Women’s Final
Opening the women’s heats with a total of 46 competitors, the field was quickly whittled down to just four finalist, the competitions best surfers provided with a window of thirty minutes to showcase their skills in rapidly improving conditions at Snapper Rocks.
Home break representative Charlotte Mulley, Mermaid/Nobbys/Miami Boardriders Ellie J Brooks, North Shore’s Keely Andrews and North Shelly’s Macy Callaghan traded scoring barbs during the opening minutes as the incoming tide and swell provided the most competitive conditions of the day.
After dominating her two heats, Macy Callaghan set the tone in the decider, her 8.17 point ride catapulting the Burleigh Single Fin champion into the lead ahead of Keely.
While Andrews relentlessly chased waves and the lead, it was Ellie J Brooks who worked her backhand and impressed the judges with a 4.93 point ride to momentarily claim top spot.
With five minutes left, the orange flag was hoisted and Macy Callaghan continued her weekend domination, a 5.77 point ride with just sixty seconds on the clock securing top spot and the $7,000 winners cheque.
Keely Andrews finished second claiming the $4,000 runners up cheque, Ellie J Brooks walked away with third place and $3000, while Charlotte Mulley is $2000 richer and the fourth place getter at the 2022 Usher Cup.
Men’s Final
Starting with 97 competitors, the Usher Cup final four was achieved through a battle of endurance which saw each of the finalists successfully navigate 5 heats over the two days. The men’s final saw North Narrabeen’s former WSL surfer Nathan “The Hog” Hedge up against last year’s runner up Jaggar Bartholomew and fellow Snapper Rocks entrant Sheldon Simkus and Noosa’s Ben Lorentson.
Midway through the heat, Hog initiated a paddle battle and claimed the lead with a superb ride and score of 7.83 which was announced as the final hit the fifteen minute mark.
With a first up score of 4.23, Sheldon added to his tally, securing successive 7.07 and a 7.70 rides to claim the lead, sending the snapper rocks faithful into a frenzy as he wrapped one hand around the $7000 winners cheque.
The ever young Nathan Hedge took out second place ahead of Jaggar Bartholomew (third) with Lorentson finishing in fourth place.
Super hosts Snapper Rocks Surfriders claimed the Usher Cup club title, with North Shelly coming in second and North Narrabeen third.
Best Spirit of the Usher Cup went to North Shelly, Highest Wave Score went to Torquay’s Xavier Huxtable with Cooper Chapman taking out Best Aerial.
For more usher cup news visit www.ushercup.com