Surfing New South Wales

Australian Skin Cancer Clinics NSW Longboard State Titles 2012

Local Longboarders Crowned as NSW Champions

Saturday, 23 June 2012

PORT MACQUARIE (Saturday 23rd June 2012): Wrapping up a mammoth 6 days in Port Macquarie for the Australia Skin Cancer Clinics NSW Longboard State Titles, 13 champions are crowned and TEAM NSW is decided for the Australian Surf Festival.

The local contingent spread themselves across six finals and taking the coveted open mens crown was no easy task. Defending champion Jared Neal (Coffs Harbour) and Corrimal longboarder Nick Farago, were up against locals Ian Bell and Darren O'Rafferty.

Opening with a pearler set on the hooter the open men wasted no time tucking into the waves which seemed few and far in between during the day. Ian Bell set the bench-mark with a 8.83 (out of a possible 10), showing the trademark laybacks judges had seen all week.

Jared Neal quickly answered back and Nick Farago set an impressive 7.00 on the score board early. With two smaller scores on the board Darren O'Rafferty need to pull out something big to take the title and the Ex ASP World Tour Surfer didn't disappoint.

The natural footer looked comfortable on the right-hander and tucked deep into a barrel on the wave of the day. As if that wasn't enough, O'Rafferty popped out to continue with the wave into the reform displaying a few cut backs and ending with a nice lay back to cement the events only perfect 10.0 ride.

Competitors continued to answer back and chase the title, but when O'Rafferty pulled out a nose ride that glided right through to the beach and tallied up a combined heat total of 17.67 it looked to be his year as champion and was crowned 2011 NSW Open mens winner.

In the open womens it was a jousting affair between the states best ladies. Defending Champion Erin Dark (Gerringong), 2011 runner up Claire Norman and under 18 contenders Kirra Perry (Scotts Head) and Roisin Carolan (Binna Burra) went head to head.

The jam packed final saw scores drop throughout and with two minutes to go Dark had her competitors in a combination situation after a 9.67 ride. Darks lead held up and won back to back titles in the open womens with Perry, Norman and Carolan placing 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

Surfing with 83 years behind him, Norah Head competitor Magoo (Barry McGuigan), is heading to the Australian Titles with division winner Danny Bond (Blue Bay) and 2nd place getter Phil Nicol (Curl Curl). The close over 65's final saw old friends and Central Coast surfing buddies Bond and Magoo surf together yet again.

"We had a lot of waves, (in the final) they all broke on my head! We have surfed together many times in the Central Coast Malibu boardriders club, we occasionally meet at all the Malibu contests in Noosa and Crescent, all the contests", said Magoo.

Keeping fit and staying so young is part and parcel for these guys, who continued to hang FIVE and TEN in the over 65 final at North Haven Beach today.

"There's an allure about the ocean, it's something that we do reasonably well and it's just an invigorating sport. It's not as if we are attracted to the bikini clad women on the beach, ha ha ha".
"The air is fresh, It keeps you young", said McGuigan who is the oldest competitor in the Australian Skin Cancer Clinics NSW Longboard State Titles.

Danny Bond left Port Macquarie as the over 65 mens NSW champion and took second place in the over 60's behind surfing legend Alan Atkins (Suffolk Park), leaving local Peter Hudson in 3rd an David Wilson (Mollymook) in 4th.

The younger divisions made the most of the early morning clean waves at North Haven. Surfers as young as 14 competed this year in the under 16 boys and the under 18 girls competitors doubled up in the open womens final.

Kai Ellis-Flint (Ettalong Beach) took first place in the under 18 boys over Kurt Wilson (Port Macquarie) in a close second, Hugh Daugaard (Green Point) in 3rd and William Crowe placing 4th. Madi Daugaard (Green Point) had a shot in the under 18 girls and mixed under 16's, the tough junior division brought Kurt Wilson (Port Macquarie) out on top, Callum Glover (Skenners Head), Declan Wyton (Annandale) and Jaya Guy (Valla Beach), in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place respectively.

Australian Skin Cancer Clinics have been giving out FREE Skin Cancer Check Vouchers to all Surfing NSW Members at the State Longboard Titles and Janine was on hand to answer any questions competitors had in regards to regular skin checks.

The annual event has seen competitors travel from all corners of the state to enjoy a week long competition and well over due catch up with friends. The Town Green Inn is the official competitors venue and will host a function on Thursday night for all competitors and their families.

The event will be fully mobile in the Port Macquarie area with Town Beach, Rainbow Beach, Grants beach, Flyns Beach, Light House and North Haven Beach all venue options. The daily Running Schedule and Contest location will be confirmed on the Event Hotline (0458 247 212) after 7:00am each day of the event.

The Australian Skin Cancer Clinics NSW Longboard Titles 2012 is proudly supported by VB, Port macquarie Hastings Council, Town Green Inn, Essential Energy, The NSW Longboard Assication and Surfing NSW.

For Press releases, and photographs please contact Renee Miller: renee@surfingnsw.com.au or follow us on facebook/snsw for the latest updates.

RESULTS
Open men
1st: Darren O'Rafferty (Bonny Hills)
2nd: Ian Bell (Bonny Hills)
3rd: Jared Neal (Cofffs Harbour)
4th: Nick Farago (Corrimal)

Open women
1st: Erin Dark (Gerringong)
2nd: Kirra Perry (Scotts Head)
3rd: Claire Norman (Bondi)
4th: Roisin Carolan (Binna Burra)

Over 65 men
1st: Danny Bond (Blue Bay)
2nd: Barry McGuigan (Norah Head)
3rd: Phil Nicol (North Curl Curl)

Over 60 men
1st: Alan Atkins (Suffolk Park)
2nd: Danny Bond (Blue Bay)
3rd: Peter Hudson (Port Macquarie)
4th: David Wilson (Mollymook)

Over 55 men
1st: Garry Taylor (Bonny Hills)
2nd: Peter Becker (Palmvale)
3rd: John Murray (Valery)
4th: Ric Chalmers (Potsville Beach)

Over 50 men
1st: John Skinner (Mt Warigal)
2nd: Ross murphy (St Georges Basin)
3rd: Glen Mahoney (Emerald beach)
4th: Ron Schneider (Sawtell)

Over 45 men
1st: Richard Smith (Sawtell)
2nd: Hayden Swan (Yamba)
3rd: John Skinner (Mt Warigal)
4th: Cameron Thompson (Eungai Rail)

Over 40 men
1st: Cameron Thompson (Eungai Bay)
2nd: Richard Smith (Sawtell)
3rd: Sean Dry (Dee Why)
4th: Tim Hutton (Newport)

Over 35 men
1st: Ben Dickens (Lennox Head)
2nd: Craig Munro (Port Macquarie)
3rd: Sean Dry (Dee Why)
4th: Grant McKenzie (Bonny Hills)

Over 35 women
1st: Debbie Allan (Canton Beach)
2nd: Vivienne Creswell (Collaroy)
3rd: Kim McMahon (Bondi)
4th: Elizabeth Murray (Smiths Lake)

Under 18 Boys
1st: Kai Ellice-Flint (Ettalong Beach)
2nd: Kurt Wilson (Port Macquarie)
3rd: Hugh Daugaard (Green Point)
4th: William Crowe (Collaroy)

Under 18 Girls
1st: Kirra Perry (Scotts Head)
2nd: Roisin Carolan (Binna Burra)
3rd: Madi Daugaard (Green Point)

Under 16's
1st: Kurt Wilson (Port Macquarie)
2nd: Callum Glover (Skenners Head)
3rd: Declan Wyton (Annandale)
4th: Jaya Guy (Valla Beach)