Among the breakers
December 21, 2006
Section: Sport
With Phil Bushby
AUSTI TAKES OUT SERIES
Last year the champion Austinmer boat crew finished equal first in the prestigious fourround Ocean Thunder Surf Boat Series held at Dee Why Beach, but were relegated to second spot after a countback.
However in a thrilling fourth round final on Saturday, the crew of sweep Jack Patison, Aaron Greenhalgh, Sebestian James, Adam Prentice and Steve Drysdale, and fifth man Mark Davies made up for that disappointment by winning the event by a mere one point.
Competing under their sponsors banner, Starrett Austinmer, the 2003 national champions powered home in the final to take the title and so maintain their undoubted status as one of the best open crew in Australia.
RHETT MAKES STATE TEAM
Rhett Russell from Wombarra, a former competitor of the Thirroul SLSC and now competing for the Elouera club, has been selected in the NSW team to contest the 2007 SLSA Interstate Championships in Adelaide.
Rhett has been an outstanding competitor for his club and branch for the past eight years and has been finally rewarded for his consistency over that period.
Meanwhile, Rhett's elder sister Ashley, herself a top surfer, has just received her Bachelor of Arts much to the delight of mum Maree, also a University of Wollongong graduate.
BULLI COMEBACK
New South Wales surf lifesaver of the year, Matt Freeman may be back with the Bulli club sooner then later. The powerful Northcliffe club in Queensland enticed Matt to their club this season, but things haven't quite worked out as planned. Normally only one transfer a year is allowed but the outstanding Freemam may be released on compassionate grounds.
