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Current Billabong Jnr Series 1996 & Aust Championship Circuit Winner + All Girls Champ for the past 2 years The All Girls Surfriders Club was founded by Keryn Monaghan, Kellie O'Brien and Max Perrot in April, 1992. Lennox Head beach breaks were the venue for 66 female surfers from the Far North Coast area who rocked up to a "Have a Go Day" which was the highest recorded number around Australia. Little did we realise the impact that this day would have on the future of women 's surfing in this area. The following month we formed the club with 80 members from our regional base: Evans Head to New Brighton and includes Ballina, Lennox Head and Byron Bay. As Secretary from the club's inception it has been interesting to note that membership is always around the 80 mark although the actual members change by at least half. Over the years I 've seen a lot of females with a big interest in the sport of surfing. In 1996 we have four divisions - Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced and Malibu. The season starts in February and finishes in November during which time 10 contests are held with rated points. Two of the club contests are sponsored by the surf industry, including local shops and offer prizes to draw top competitors. Membership is $20 per year in which all members receive a monthly newsletter which is sent out after each club round informing them of results, up coming events and any other news relating to surfing in general. Due to such an overwhelming response from women of all ages, our youngest member being 9 years to our oldest at 50 we decided to set ourselves some goals. After being up and running for only one year we decided to bring together women surfers together from all over Australia to compete in the first ever womens Pro Am. After months of preparation and ground work done by all three of us we were lucky enough to secure sponsorship from All Above Board Surf Shop at Lennox Head and Fandango Swimwear of Yamba with prize money to the value of $2000 and prizes worth $5000 from the surf industry and business houses in Ballina, Byron and Lennox Head. There were six divisions which gave a wide range for contestants of all ages and skill to choose from. With 91 competitors it made the All Girls Surf Showdown the biggest girls comp in Australia by a mile. In 1996 we have reached the ultimate in the history of the "Showdown" by raising the contest to a 1 star World Championship Tour event with US $2,500 in prizemoney and at least $5,000 in prizes for divisions other than the Professional women. The All Girls Surfriders Club secured television and newspaper sponsorship for the event - Channel Ten placed sixty 30 second ads in the ten days prior to the event of hot surfer girls shredding. The contest was sponsored by : All Above Board, Fandango, Aloe Up Suncare, The Lennox Point Hotel and Coca Cola.Needless to say the waves were fantastic and the competition very inspiring. The underground word is that the All Girls Surf Showdown is the best run and most enjoyable event that the travelling surfers attend. Watch out for more info on this years event...coming soon to this site. The Club were also finalists in the 1994 Prime Ministerial Women in Sport Awards for their contribution to womens ' sport in the Sporting Organisation initiatives category. The club is extremely proud to be recognised in the esteemed Surfing World publication in a 12 page article solely devoted to girls on the Far North Coast. Terry Willcocks wrote and procured the excellent photographs from his files for the article and made a fine job of it. The club is considered by Australian Surfing officials to be the largest womens surfriding club in Australia and the world and agree that the All Girls Surf Showdown is the largest participation to a contest from women in the history of surfboard riding. Regards, KELLIE O 'BRIEN 
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