSL TEAM SPIRIT AWARD (Prize: Meal voucher valued at $350)

NAME: Sam Guzzardi TEAM: NO VEGGIES 3. PRO SURF COACHING EMERGING SURFER AWARD

(Prize: 4 x 2-hour surf lessons valued at $480) NAME: Riley Johnson TEAM: MISFIT 4. BEST SUPER GROMMET – SPONSORED BY NEWHAVEN COLLEGE

(Prize: Individual coaching session with Glyndyn Ringrose + Frankie Turnip T-shirt) NAME: Oliver Van Venroy TEAM: INTO 3000 5. RAMADA RESORT - OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY MALE SURFER

(Prize: Accommodation voucher – 2 nights, valued at $500, PLUS Rip Curl pack, valued at $200)

NAME: Glyndyn Ringrose TEAM: SPOONBILLS 6. RAMADA RESORT - OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY FEMALE SURFER

(Prize: Accommodation voucher – 2 nights, valued at $500 PLUS Rip Curl pack, valued at $200)

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NAME: Lannia Fostin TEAM: TEAM CRUSHERS 7. RIP CURL ISLANTIS – HIGHEST SCORING WAVE

(Prize: Rip Curl GPS Watch valued at $400) NAME: Glyndyn Ringrose (9) TEAM: SPOONBILLS TEAM CHALLENGE WINNERS

SIXTH: INTO 3000 POINTS: 45.5

FIFTH: PENGUINS POINTS: 47

FOURTH: WOOLAMAI HARDS POINTS: 52.5

THIRD PRIZE - $500 Team: SPOONBILLS POINTS: 52.7 Captained by: Andy Neal

SECOND PRIZE - $1000 Team: ISLAND POINTS: 71.5 Captained by: Sandy Ryan

FIRST PRIZE - $2000 Team: TEAM CRUSHERS POINTS: 90 Captained by: Nick Fostin

#ENDS Media contacts: Sally O’Neill - 0408 101 976 sally.oneill@bigpond.com Eleanor McKay - 0422 313 847 e_mckay@icloud.com @phillipislandnsr