Australia's best and most promising young surfers will call the Illawarra region home this week when they contest the 2019 Rip Curl GromSearch National Final.

Over 50 aspiring professional surfers from all over the country will contest the three-day event, which will run from January 14 -16.

Keira Buckpitt from Culburra and Koby Jackson from Lake Tabourie will take part.

After a solid 2019, Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW) is eager to finish her final GromSearch with a bang in the Illawarra region.

"The Rip Curl GromSearch series have been some of the funnest events I've ever competed in and I can't believe that I'll be too old to surf in them after this event," said Ryan.

"In the past, we've got some really fun waves in the Illawarra region, so hopefully it delivers again when the final kicks off. I can't wait."

The main base for the National Final of the Rip Curl GromSearch is Woonoona and Sandon Point with backup locations of Bellambi, Port Kembla and Thirroul.

All competitors are advised to ring the event hotline (0458 247 212) by 6.45 am on the days of competition to confirm location and running order.

The list of previous GromSearch winners illustrates the significant history of the series, with World Surf League (WSL) competitors Gabriel Medina (Brazil), Tyler Wright (Australia), Owen Wright (Australia), Matt Wilkinson (Australia), Jordy Smith (South Africa), Kolohe Andino (USA) and Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia) among the list of former competitors and GromSearch International Final Champions.

The Australian series allows surfers from around the country to compete against their contemporaries in a fun and engaging environment.

Each result in the four-event series is awarded points that count towards a surfer's GromSearch National ranking, giving participants across the country the opportunity to compare their performances against their peers.

After the last event in Queensland, the top-ranked surfers qualify for the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final (in their respective divisions), where they then compete for the chance to become the Australian GromSearch Champion.

The National Champion then represents Australia at the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final, held at a new location around the globe each year, against the best junior surfers from each participating country.

BOWLS

Roadrunners

Twenty four Roadrunners turned out to play bowls last Sunday.

Four games of triples were played with the following results: Harry Williams, Graham Corby and Wayne Drury 19 accounted for Lyn Youren, Wendy Lynn and Bina Fraser 11.

Gary Wisniewski, Bob Field and Paul Barnes played a 17 all draw with Les Dunn, Eric King and Roy Booth.

Ralph Gabbott, Geoff Watson and Bob Brooks 24 outlasted Cathy Wisniewski, Robin Oke and David White 20.

Alan Montefiore, Geoff Travis and Ted Fraser 20 held off Craig Lees, Mike Lynn and Gordon Lang 19.

The lucky winners were Ralph Gabbott, Geoff Watson and Bob Brooks who took home the fresh chickens while the lucky losers were Lyn Youren, Wendy Lynn and Bina Fraser who got half their green fees back.

Next Sunday we will be back to normal bowls with the cards being called for an 9.00 start.

Milton Ulladulla men

Welcome to the New Year, it has not been so good for a lot of people, so all we can do is help those where we can, and think how fortunate we are to have escaped the worst of it.

Talking of helping, this coming Australia Day weekend sees the club putting on a charity bowls day on the Monday public holiday, so keep your eyes peeled and ears open for more information.

This week has seen the beginning of our club championships with the fours being played all week with the results being as follows:- Granger/ Kidson/ Boyd/ Potts def. N. Power/ Pendlebury/ X. Micallef/ Openshaw; Chandler/ Hull/ Bell/ Stevenson def. McLean/ Clark/ Wallace/ Taber; Brumby/ Morton/ Shinton/ Kiff def. J. Power/ Coman/ Cleverly/ Duprez; Granger/ Kidson/ Boyd/ Potts def. Gary Kiff's side; Ogilvie/ Frame/ Baxter/ Neale def. Ridley/ King/ Murrell/ G.James; C. Jamieson/ Hanley/ Fraser/ Wright def. Hathaway/ D.Jones/ A. Best/ A. Barca; Sparkie/ Harris/ Patterson/ Essex def. Jock/ Edwards/ the Python/ Lambourne by one point; Godwin/ J. Jones/ Wootton/ J. Jamieson def. Grassy/ P. James/ Cameron/ Fucile on the last end; Barry Wright's side had a win over Stevo's; and Chris Godwin was victorious over Jimmy Neale.

So that leaves the semi-finals looking like this;- Wright v. Godwin and Essex v. Potts.

Results for the week:- Wed. social:- winners:- John Sparke/ Chris Shinton/ Graeme Carriage; runners up:- Nathan Power/ John Cleverly/ Rob Morton. Fri. social:- overall winners:- Nino Barca/ Rob Cattley 2 wins + 25; runners up:- Kevin Lydiate/ Phill Grabham 2 wins + 9; 1st game winners:- Jeannie Thompson/ Ros Jamieson + 12; 2nd game winners:- Jo Cattley/ Cherilyn Brace +13 Sat. social:- winners:- Nelson Wallace/ Dave Chandler. Turkey trots:- winners:- R.A. Fuller/ John Bishenden/ Simon Read; runners up:- John Kastelein/ Nathan Power/ John Power; lucky door:- Peter Sneddon; bog trophy:- John Taber.

Mollymook men

Bowling at Mollymook Beach started in earnest last Saturday with the first round of the 2020 Club Major Singles. The grass green was back in play and looked surprisingly green, considering the amount of smoke and ash that's been around for weeks and the lack of rain!

Terry Hill was neck and neck to Mark Sommerville for 20 ends thence Mark hit top gear with a string of multiples to win 31/18. Ron Wall was in top form to win 31/15 against Dave Clark; John Wilton took 37 ends to defeat Dave White who after 22 ends lagged John 25/11, a great come-back but to no avail, score 31/27.

Paul Barnes, runner up in this event last year was in great form and won 31/3 versus Geoff Travis who gets full marks for "havingago".

Mike Keegan and Tony Hutchins slogged it out all throughout the match but the Keg prevailed, 31/27 and sadly our 2019 club major singles champion Gary McGuire was blasted early by four-times singles champion Sid Brand to lead 27/13 after 27 ends.

Gary snagged a couple of 3's and a single but again Sid ran in a couple of singles to take the match 31/20.

Finally Ted Fraser won by a forfeit against Mike Lynn who lives at Conjola Park & is in "recovery mode" from the devastating fires there.

A thank you to umpire Ray Flinn and all the first round markers.

NOTE the Major Pairs has been postponed to now commence May 10.

SOCIAL: Half a dozen Lake Conjola bowlers joined us for the Wednesday Triples game.

Spokesman Ian Spiers later said "Conjola was like a war zone... but serious water bombing saved their clubhouse".

Nick King and Paul Barnes won the lucky rink $20 vouchers whilst the lucky unlucky losers were Dave Adamson, Les Dunn and Bob Hanchard who is back with us after an 11 year absence. Friday's Open Pairs again featured Paul Barnes and Krusty Watson who won the $120 prize with 12 points on the five random ends. Rich and Harro won the $15 KENO voucher and shared with opponents Roy and Beavo who invested wisely for them with a return of $86.

The jackpot was not won, will be $960 this Friday (17th)

EUCHRE

Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club

Results for Thursday, January 9

Ladies winner: Val Moore; Runner up: Robyn Gaskin. Mens Winner: Ross Kidson; Runner up: John Swanson

Lucky Door Prize: Robyn Gaskin