Australia’s largest offseason competition, the 2024 Down Under Championship (DUC), took place in Wollongong, Australia, last weekend, October 18-20.
- This year, an Elite Pairs division was added to the schedule, which ran alongside the Elite Individuals.
We saw a mix of local and international Games-level athletes competing in both Elite divisions.
Due to inclement weather on Friday, the workout schedule was reshuffled, as the original Day 1 events were to take place outdoors.
- By the close of the competition on Sunday afternoon, all events had taken place, and the winners were crowned.
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Women’s Elite Individual Division
Finishing in first place was the UK’s Aimee Cringle.
- Coming off her impressive rookie performance at the Games in August, Cringle continued to display a dominant performance, finishing the weekend with six top-five finishes, including two event wins.
This is a significant leap up the leaderboard, as Cringle finished eighth in 2023.
Second place went to the American Jessi Smith.
- Smith had a consistent showing all weekend, finishing all seven workouts in seventh place or higher.
Last year, Smith placed second in the Elite Team division.
Australia’s Zimbabwean Christina Livaditakis secured third place with a solid performance throughout the weekend.
After narrowly missing out on a Games spot at the Africa Semifinal, Livaditakis looked like she meant business at DUC this weekend, finishing the competition with five top-five finishes and an event win.
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Final Leaderboard, Top 10
- Aimee Cringle (UK)
- Jessi Smith (USA)
- Christina Livaditakis (ZI)
- Jess Green (AUS)
- Ella Price (NZ)
- Marnie Sykes (NZ)
- Linda Keesman (NL)
- Samantha Pugh (USA)
- Georgia Farrow (AUS)
- Mekenzie Woodhouse (AUS)
Women’s Elite Pairs
Standing on top of the podium in the Women’s Elite Pairs division were Charlotte Baldwin and Julia Hannaford – The Hamster & the Lioness.
- This duo displayed amazing teamwork, coming away with five top-five finishes, including two event wins.
Special mention goes to Hannaford, who finished the weekend with an epic 210-pound, 95kg snatch in the final event.
Nipping at their heels were training pals Daisy McDonald and Australia’s Hayley Adams from Mayhem at the WARC.
- They also had an epic weekend that included five top-five finishes, with two event wins.
Finishing in third place were Christee Hollard and Briony Challis of team True.
- Hollard and Challis stood on the DUC podium in the Elite team division last year and they did it again with a hard-fought battle in the new Elite Pairs division this year.
Final Leaderboard, Top 10
- The Hamster & the Lioness: Charlotte Baldwin and Julia Hannaford
- Mayhem at the WARC: Daisy McDonald and Hayley Adams
- True: Christee Hollard and Briony Challis
- Aus-Merican Gals: Lisa Burrill and Jordan Malm
- Loose Skids: Josie Winfield and Nicole Crouch
- Chocolate Alley: Georgia Welsman and Abby Carvell
- YTG: Amber Koen and Olivia Kelly
- Injustice Transition: Stephanie Papini and Heidi Hughes
- Strong Gals: Emily Julian and Gabriella Napper
- No Biceps No Problem: Rach Toomua Faumuina and Simone Arthur
Men’s Elite Individual
Peter Ellis is now the back-to-back DUC champion in the Men’s Elite Individual division, defending his 2023 title this year.
- The youngster asserted his dominance early and maintained a strong lead throughout the weekend. He finished the competition with six top-five finishes, including two event wins.
Ben Fowler displayed a consistent performance to bring home second place.
- The New Zealander’s lowest finish was eighth, and he ended the weekend with four top-five finishes.
Issac Newman came away with four top-five finishes and an event win to secure third place.
- Newman’s podium finish is his first at a major competition.
Final Leaderboard, Top 10
- Peter Ellis (AUS)
- Ben Fowler (NZ)
- Isaac Newman (AUS)
- Darcy Hancock (AUS)
- Royce Dunne (AUS)
- Jack Monaghan (AUS)
- Luke Fowler (NZ)
- Dante Karangaroa (NZ)
- Thor Hajnal (NZ)
- Ethan van der Velden (AUS)
Men’s Elite Pairs
Consisting of Ricky Garard and Spain’s Aniol Ekai, Team Ape won the Men’s Elite Pairs division by a staggering 100 points.
- Their dominance included six wins from seven events.
Their lowest placing was second in Event 2. Last year, Garard’s team finished second at the DUC.
Finishing second place was Jake Douglas and Jake Marconi of Jakes at Work.
- These HWPO athletes finished the weekend with five top-five finishes, which included an event win.
The only hiccup over the weekend was a 21st-place finish in Event 4, the lunge and handstand walking event.
Calum Clements and Pablo Cazalis of Training Culture won an epic battle with team Change to secure third place.
- The fight for a spot on the podium came down to the seventh and final event, the max snatch.
In the end, the Spaniards from Training Culture secured their podium finish, narrowly edging out the Aussie veterans, James Newbury and Khan Porter, by one point.
Final Leaderboard, Top 10
- Team Ape: Ricky Garard and Aniol Ekai
- Jakes at Work: Jake Douglas and Jake Marconi
- Training Culture: Calum Clements and Pablo Cazalis
- Change: Khan Porter and James Newbury
- Woodham and Lees: Max Lees and Thomas Woodham
- Flax Mahi Dawgs: Aidan Te Wake-Hope and Bryce Shearer
- BaiFit Black: Bailey O’Brien and Marty Strong
- Logan’s Finest: Alex Herewini and Jordy Wilson
- Team Remi/Raw Iron: Nathan Corden and Jadyn Whakatope-Stewart
- Tob&Ben: Ben Hickson and Toby Crouch
2024 Down Under Championship — The Bottom Line
Aussie fans love to see their favorite local CrossFit athletes going head-to-head with big-name international stars, and the DUC provides this unique opportunity on home soil. The introduction of the Elite Pairs division also gave Games-level athletes a fun alternative to the Individual competition.
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Featured image: @stewdunstanmedia / Instagram
