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GILLARDS Beach, north of Tathra, was the spectacular setting for the weekend’s Tathra Boardriders Classic.
While whales frolicked on the horizon, around 90 keen surfers competed in the Tathra Sunshine Club’s annual surfing event – formerly called “The Cooge”.
The Classic is held in memory of local surfers Bruce “Cooge” Meaker, Jimmy Parbery and Ned O’Sullivan.
Sunshine Club vice-president Craig Waugh said the conditions were “pretty good” for the Saturday heats with beautiful sunshine and a light offshore breeze.
However, the swell had picked up nicely for Sunday’s finals in similar weather conditions, offering riders some bigger waves on which to test themselves.
“It makes it interesting for surfers and spectators when the swell is up,” Sunshine Club president Michael Clarke said.
Grant Vine was declared the winner of the Cooge Shield, presented based on overall points from all heats.
He was closely followed by Greg Beattie and former winner Ryan Hanrahan.
Vine was also the open category winner, with Hanrahan and Beattie in second and third.
“Living Legend” Bill Aliendi won the Ned O’Sullivan Shield for winning the category for over-50s, followed by Bernie Langford and Terry Dixon.
The Jimmy Parbery Award – or The Charger Award as Clarke said it’s is also known – went to Dax Toohill, while former Tathra boy and now world-ranked ASP surfer Kai Otton claimed honours in the Cooge board section – where competitors ride surfboards shaped by Meaker.
Other results:
Veterans: Adam McCabe, 1; Craig Waugh, 2; Pete Smith, 3.
Juniors: Nelson McLeod, 1; Finn Crowley, 2; Hallam Brichacek, 3.
Girls: Kiah Carter, 1; Renia Korvin, 2; Sam Crowley, 3.
Cadets: Oli Clarke, 1; Levi Carter, 2; Jack Crowley, 3.
Micro groms (non-competitive): Loulla Boulton, Chloe Jones, Elka Clarke, Aysha Kelly, Shea Kelly, Mia Waugh, Sunny Leung, Oliver Meaker and Jet Parbery.