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Talia surfs her way to GromSearch Nationals

Photo: Patrick Bond Photo: Patrick Bond

Talia Tebb in action during the qualifier Talia Tebb celebrates on the shoulders of her father, Nigel Tebb

SURFING Avoca Beach junior surfer Talia Tebb has taken out the Under 12 Girls’ title at the Rip Curl GromSearch National Qualifier and is now guaranteed a spot in the national final, to be held in Melbourne next March.

The qualifier wound up at Merewether on October 2, with the 11-year-old continuing her run of wins, not losing a heat all week on her way to victory.

The win followed Talia’s success in the Under 12s NSW Grommet State Titles at Maroubra Beach on July 25.

She had also taken out the Billabong Occy Grom Competition earlier that month.

“I was very happy to win at the national qualifier, especially because two other girls from my local boardriders club came second and fourth in the same title,” she said.

“I started surfing when I was about three.

“My Dad had always surfed, and I loved it from the start.

“I surf pretty much every day.”

As a member of the Avoca Boardriders club, Talia competes in local competitions every month and would like to one day become a professional surfer.

“I watch the pros perform and I want that to be my future,” she said.

Inspired by female pro surfers, Talia’s favourite is Tyler Wright, who at the age of 14 became the youngest-ever winner of a Championship Tour event, Layne Beachley’s Beachley Classic in 2008.

Wright joined the World Surf League Women’s Championship Tour in 2011 and won World Titles in 2016 and 2017.

“I love watching her surf – I really admire her style,” Talia said.

Also performing well at the national qualifiers for the Coast were Zara Hall, who came second to Tebb in the Under 12 Girls and Olive Morriss who took fourth place.

Both girls also belong to the Avoca Boardriders.

Sienna sets her sights on the Olympics

RACE WALKING With her sights firmly set on a future Olympics selection, Sienna Pitcher of Terrigal continues to make great strides in the competitive field of race walking.

Most recently, the 14-yearold athlete took out first place in the U16 5km event at the Australian Winter Walking Championships, held in Melbourne and winding up on September 11.

“We were lucky with the weather – it was quite sunny and not too windy,” Sienna said.

“I have done quite a few 5km races, but I was really pleased to record a personal best of 24.41 minutes.

“I was definitely striving for the gold, so it was an amazing feeling to win.”

Although Sienna was competing as a single, she was pleased that the team of NSW athletes finished at the top of the competition.

She followed up with an impressive second placing in the U16 3km event at the NSW All Schools Championships on September 27 at Sydney Olympic Park, competing for Terrigal High School.

While the gold wasn’t hers on that occasion, she was thrilled to qualify for the National All Schools Championships, to be held in Adelaide in December.

“I’m excited to race in Adelaide,” she said.

“I have been there before but never competed.”

While she is most comfortable on her home grounds in Sydney, Sienna said tracks countrywide

were fairly standard. She is now training for the official track season, which runs from October through to March next year and is hoping her times at the various events throughout the season will see her make the Nationals. Sienna trains five days a week with Frank Overton at Gosford’s Adcock Park. 138 Robina Town Centre Drive Robina Qld 4226 “It’s a lot of training but you have to train if you want to be PO Box 3275 Robina Town Centre Qld 4230 the best,” she said. Tel: 1300 36 0867 Fax: 1300 81 8962 “The training varies – I could email: artwork@localdirectories.com.au be on a treadmill or outside www.localdirectories.com.au running or biking.” Sienna hopes to compete in the Junior World Championships in two years and then the World Championships, with selection for the Commonwealth Games DQCW SOLICITORS & LAWYERS and the Olympics her ultimate goal. Sienna Pitcher is headed for the National All Schools Championships in Adelaide

Terry Collins

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FOOTBALL The ISUZU UTE A-League season commences on Saturday evening, October 8, at Central Coast Stadium and Mariners coach Nick Montgomery is promising fans a hard fought and passionate F3 Derby match.

Speaking with CCN at the Mariners Area of Excellence this week Monty spoke enthusiastically about the continuing momentum in the team and at the club more broadly.

