I wandered away from the finish line and was set upon not only by Bubba and Bryce, but also by Luci and a few of her friends. Jack ran over and shook my hand.

‘Great race, Mitchell. You’re a champion,’ said Bubba.

He seemed pretty excited by the extra company. Bryce, though, immediately started talking statistics.

‘Not champion yet,’ said Bryce. ‘Mitchell, I think it’s a tie. If you–’

I put a hand on his shoulder and told him that I needed a drink first. Luci produced a bottle of icy-cold water.

‘I kept it for you.’

‘Thanks,’ I said.

‘You’ve earned it,’ she grinned.

I felt a bit embarrassed, but also really proud.

After all the gear had been packed up, we gathered around for the thankyous and the presentations.

Bryce had become quite confused with the scoring, not knowing whether it was going to be a tie for the ironman between Fisk and me or whether one of us would win outright.

If the board ride and swimming were counted as one event, the scoring system meant that I would get ten points and beat Fisk by one point. Jack would also get ten points, which would be brilliant.

But if they were counted as separate events, then Fisk would get five points for the board leg, plus his seven for the beach flags and then another two for the swim leg, which would give him fourteen – one point more than my score.

It didn’t take long for us to find out.

But first there was Mrs Waite to listen to. And boy, did we listen.

‘There has been a good deal of confusion about whether or not the surfing and ironman events will become a part of the overall Sandhurst Legend series for this year,’ she said.

You could have heard a pin drop on the soft sand around us, we were so quiet!

‘Well, after much consideration and discussion,’ she continued, ‘we have decided that the Legend of Surf down here at Rosslare Point will indeed be one of the eight Legend sports for this year.’

There were sighs, groans, claps and cheers all at once.

‘But we’re not going to burden you with the traditional quiz you would normally work through with each sport. Not today, not next Wednesday, nor any other time.’

I think she was looking around for Bryce as she said those last few words. I looked myself. He was about 30 metres away, studying shells or seaweed, totally unaware of what was happening here.

‘And so to our winners,’ said Mr Spears. ‘In the boy’s division, our Legend of Surf is someone new to Sandhurst.’

My excitement grew. Of course, we had forgotten all along about the points I got from the surfing.

‘With a score of 18 points, a big congratulations to Mitchell Grady.’

I got to my feet and made my way out to the front of the group. Everyone was cheering.

I didn’t know whether they were cheering for me, or for the fact that Fisk hadn’t won, but it didn’t matter.

I accepted the small trophy and shook hands with Mr Spears and Mrs Waite.

‘And now the girls. The winner, with a score of 19 points, is Penny Watson. She is our female Legend of Surf for this year.’

Amidst clapping and cheering, Penny walked out to collect her trophy which was presented by Mr Spears.

Cara and Luci were presented with certificates for second and third. Fisk and Chaz Green received their certificates as well.

My mind was pretty blank. Now that it was all done, I was happy but exhausted.

The events of the day finally caught up with me. On the bus heading back to school, I had almost nodded off when there was a yell of, ‘Dive!’ about two centimetres from my ear.

‘Hey, Mitch, it worked a treat, didn’t it?’ said Bubba.

‘What?’ I mumbled.

‘You know, me shouting out “dive” at Fisk just before the finish. He fell for it.’ My mind raced back to the finish. Of course: the yell from the crowd. It was Bubba.

Suddenly a shadow loomed over us. It was Fisk. I hadn’t seen a meaner looking face, ever.

‘Grady, you’re a loser and don’t forget it. I will smash you in every other event this year, starting with the cricket.’

He smirked, then looked at Bubba.

‘As for you, thunder guts, you’ve just put a curse on your life that you’re gonna regret forever. I’m gonna make your life hell and misery. Remember Callan?’

Fisk gave Bubba a shove before he stormed off.

‘Shocking timing, Bubba,’ said Bryce, then went back to his book.

‘W . . . what?’ asked Bubba.

‘Yelling “dive” when you did just then with Fisk walking by.’

‘It was your idea, Bryce,’ stammered Bubba, looking paler than white.

Luci turned round from the seat in front of us. Jack and I looked at each other.

‘So, the next sport in this amazing Legends thingo is cricket?’ I asked.

‘Correct,’ Jack replied.

‘Hey, Bubba, isn’t that your sport?’ I asked him, grinning.

Bubba looked brighter.

‘Yep. As they say, it ain’t over till the fat boy swings!’

Even Bryce gave Bubba a smile with that one!