Hillarys First Turns 2026

Inside Flinders Park Community Hall, the start of the 2026 speedcubing calendar unfolded with relentless focus and precision. Situated in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, the venue hosted Hillarys First Turns 2026 on January 4, 2026. The compact community facility provided an intimate stage where 18 competitors tackled 15 rounds across seven distinct disciplines. Solving stations stayed occupied throughout the single-day gathering, offering an energetic environment where seasoned contenders and local enthusiasts alike traded fast turn rates across everything from large mechanical layers to irregular triangular puzzles.

The cubing competition format offered a rapid sequence of events, challenging every participant to adapt quickly across varying puzzle sizes and mechanics. While the classic Rubik's Cube format informs the baseline of competitive practice, the Hillarys First Turns 2026 programme explored specialised corners of the roster. Spectators and participants tracking local 3x3 results found plenty of variety as the schedule moved swiftly between big cubes, edge-turning novelties, and single-handed challenges. Across all seven disciplines, the atmosphere remained steady, practical, and intensely focused on each solve.

Big cubes demanded significant stamina, and Tyler Williams delivered standout performances in both the 6x6x6 Cube and 7x7x7 Cube categories. In the 6x6x6 Cube final, Williams secured the title with a winning average of 1:48.39, backed by a best single effort of 1:43.48, finishing ahead of Jaxon Foster at 1:56.32 and Eshiel Benzion Narayanan at 1:56.81. Williams followed with another commanding victory in the 7x7x7 Cube event, posting a 2:32.76 average to lead Narayanan at 2:42.13 and Jonathan Charlesworth at 2:49.72. The heavy layer manipulation highlighted the discipline required for large puzzle formats.

Jonathan Charlesworth assembled a dominant day of his own, collecting three separate titles across the schedule. Charlesworth captured the 5x5x5 Cube final with a 56.04 average and a 52.16 single, maintaining a clear gap over Foster at 58.13 and Narayanan at 59.62. In the Skewb event, Charlesworth led an 18-competitor field with a 3.88 winning average, holding off Regan Roberts at 4.26 and Foster at 4.47. He added a third gold in Square-1, recording a 12.18 average to top Amy Smith at 12.70 and Williams at 13.93.

Joshua Hounslow showcased exceptional versatility in both Pyraminx and 3x3x3 One-Handed, claiming top honours in both disciplines. In Pyraminx, Hounslow navigated three competitive rounds, securing victory with a 3.39 average and a 2.81 single ahead of Amy Smith at 3.80 and Joel Harrop at 4.36. Moving to 3x3x3 One-Handed, Hounslow managed the complex fingertricks required for unilateral control, securing the title with a 13.14 average. Antoine Quemerais of France took second place with a 13.68 average, while Williams claimed third at 14.02.

Away from the championship tier, personal milestones defined much of the action at Hillarys First Turns 2026. Ryan Ruscitto produced a massive breakthrough in Pyraminx, logging a personal best of 10.50 that improved upon his prior mark by 39.4 percent, alongside his first ever attempt at Skewb with a 10.98. Ameen Nethaka Abhayasinghe took on seven events and generated substantial progress, cutting 36.4 percent off his 3x3x3 One-Handed personal best with a 13.60 and shaving 26.6 percent in 7x7x7 Cube with a 4:24.98. Elodie Smith contested all seven events, securing a 5th-place finish in Square-1 thanks to a 12.88 personal best that was 27.8 percent faster, while also registering a 3:01.38 personal best in 6x6x6 Cube.

Other competitors delivered equally meaningful advances on the competition floor. Clancy Smith logged first ever official attempts in both 5x5x5 Cube at 3:19.66 and Skewb at 17.37, while improving his Pyraminx personal best to 6.48, an improvement of 23.5 percent. Lachlan Manson tackled seven events, lowering his Square-1 personal best by 20.8 percent to 1:24.99. Charlie Topping improved his Skewb mark to 11.09 by 17.9 percent and his Pyraminx time to 10.18 by 17.4 percent. Aaron Edwards earned a 6th-place finish in Skewb while notching personal bests of 4:18.92 in 7x7x7 Cube and 15.54 in 3x3x3 One-Handed. Marco Campitelli took 5th in Skewb and recorded a 4:55.47 personal best in 7x7x7 Cube across his six events.

The single-day meet concluded with Australia taking 20 of the 21 podium places and France capturing one, reflecting an exciting balance of local depth and international presence. From the dedicated speed cubing technique visible across the one-handed solves to the steady mechanical precision in the extended rounds, the gathering demonstrated the rich competitive landscape of the region. As the equipment was packed away at Flinders Park Community Hall, the successful run of Hillarys First Turns 2026 set a high standard for every WCA competition ahead in the new season.