Newsletter 12.5.07
Now into its ninth consecutive year, the Adam Baker Memorial contest was held on Saturday 12th May in a solid 4-5ft easterly swell. Traditionally one of the most sought after titles of the year, the Baker as it is known, is dedicated to the memory of former club member Adam Baker, who passed away on 28th December 1998 form a brain aneurism. Sixty competitors took to the water in 7 divisions contested, and the increase in swell size coincided with an increase in scores across all three judging sheets.
A-grade saw Ryan Alagich make a successful return to QBC competition claiming the title from Jesse Lowe and Ben Hamilton. Fourth place went to Harro who was handicapped by an interference call going against him. Cooper Williams triumphed again in B-grade with Steve Bewely and Tim Manion taking the minor placings. Cooper is in pole position to claim this years B-grade title, and tradition says that the title winner should step up to the ranks of A-grade the following year. If successful in his title bid, will QBC’s best-built B-grader convert to A-grade or remain in his comfort zone!?
A-Grade |
B-Grade |
C-Grade |
O/35's |
1. Ryan |
1. Cooper |
- |
1. Gillespie |
2. Jesse |
2. Steve B |
- |
2. Bruno |
3. Ben H |
3. Tim M |
- |
3. Gordo |
U/18's |
U/14's |
Snr Women |
Jnr Women |
1. Alex B |
1. Mitch |
1. Sue |
1. Cherie |
2. Hamish |
2. Spencer |
2. Courtney |
2. Tori |
3. Kit C |
3. Harry H |
3. - |
3. Sammy |
While still on the contest, it was unfortunate that a large amount of club members surfed in the contest area throughout the day. One A-grader, who will remain anonymous (Fr_ser), was disqualified for interfering with competitors in the O/35’s final, before he competed in the contest. There is a mile of beach stretching from Queenscliff Point to Manly Point, if you cant find somewhere else to surf other than the contest area and you interfere with a competitor you will be disqualified.
The day was followed by a presentation night at the Manly Civic Club with trophies awarded to all seven first placegetters. The awards ceremony was followed by a minute’s silence in memory of Adam, with thoughts flooding back to us of his peculiar surfing style that resembled a penguin. All members who attended took advantage of the $400 placed on the bar by both QBC and the Civic Club, with litres of midori and lemonades (Adams favourite) being consumed well in to the early hours of Sunday.
On to the social scene and it is with great empathy for the single ladies of Manly that I announce the engagement of Ryan ‘Meggsy’ Morris to his partner Paula. Since the age of 17, no man has been as lucky as Meggsy has at walking home drunk from the Steyne Round Bar and still ‘pulling one’ as they say. But all that has changed now that Meggsy took a knee in front of Paula while the pair were holidaying in Fiji. Still on engagements and congratulations to Robert Abernethy and new fiancé Skye who announced their engagement on Saturday 19th May. Single ladies of Manly don’t despair, QBC still has plenty of eligible bachelors in its stables such as Trent, Colla, Harro, Rob Viero, Wyatt Cullum, and the list goes on...
The next club contest is scheduled for Saturday 2nd June, with normal cut-off times applying. If the contest is postponed it will be held on Saturday 16th June, skipping the Queens Birthday long weekend. With the winter months upon us, several members have commitments to other sports such as soccer, rugby, league etc that may clash with their scheduled heat times. QBC is willing to work in with you and your requests so long as no other competitor is put at a disadvantage. What I mean by that, for example, is a heat will be moved forward or delayed as long as all other competitors in that heat are able to surf at the new time.
With State Of Origin underway, members are invited to watch the all three games at the Civic Club. QBC will be putting money on the bar, again, so get down there to watch inter-state rivalry at its best while sipping on free schooners, or midori and lemonades.
See you in the water,
Brad.