Sandon Point catches a winner

" Scarborough boardrider Jai Martin.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAY SMITH. WWW.WAXHEADS.COM.AU

AUSTRALIA Day saw Scarborough Beach turn on some good waves for the inaugural Scarborough Sevens Competition.

The event was the brainchild of the Scarborough Boardriders Club and involved a variation on the traditional surf teams format with the day long event including other disciplines with teams trying their hand in a round robin of touch football at Jim Allen oval before moving proceedings to the Scarborough Wombarra Bowling Club for some Australia Day ales and a put-put golf tournament.

SANDON POINT CHAMPS

At the culmination of the days events the Sandon Point Boardriders were crowned overall winners taking home $500 in prize money after taking out first place in the putt-putt and strong showings in the surfing and touch footy.

Teams to contest the event included East Corrimal, Garie, Sandon Point, Scarborough, Wollongong, Werri Beach, Norths RLFC and one Wildcard team.

Event organiser Christian Declouett, Scarborough Boardriders President, declared he day a great success with hopes to make the event an annual fixture.

The idea of the event was to get all the Boardriding Clubs of the Illawarra together for Australia Day and also to use the surfing side of the day as a warm up for the Jim Beam Surftag to be held in the Illawarra on Saturday 3rd and Sunday the 4th of February," he said.

Werri Beach veteran surfer Ben Churton was a big fan of the Scarborough Boardriders initiative

"It's all about community and people getting together and enjoying the day before enjoying a beer later on," said Ben

One surfer who found the waves particularly enjoyable on the day was Rod Morgan from the Garie Club, who took home the Prize for Best Surfer of the Day.

Best touch player went to John Pett of Norths RLFC, while Adam Thomas took out the award for most memorable putt after showing a keen eye on the green.

Skipp Surfboards and Calderwood Valley Golf Course proudly sponsored the event.