(Cronulla, NSW – Saturday 21st November, 2009): The best junior surfers south of the Sydney Harbour Bridge wasted no time in showing their talents today at the inaugural Billabong Occ, Stock and barrels event at Cronulla.

All eager to impress the event’s namesake and 1999 ASP World Champion Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo, competitors took to the clean 0.5m waves with vigour.

Leading the charge in the Under 16 Boys was Cronulla local Jesse Horner who blitzed his opening round heat registering the day’s highest wave and heat score. Horner was awarded a 9.17 for a series of powerful forehand hacks which, combined with his second scoring ride of a 7.0, saw him easily progress to the next round ahead of Ben Fitzgerald (Queens Par, NSW) and Harry Bartlett (Maroubra).

“I’m very happy with my heat this morning,” said Horner, “Conditions were pretty fun and I got that right hander that offered me some great sections for turns and I got a great score.”

Horner is extra keen for a good result here in Cronulla, especially with the prospect of surfing in the Grand Final heat against Occy.

“Occy is definitely one of my hero’s and it would be an unbelievable experience to surf a heat against him,” said Horner, “hopefully I can keep up my form into tomorrow and win my division to get into the ‘Occy’ Grand Final.”

In a first for junior surfing in Australia, the winners of the three divisions being contested this weekend – Under 16 Boys, Under 16 Girls and Under 13 Boys – will surf an exclusive Grand Final heat against Occhilupo.

However Horner will have some stiff competition as the event moves into the quarter finals with fellow Cronulla locals Chris Robertson and Jake Scott and Maroubra surfer Jake Scott all notching up dominant Round 1 wins.

Action was not limited to the water however with plenty happening in and around Cronulla. An exclusive ‘Occy signing session headlined the day’s activities with surfers young and old queuing for the legend’s signature.

“I’m amazed by the response to the event here in Cronulla,” said Occhilupo, “It’s always great coming home and I’m stoked to see how much surfing talent is coming through the ranks down here.”

“I’m actually a little nervous at the prospect of surfing the Grand Final against these kids, they’ll probably flog me!”

Quarter Final action is expected to hit the water tomorrow at 8:00am at North Cronulla beach with the ‘Occy Grand Final’ expected to commence at approximately 12:30pm. For the confirmed contest location, please call the Surfing NSW Event Hotline – 0458 247 212 after 6:30am each day of the event.

Scott Steals the day from ‘Occy’ at the Billabong Occ, Stock and Barrels

(Cronulla, NSW – Sunday 22nd November, 2009): It was all about the next generation of surfers today at Cronulla as the beachside suburb’s favourite surfing son, Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo, donned a contest singlet to take on the division winners of his own signature junior surfing contest – Occ, Stock and barrels.

In stifling 40 degree heat and in very small 0.5m waves, Occhilupo faced a big challenge taking on the light-footed trio of Jake Scott (Malabar), Veronica Charles (Cronulla) and Jarrod Szele (Warilla), who had all gained the chance to surf against the 1999 ASP World Champion in the Occy Grand Final by earlier winning their respective divisions.

With waves few and far between at a packed North Cronulla Beach, wave selection and a little bit of luck were critical factors in the ‘Occy Grand Final’ and it was Veronica Charles who opened a narrow lead early over her more fancied opponents.

However her lead was shortly overtaken by Jake Scott who was awarded an 8.0 for a flurry of smooth turns on a rare set wave. Scott then backed this up with a 4.83 to move into a near unbeatable position.

Unfortunately for Occhilupo, the waves didn’t cooperate and he was unable to get any real momentum going in the Final. This however, didn’t seem to bother the surfing legend, who was more focused on being out there for his fellow competitors and even shared his final wave with Scott, who eventually held onto his lead to take out the Occy Grand Final.

“It is an honour to be here in my old hometown surfing with the next generation,” said a satisfied Occhilupo after the Grand Final. “To have the opportunity to give something back to a sport that has given me so much joy for so many years is great and to do it here in Cronulla makes it so special.”

“While conditions were pretty tough out there for me, it was great to surf against all three of the division winners and to see how well they surfed in waves that small is very impressive,” continued Occy.

“The future of Australian surfing is definitely looking bright and it’s great to have some much talent coming from the southern Sydney area.”

For Scott, winning the Occy Grand Final was the icing on the cake on what was a very successful day for the young natural footer, who had earlier won a tough Under 16 Boys Final against Adam Perica (Bronte) and Cronulla pair Jesse Horner and Chris Robertson.

“I’m so happy to have surfed a heat against ‘Occy’, said Scott. “He is a surfing legend and to not only have the opportunity to surf a heat against him, but to actually beat him is incredible – I will remember this day for the rest of my life!”

“It was such a great comp and I stoked with my result,” continued Scott.

Finishing behind Scott in the Under 16s Final was Perica in second, Horner in third and Robertson in Fourth.

The under 16 Girls division was won by Cronulla surfer Veronica Charles who overcame runner-up Rachel Campbell (Stanwell Park), with April Charles (Cronulla) third and Amelia Croucher (Cronulla) in fourth.

The Under 13 Boys division was taken out by a dominant Jarrod Szele (Warilla) with Harrison Martin (Cronulla) in second, Jackson Giles (Matraville) in third and older brother Joshua Szele (Warilla) in fourth.

The next event on Billabong’s calendar is the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, which will take place at North Narrabeen from 9-17 January, 2010 and will see the world’s best male and female surfers aged 20 and under do battle for an ASP World Junior Title.

The Billabong Occ Stock and Barrels is proudly supported by Sony, VW, Honda Aquatrax, Sutherland Shire Council and Surfing NSW.

OCCY GRAND FINAL

1st – Jake Scott (Malabar)

2nd – Jarrod Szele (Warilla)

3rd – Veronica Charles (Cronula)

4th – Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo (

Under 16 Boys

1st – Jake Scott (Malabar)

2nd – Adam Perica (Bronte)

3rd –Jesse Horner (Cronulla)

4th – Chris Robertson (Cronulla)

Under 16 Girls

1st – Veronica Charles (Cronulla)

2nd – Rachel Campbell (Stanwell Park)

3rd –April Charles (Cronulla)

4th – Amelia Croucher (Cronulla)

Under 13 Boys

1st – Jarrod Szele (Warilla)

2nd – Harrison Martin (Cronulla)

3rd – Jackson Giles (Matraville)

4th – Joshua Szele (Warilla)