“Exciting times ahead, it’s been a long pre-season for the boys and we can’t wait to get started.

“We have the youngest team in the league and some of the fittest.

When asked about losing key players such as leading goalkeeper, Mark Birighitti and rising star, Garang Kuol, the gaffa said “Football’s football, some players come and go and that’s the beauty of it”

There’s a definite feel at the club that the team has momentum from last season and Monty said the team will continue to build on that in the coming season.

“Momentum is a beautiful thing – in the pre-season, I said to the boys we’ve had some really good results and now we have to take that into the season.

“Although competition is competition, and the moment you cross that white line it’s game on.

“Hopefully we’ll have ten thousand plus fan at the stadium cheering on the mighty Mariners on this weekend

“We’ve developed a great team culture from last year after many wrote us off and we defied the critics … we only just fell short.”

When asked about veteran Matt Simon retiring Monty said:

“What a fantastic career he has had, [he] crossed over to ‘the dark side’ (Sydney FC) for a while though he came back and saw the light and, to be honest he epitemises everything good in this club and that’s Matty Simon, a big guy with a big heart.

Montgomery also sang the praises of the club employing a series of ex international football legends like Andy Bernal to mentor and guide the young players.

Bernal a 21 cap Socceroo has been given the title of Vibe Manager and is a constant presence at the club keeping everybody focussed and rolling out new internal training projects including a new recovery centre complete with ice baths, saunas and motivational music and reading.

The new ownership structure also seems to have bought a whole new culture to the smallest club in the league.

New owner, Richard Peil, has vowed to invest in the whole club including the Academy and to push to get an A-league Women’s team up and running … and his plans seem to be working.

The Academy is one of the most successful academies in the world currently ranking at number 17 according to senior coaching staff.

For the opening game of the A-League season, Monty was keen to get fans to the stadium saying “why not come along, get off your chairs, get out of your houses and come and support the club and this young exciting team”.

The F3 Derby kicks off the season at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday evening at the family friendly time of 5pm.

Organisers are encouraging football fans and Mariners supporters to purchase tickets or memberships before the game as they are expecting a big crowd.

A-league Season kicks off this Saturday

Head Coach Nick Montgomery is excited

David Abrahams

So Long Matty, and thanks for all the goals

FOOTBALL After 15 years in the A-League, Mariners legend and homegrown hero, Matt Simon, has officially announced his retirement from professional football.

Since he played his first professional minutes against the Newcastle Jets in 2007, Simon has led from the front for the blue and yellow, represented everything the Mariners stand for and bagging an incredible 61 goals (and the odd red card) along the way.

Following a hugely successful 2020/21 campaign where Simon led the Mariners back to the A-League finals, his 2021/22 season was sadly cut short after just one match when the striker injured his neck in an FFA Cup tie against Blacktown City.

“It has been a difficult eight or nine months after getting injured in the cup game,” Simon said.

“I have tried to use the past few months to try and get myself fit and back on the field and it just hasn’t been good enough to get back to where I need to be to give 100% for the team.”

Despite the injury, the Mariners legend is thankful for everything that football has given him.

Arriving to the club as a product of the East Gosford juniors, Simon’s accolades include three premierships, one championship, an FFA Cup and the title of all-time leading scorer for the Mariners.

“The game has given me more than I ever could have imagined – coming into the club at 19, if someone told me that I would be retiring at close to 37 it would have been an absolute dream,” he said.

“To be able to play for my hometown team in the national competition for so long with so many appearances, one of my highlights has been (to be) able to play in front of my family and friends every single home game.

“It has been a great ride with plenty of ups and downs … some successful times and some hard times but I have loved every single second of it, and I wouldn’t change any of it.”

On top of his A-League accomplishment’s, Simon has also represented his nation multiple times, becoming an Olympian in 2008, while twice playing for the Socceroos.

He also spent two years in Korea between his time in the A-League.

From all the editorial team at CCN, congratulations Matty – we will miss the skill, the fire, the leadership, the elbows and the hometown loyalty you brought to the game.

Matt Simon in action in 2021 for the blue and yellow