Central Coast Pro: Molly Picklum beats Macy Callaghan, Matt Banting wins, results
It couldn’t have been scripted better. A rising star of surfing against a fellow local and world tour surfer battling for the main prize at the Central Coast Pro.
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World Tour surfer Macy Callaghan up against Molly Picklum in the final of the Central Coast Pro at Avoca on Sunday.
Former world junior champion Callaghan, chasing her first qualifying series win, was using the event as vital match-practice ahead of the Australian legs of the WSL in April – the Newcastle Pro and the Narrabeen Classic.
MOLLY PICKLUM V MACY CALLAGHAN FINAL
Picklum, who has triple world champion Tyler Weight as a sparring partner in Glen Hall’s coaching Academy, is working to be the next Australian woman to make the world tour in 2022.
But in the 35 minute final it was the teenage Picklum. who prevailed to claim her second crown in the qualification series event.
“I’m stoked. This is so different. Something so unexplainably special,’’ Picklum told NewsLocal Sport straight after the win.
“I look up to Macy. She is such a great competitor.’’
Trailing the more experienced surfer early, Picklum, 18, stayed cool and collect to come form behind to take the victory.
“I have just learned so much this week,’’ she said.
“I was determined not to give up. I was behind for a while for sure but I never felt I was out of the game.
“This is definitely up there with my best achievement.’’
MATT BANTING V JACOB WILLCOX CENTRAL COAST PRO FINAL
Port Macquarie surfer Matt Banting was hoping to make it a NSW cleansweep at the Central Coast Pro on Sunday.
Up against West Australian Jacob Willcox, Banting came from behind to take the win off Willcox in the dying minutes of the decider.
Banting, who has been fighting back from a back injury, was one of the form surfers heading into the final.
“This is great, big time. It’s great to be back,’’ Banting said.
“I didn’t expect this. I’m over the moon.’’
Banting said he knew he was under pressure to produce at the end of the heat.
“The pressure was up and the heart racing for sure,’’ he said.
“I was fist pumping after it. There was a lot of emotion.
“I wanted this. No remembers second.’’
CENTRAL COAST PRO WOMEN’S QUARTER-FINALS, SEMI-FINALS
Picklum made her way into the final against Callaghan with a win over world tour surfer and Olympic bound Sally Fitzgibbons.
Fitzgibbons had earlier beaten Anne Dos Santos from Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Callaghan, who beat India Robinson in the quarters, then went on to beat Freya Prumm to earn her spot in the women’s finals.
ACE BUCHAN TAKES DOWN SURFING SUPER COACH GLENN HALL
On Thursday Adrian “Ace” Buchan took down his own coach and close mate Glenn Hall to go a step closer to his goal of defending his home turf by winning this year’s Central Coast Pro.
The world tour veteran advanced into the round of 32 with his win over Jaggar Bartholomew, Joel Vaughan and Hall – surfing in a WSL event for the first time in five years – in one of the early heats on Thursday.
“It's one of the better days of the year at Avoca. and I was really stoked to be able to get out there and surf a couple of hundred metres from my home against one of my best mates,’’ said Buchan after surfing in four to five foot clean surf.
“It (going up against his coach) sharpened my focus a little bit though.
“We have surfed a lot of heats together over the years and in preparation for the tour so it didn’t feel too foreign to have him out there.
“He showed the next generation it’s important to go out and try things. That’s an important lesson.’’
Buchan said the event was important preparation for the Newcastle Pro and North Narrabeen Classic but his motivation was wanting to win at home in front of family, friends and supporters.
“I wouldn’t enter this event if I didn’t wanted to win. I’m all in on doing that and defending my home turf.’’
SALLY FITZGIBBONS’ PREPARATIONS FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS
Tokyo Olympic bound surfer Sally Fitzgibbons has upped her preparations for the Australian legs of the WSL tour and Tokyo Olympics later this year on a high note at the Central Coast Pro on Wednesday.
Fitzgibbons, who hails from Gerroa on the NSW south coast, posted two excellent rides of 8.25 and 8.15 in her opening heat to beat out youngsters Jasmine Sampson and Jess Starling.
“It’s kind of cool doing these events. They are like the summer events for the tennis before the Australian Open,’’ said the former world No. 1 who has already been selected for the Tokyo Olympics along with Australian teammates with Stephanie Gilmore, Owen Wright and Julian Wilson.
“And the surfers here, they all have the hunger.
“You throw yourself against a multi-generational field wondering if you can keep up with the young ones but I think I’m doing all right.’’
“I surfed the Maroubra comp (last month) and I got bumped a little earlier than I would have liked so I had a little think and a debrief before coming here.’’
SURFERS LIMBER UP FOR WSL’S RIP CURL NEWCASTLE PRO, NARRABEEN CLASSIC
The men’s and women’s QS3000 event is being contested by both up-and-coming surfers and established names like Fitzgibbons, fellow WSL surfer Macy Callaghan and rising star Molly Picklum.
It is also being used a preparation by world tour surfers for the Newcastle Pro over Easter and then the North Narrabeen Classic on the northern beaches in mid April.
With COVID affecting many international events, Australia is now hosting four legs of the WSL series in 2020, with a plan load of international surfers heading to Sydney for quarantine later this month.
WORLD TOUR SURFER MACY CALLAGHAN MAKES IMPRESSION
Callaghan produced an impressive score of 16.35 to win her heat against Arabella Wilson and Sage Goldsbury.
The Avoca surfer said she was delighted to be back in the competition rash.
“It’s really nice to be back in the jersey. I enjoy competition. I enjoy winning,’’ she said.
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RISING SURF STAR MOLLY PICKLUM ON FIRE AT HOME
Picklum made the most of her home break to record a convincing win in her first surf of the Central Coast Pro.
The Terrigal teenager, who free surfed and worked part-time at K-mart last year during the coronavirus stoppage of sport, beat Anne Dos Santos, Lucy Littlechild and Grace Kama in her heat.
“It was really, really fun three to four foot lefts,’’ said Picklum, considered one of Australia’s brightest surfing talents.
Picklum, who often trains against multiple world champion Tyler Wright as part of Glenn Hall’s coaching unit, said she was delighted to be surfing in events with big name surfers.
“My goal this season is to improve my surfing and learn from my lessons,’’ she said.
“It’s just a great opportunity to test yourself against the best when they enter.’’
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