Trystan Smallacombe creates history. Crowned 2020 Australian Champion of Champions
History was created at Dandenong Club as the 2020 Australian Champion of Champions came to a close this afternoon.
Dawn Hayman (NSW) and Trystan Smallacombe (NT) claimed the respective women’s and men’s titles at the long-awaited event, postponed due to implications of COVID-19 in 2020.
Smallacombe will return home as the pride of the Northern Territory, becoming the first male Australian Champion of Champions victor, and just the second Territorian to have done so, following in the footsteps of Colleen Orr 2017.
He held on for a 21-15 victory over Queenslander Ben Walsh in one of the tightest matches of the event.
The Darwin Club representative edged out Corey Wedlock on points differential and was filled with relief after a tense day.
“I’m stuck for words, I’m so proud of how I’ve played over the last couple of days, it was a real battle of nerves in that last match,” he said.
“The last fifteen minutes before the last match I was extremely nervous, I didn’t eat all my lunch in case I saw it later on.
“It’s the biggest highlight of my career, to have this national success and it’s up there with the five-a-side I won in Moama with some great mates.”
Brownyn Hagger (Katherine BC) in the Women’s Singles also put on a strong showing in a tough field, playing against several Australian representatives. Hagger won her first match against Chloe Morrison (ACT) before coming up against Carla Krizanic in the second round.
