The Burleigh grom with the size 14 feet stepped his way into the Qld team for the Australian Junior Titles with a good enough result in the 2nd round of the Rush Qld Junior Titles, to pick up equal 3rd place in Qld!!
The titles will be held at Phillip Island in just over a month, a big time now for Hamish, with year 12 and the Australian titles to contend with.
Well done and all of Burleigh wish you well!
Surfing Queensland press release below:-
Queensland Champions Decided At Rush Surf State Junior Surfing Titles!
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sunday 10th October 2010: FOUR elite Queensland junior surfers today provided a glimpse into the future of Australian surfing after being crowned state champions at the 2010 Rush Surf State Junior Surfing Titles!
2010 Rush Surf State Junior Surfing Champions:
U/18 Boys: Sol Pereira-Ryan (Snapper Rocks, Qld)
U/16 Boys: Kai Hing (Wurtulla, Qld)
U/18 Girls: Amiya Doyle (Coolangatta, Qld)
U/16 Girls: Naomi McCarthy (Currumbin, Qld)
In a building one-mere swell, the right-hand pointbreak waves at Alexandra Headland’s The Bluff (Sunshine Coast, Qld) provided an ideal platform for the series’ concluding showdown.
Relishing in the conditions, Sol Pereira-Ryan (Snapper Rocks, Qld) looked right at home on his forehand, with the progressive natural-footer (left foot forward stance) locking up his maiden state-crown in empathic style – backing up his win in the first event of the series with another convincing victory today.
With a combined two-wave heat total of 16.97 (out of a possible 20) including a telling 8.97 ride (out of a possible 10) Pereira-Ryan defeated Hayden Welch (Currumbin, Qld – 13.17), Josh Sherwell (Alexandra Headland, Qld – 13.16) and Nick Edgerton (Wurtulla, Qld – 10.24) who finished second to fourth respectively.
Pereira-Ryan said that winning a state title was always a goal of his, but to finally achieve the feat was a dream come true.
“So many good surfers have won Queensland state titles, so to have my name alongside some of the past series champions is a surreal feeling,” said Pereira-Ryan.
“With the Australian (Junior Surfing) Titles just over a month away, this is a great way to prepare for taking on the other state’s best juniors,” he said.
Kai Hing (Wurtulla, Qld) proved too strong for his rivals in the final of the U/16 Boys division posting an imposing combined two-wave heat total of 15.50 (out of a possible 20) to outscore Hayden Cervi (Sunrise Beach, Qld – 11.90), Harry Bryant (Sunshine Beach, Qld – 8.27) and Luke Hynd (Burleigh Heads, Qld – 5.66) who finished second to fourth respectively.
Backing up her victory at last month’s Gold Coast series opener, Amiya Doyle (Coolangatta, Qld) capped of her remarkable campaign by winning the U/18 Girls overall title with a second place finish today behind Mooloolaba’s Keely Andrew.
Posting a combined two-wave heat total of 14.90 (out of a possible 20) in the final, Andrew just edged out Doyle for the win who finished on 14.67 points, with Bridget McCulloch (Alexandra Headland, Qld – 14.16) and Sophie Callister (Noosaville, Qld – 12.84) finishing third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, Naomi McCarthy (Currumbin, Qld) again out-pointed her opponents in U/16 Girls division claiming consecutive event wins to convincingly claim the overall series title in her respective division.
The Queensland Junior Surfing Team will now prepare to do battle with the other sates when the Australian Junior Surfing Titles kick-off in November at Victoria’s Phillip Island.
The Queensland State Junior Titles is a key stepping stone in Surfing Queensland’s development pathway, with the likes of Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Bede Durbidge some of the high profile athletes who’ve previously competed in this series.
The 2010 Rush Surf Queensland State Junior Titles is proudly supported by Rush Surf, WAECO, Australia’s Surfing Life, Red Bull, Sea Fm, The Tourism Industry and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and Surfing Queensland.
Queensland Junior Surfing Teams:
U/18 Boys:
1. Sol Pereira-Ryan (Snapper Rocks, Qld) – State Champion
2. Hayden Welch (Currumbin, Qld)
3. Josh Sherwell (Alexandra Headland, Qld) – Equal Third
3. Hamish Whillans (Burleigh Heads, Qld) – Equal Third
U/16 Boys:
1. Kai Hing (Wurtulla, Qld) – State Champion
2. Hayden Cervi (Sunrise Beach, Qld)
3. Harry Bryant (Sunshine Beach, Qld)
4. Luke Hynd (Burleigh Heads, Qld)
U/18 Girls:
1. Amiya Doyle (Coolangatta, Qld)
2. Keely Andrew (Mooloolaba, Qld)
3. Bridget McCulloch (Alexandra Headland, Qld)
4. Brodie Doyle (Coolangatta, Qld)
U/16 Girls:
1. Naomi McCarthy (Currumbin, Qld)
2. Isabella Nichols (Coolum Beach, Qld)