North Shelly gunning for back-to-back titles at the Australian Boardriders Battle teams event

The defending champions will go into this year’s Boardriders Battle with a big target on their backs. But with a star-studded team, the Central Coast club aren’t fazed one bit.

When the team from North Shelly Boardriders Club make the hour and a bit journey north to Newcastle for the final of this year’s Australian Boardriders Battle this weekend, something will have changed.

After years of coming close and just falling short, including a couple of second-place finishes in recent times, the Central Coast club will enter the final as defending champions for the first time. The hunters will become the hunted.

But despite the fact that they’ll have a big target on their backs, North Shelly president Cameron Sharpe says the strategy won’t change.

“No, it’s the same approach,” says Sharpe. “They’re all ready to go.”

If recent form is anything to go by, it seems that is exactly the right thing to do.

Shane Holmes will surf for North Shelly this weekend. (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

In an ominous warning sign, North Shelly combo’d the rest of the field at the Central NSW regional qualifier in November to take out the final and book its spot in the national final.

“They’re feeling pretty confident,” says Sharpe. “It’s almost the same team (as last year), apart from Macy (Callaghan), who’s on the world tour now. But we’ve got Zoe Ifield who surfs amazing as well.”

He added: “There are no weak links in the team, they’ve done the work now, so there really aren’t too many nerves.”

Zoe Ifield comes into the team for Macy Callaghan. Picture by Mark Scott

Speaking of the team, 19-year-old gun Joel Vaughan, who was impressive in 2022 on the second-tier Challenger Series, and QS veteran Shane Holmes have been selected as the open division surfers.

Zoe Ifield comes in to replace Macy Callaghan – who is currently in Hawaii for top tier season opener at Pipeline – as the female surfer, Joel Vaughan’s younger brother – 16-year-old Hughie – will be the junior surfer, while local legend, former QS surfer and two-time national Indigenous champion Russ Molony will be the masters surfer in the team.

“Russ controls it. He’s the boss, he gets them all ready. He’s 46, and he’s gets them so switched on and ready for action,” says Sharpe.

Russ Molony will lead the charge for North Shelly this weekend. Picture: Ethan Smith.

Like a number of clubs, North Shelly’s line-up could be even stronger, with members Callaghan and Molly Picklum currently in Hawaii competing on the top-tier WSL Championship Tour.

“Three years ago we surfed two women, which I think is the first time any team has ever done it. And we came second that year,” says Sharpe.

The embarrassment of riches is a sign of the high quality of surfers at North Shelly, although Sharpe notes that it doesn’t necessarily happen automatically.

“We do a lot of coaching and training,” he says, pointing to the work done by Ian Vaughan, whose four sons – Kurtis, Zach, Joel and Hughie – all surf for the club.

“The Vaughans have been awesome. Ian Vaughan had them out there pretty much every day and pretty much dedicated his life for the last 10 years to the younger ones.

“These two (Joel and Hughie) in particular have really stepped it up – they’re world class. So there’s a lot of dedication from him.

“And Shane (Holmes) is the same. He surfs for 18 hours a weekend. He doesn’t come in if it’s good – he’ll surf for 10 hours straight!”

Vaughan brothers (L-R) Zach, Joel and Hughie, pictured back in 2019. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

But North Shelly isn’t the only club in the region with some handy surfers, with Avoca also qualifying for the final.

“The whole Coast is full of talent,” says Sharpe. “Avoca have had all their top guys on tour for the past 15 years, they had three on at one stage, so there’s just some unbelievable talent. And they have a really good crop of young guys coming up as well.”

And while the clubs still have a healthy rivalry, Sharpe says it has taken on a different feel in recent years.

“I’m 47 and used to compete for the club, and it was hatred back in the day – it was full-on.

“Now I’m mates with the guys who run their club and it’s all more civilised. At all the teams events we go out and drink together, but it was pretty brutal back in the day – an awesome rivalry,” he said.

“Right now I think we’re pretty much on par. We’ve both got good depth and good old guys, it’ll be a good battle.”

Shane Holmes and Russ Molony will be key this weekend.

With no Hunter clubs in this year’s final, North Shelly will be the defacto home team this weekend in Newcastle.

And as they go for back-to-back titles, the club knows that regardless of what happens, they’ll have plenty of fans making the trip north to cheer them on.

“We definitely have the biggest support. We get 200 people turn up on the day. Even (local club) Merewether don’t get that many,” says Sharpe.

“We’ve got about 20 families going up to stay for the weekend.

“Everywhere we go that happens… Win, draw or lose, we still support the club.”