Conroy and Dunton the cream of the crop at Phillip Island

POINT Lonsdale’s Bea Conroy and Mornington Peninsula stalwart Sam Dunton claimed top honours at round one of the Victorian Longboard Titles on Phillip Island over the weekend.

More than 70 of the state’s best surfers took to the water in a bid to claim vital ranking points towards the second round of the series at Point Impossible, and the Australian Titles later this year.

For the Open Men and Women, a spot on the 2024 WSL Bells Beach Longboard Classic is on the line.

Competition started at Shelly Beach (Cat Bay) on Saturday with small clean waves, before shifting to Surfies Point for finals day action.

Amongst a stacked field of competitors, 20-year-old Bea Conroy reigned supreme and looked to have regained the power which saw her win the Open Women’s state title two years ago.

Conroy begun the women’s final with a strong 7.67 (out of a possible 10) and asserted a strong lead from early on.

Reigning state champion Molly Powell (Anglesea) fired back with some magic of her own, a 6.27-point ride, however, was unable to catch Conroy as the heat came to a close.

Eglantine Balland finished in third, while Asha Reeves (Torquay) claimed fourth.

The men’s final was fireworks from the outset, with world tour competitor and in-form surfer Ben Considine (Torquay) kicking it off with a huge carve and a tidy nose ride.

Matthew Shay (Torquay) opened his account with a critical hang five and a drop knee carve to score a 6.27 and take an early lead.

Both Sam and Tasman Dunton (Mornington Peninsula) patiently waited over half the heat to get their first waves but made them count.

As the heat drew to its dying moments, Sam Dunton was able to find a steep right-hander, cross-stepping way to the nose before a searing top turn.

With multiple scores coming in well after the buzzer, it was Dunton who tasted success, scoring a 7.77 point-ride.

Placing in second was Ben Considine, third went to Tasman Dunton and fourth place was Matthew Shay.

Other winners from the weekend included Tim Edwards (Point Lonsdale, Over 40 Men), Eglantine Balland (Over 40 Women, Carrum), Greg Brown (Torquay, Over 50 and Over 60 Men), Carolyn Lalor (Over 50 Women, Apollo Bay), Wayne Yates (Over 70 Men, Armadale), and Sonia Seuren (Under 18 Mixed, Inverloch).

The series now heads to Point Impossible on the Surf Coast in May.

For full results, head to liveheats.com/surfingvictoria