Cape Groms King

Cape Town’s traditional rivals, eThekweni, had to settle for second while hosts Nelson Mandela Bay slipped into third this year. The Cape Winelands team secured fourth with Buffalo City fifth ahead of Eden.

The Cape Town team beat Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay and eThekweni to defend their Tag Team Title while their depth and the fact that they produced 11 finalists in eight surfing divisions also secured them the 2015 Surfing Award. The Team Spirit Award went to eThekweni.

Barbara Johnson, Team Manager, and the coaching team led by Craig Johnson ensured that Cape Town Grommet Team continued to dominate the unique 23 year-old event. Close to 100 girls and boys from six provincial districts took part in the annual event, Surfing South Africa’s premier entry level inter-provincial tournament.

Sponsorship from Billabong, funding from Sport and Recreation South Africa and support from Lotto assisted the Games, which were coordinated by Event Director Shirley Fairall and her team, and assisted by Contest Director Brian Abrahams, and the judges, led by Merrick Fairall.

Surfing South Africa Vice President Johnny Bakker represented SSA, while Grant Beck and the Billabong team helped ensure that the Games remain a standout on the calendar.

In the individual surfing categories, the youngest winners were Zia Hendricks of Nelson Mandela Bay and Kai Hall of eThekweni, who won the Under 9 Girls and Boys Divisions respectively. The Under 11 Girls and Boys Champions were Aimee du Preez of Buffalo City and Luke Van Wyk of Cape Town.

Kayla Nogueira of eThekweni won the Under 13 Girls title while Mitch du Preez of Buffalo City was the Under 13 Boys Division winner. The Under 15 Girls gold medal went the way of Brittany Gadd of eThekweni with team mate Anthony Pottow, taking honours in the Under 15 Boys Final.

Brayden Bergset of eThekweni won the Da Kine Youthful Movement Award and Daniel Emslie of Buffalo City was named as the Surfer of the Contest.

Full results and photos can be found on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

The SA Grommet Games is a national tournament with a primary focus on transformation and development within the sport. Strict criteria must be followed when selecting teams for the four days of competition. While the main focus of the event is on surfing, participation in events such as a Paddle Battle, Beach Flags and Tag Team contest are an integral part of the Grommet Games activities.

RESULTS : 2015 BILLABONG SA GROMMET GAMES

SURFING
U9 Girls
1stZia HendricksNMB
2ndAnastasia VenterCW
3rdCourtney LinkeNMB
4th Cassidy MusselCT
5th Kadence RibbinkETK

U9 Boys
1stKai HallETK
2ndJosh Van WykCT
3rdJulian CarbonelETK
4thCallum Emslie BC

U11 Girls
1stAimee du PreezBC
2ndLuanne HurstCT
3rdShayla – May WallaceETK
4thJosie VenterBC

U11 Boys
1stLuke Van WykCT
2ndDaniel EmslieBC
3rdBenjamin RibbinkETK
4thNathan CayleyETK

U13 Girls
1stKayla NogueiraETK
2ndSummer SuttonCT
3rdEmma GreyCT
4thKealla PrattED

U13 Boys
1st Mitch du PreezBC
2ndBrayden BergsetETK
3rdTravis PearceCT
4thSebastian Van der MerweBC

U15 Girls
1stBrittany GaddETK
2ndMaya Sheffer – BoswellCT
3rdCourtney FletcherNMB
4thCasey MusselCT

U15 Boys
1stAnthony PottowETK
2ndEthan RowCT
3rdMaxime GadeyneCT
4thJesse ChristieNMB

2015 GROMMET GAMES ACADEMY SQUAD
(individuals recognized for their surfing performances at the Grommet Games)

U15 BOYS
Anthony Pottow (ETK), Ethan Row (CT), Maxima Gadeyne (CT),Jesse Christie (NMB), Lele Zozi (CT), Museeh Khan (ETK)

U15 GIRLS
Brittany Gadd (ETK),Maya Sheffer- Boswell (CT), Casey Mussel (CT)

U13 BOYS
Mitch du Preez (BC),Brayden Bergset (ETK), Zahier Stuurman (CT), Seluleko Cele (ETK)

U13 GIRLS
Kayla Nogueira (ETK),Summer Sutton (CT), Rachel Alexander (CW)

U11 BOYS
Daniel Emslie (BC),Luke van Wyk (CT)

TEAM RESULTS : MANDELA BAY TROPHY FOR THE OVERALL EVENT CHAMPIONS
1st Cape Town37681
2nd eThekweni29921
3rd Nelson Mandela Bay27097
4th Cape Winelands19491
5th Buffalo City18060
6th Eden15723

TAG TEAM
1stCape Town
2ndBuffalo City
3rdNelson Mandela Bay
4theThekwini

SURFING TROPHY
Cape Town

TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
eThekweni

SURFER OF THE CONTEST
Daniel Emslie Buffalo City

DA KINE YOUTHFULL MOVEMENT AWARD
Brayden BergseteThekweni

JUDGES HEAT WINNER
Merrick Fairall

JUDGING RECOGNITION AWARD
Kia Fenton

BEACH FLAGS
U9 & U11 Girls
1st Rentia LotollaEden
2nd Tanna SmitheThekweni
3rd Kadence RibbinkeThekweni
4th Tanith MoretonNelson Mandela Bay

U13 & U15 Girls
1st Summer Sutton Cape Town
2nd Emma GreyCape Town
3rd Casey MusselCape Town
4th Georgia SunCape Winelands

U9 & U11 Boys
1st Luke Van Wyk Cape Town
2nd Byron EmslieBuffalo City
3rd Reagon RomanCape Town
4th CJ PosthumousNelson Mandela Bay

U13 & U15 Boys
1st Brayden BergseteThekweni
2nd Alifa MwanzieThekweni
3rd Spe ShangaseeThekweni
4th Garrick HugoCape Winelands

PADDLE BATTLE
Girls
1st Summer SuttonCape Town
2nd Maya Sheffer –BoswellCape Town
3rd Casey MusselCape Town
4th Emma GreyCape Town

Boys
1st Garrick Hugo Cape Winelands
2nd Daniel LoveCape Winelands
3rd Travis PearceCape Town
4th Jesse ChristieNelson Mandela Bay

The 2015 South African Grommet Games was presented and run by Surfing South Africa and hosted by Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders. Surfing South Africa (SSA) is the recognised governing body for the sport of surfing in South Africa. SSA is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).