Newsletter 14.4.07
Saturday 14th April was the date of the third contest of the 2007 QBC season. The BBQ sizzled as 57 competitors tussled with an inconsistent 2-5ft southerly swell that broke hard on a straight bank out the front of the showers. While most competitors found scoring waves hard to find in the difficult conditions, the performances of two juniors stood out on a day that had most juniors waiting for a high tide shore break.
Young charger and new committee member Daniel Karen was the stand out surfer throughout the heats and semis of both A-Grade and U/18’s. After claiming the U/18’s title from The Drake and Alex B, Daniel had his sights set on a rare double attempting to take out the A-Grade final. Standing in his way were Jack, Jesse and Ben H, and after the judging sheets were tabulated Daniel came within 2 points of claiming the double. Jack tore apart the conditions on his way to winning the final and has put himself in a strong position for the yearly pointscore, earning two seconds and a first in the three events contested.
The U/14’s saw another stand out performance by March contest winner Spencer Price. Of the 9 grommets competing in this division Spencer was the only surfer to venture out the back, and was rewarded accordingly by the judges. Spencer beat home Mitch Forsyth and identical twin’s Tyler and Blaise Bell (or was it Blaise and Tyler). Like Jack in A-Grade, Spencer is sitting in the box seat for the pointscore with two firsts and a fourth against his name.
With the highest number of competitors in the contest, B-Grade came down to a final consisting of two new members, a globetrotting chef with a nickname relating to his appendage and a guy who cant afford to buy t-shirts. Peter Richter and Andrew Walker (apparently returning to the competitive arena after a 2 year recreational drug ban) were the new members, Smally was the guy with the appropriate nickname and Cooper was the fella who spends all his disposable income on gym membership and tanning oil. After breaking his board in the heats, Smally was disadvantaged in the final riding a foreign board and was unable to deny Andrew Walker victory in his first contest. Peter and Cooper took the minor placings in a tight final.
The 0/35’s surfed a straight out final with newlywed Bruno Cav mastering the tricky conditions taking the points from TM and Graham Newman. Spudlett was unable to surf after undergoing major surgery on his troublesome pinky finger. We all wish Spudlett a speedy recovery, and hope he doesn’t end up retiring like his NRL equivalent Andrew Johns.
A-Grade |
B-Grade |
C-Grade |
O/35's |
1. Jack |
1. Andrew W |
1. Dave |
1. Bruno |
2. Daniel K |
2. Smally |
2. Nathan |
2. TM |
3. Jesse |
3. Peter R |
3. - |
3. Graham |
U/18's |
U/14's |
Snr Women |
Jnr Women |
1. Daniel K |
1. Spencer |
1. - |
1. - |
2. The Drake |
2. Mitch |
2. - |
2. - |
3. Alex B |
3. Tyler |
3. - |
3. - |
The day was made even better with Oporto Manly generously donating 40 Bondi burgers to our club. Rumours are circulating that the producers of the chickens and burgers with the ‘legendary sauce with irresistible force’ are keen to sponsor our great club by providing us with more burgers and discount cards to be used at there Manly store. All members who were around during the finals took advantage of Oporto’s donation and we look forward to hopefully forming a strong relationship the industry leader in fresh grilled chickens and burgers.
The next event on the QBC Calender is the Adam Baker Memorial Contest, to be held on Saturday 5th May (normal cut-off times apply). Adam was a long-standing member of QBC until a brain aneurism cut short his life on 28th December 1998, age 27. Adam had a unique surfing style, judged by some to resemble a penguin, and is sorely missed by his family and friends. The contest is dedicated to the memory of Adam and is hotly contested each year by all club members. An Awards Presentation will be held at the Manly Civic Club on the evening of the contest starting at 7.30pm, and as usual QBC will be putting money on the bar for its members.
Finally, a huge thank you to Graham Newman for designing and producing our new website. Feedback we have received from members has been very positive. More photos and the pointscore will be uploaded shortly and if you have any ideas that you think may enhance this site please email us with your thoughts.
See you in the water,
Brad.