The Novocastrian youngster was behind for much of the event at Coffs Harbour, and trailed Avalon’s Arch Whiteman towards the back-end of the heat, but Hartge was able to surge back into the top spot thanks to a 6.93 wave score.

The respectable haul slingshot him back into the lead, and left Whiteman claiming second in the 16-and-under round after Hartge finished on 14.1 to the Coffs local’s 14.0.

Whiteman led Culburra Beach’s Beau Buckpitt’s 13.57, as well as Olly Bolton from Copacabana on 8.73.

Also in the 16-and-under winner’s circle was Summa Longbottom, who claimed the girls division with a narrow lead over Gold Coast surfer Shaye Leeuwendal with a 6.00 wave score.

For the Hunter Valley, one other competitor earned a spot in the top four – Ocean Lancaster from Merewether placed fourth in the 10-and-under boys division with an 8.67 wave score.

Although the 8.67 was a decent result in some categories, the top spot went to local Coffs Harbour representative Will Martin, who bagged himself a 19.00 result ahead of Noosaville’s Mitchell Peterson on 10.1 and Taj Air from Thirroul with 10.03.

In the end, more than 200 competitors surfed across nine divisions in the five-day junior event.