By
WOMT Ken ‘Smiley’ McPherson
The inaugural NSW Interservice Surfing Championships, hosted by
RAAF Williamtown, will be held at One Mile Beach, Port Stephens
from April 21 to 23.
It will be the premier sporting event for Navy longboard and shortboard
surfers this year, with a 24- man team taking part.
The competition for team inclusion has seen some explosive surfing
by both short and longboarders, all very energetic and excited
at the prospect of representing Navy in this primo event.
The
Navy team was selected on March 31 and includes eight longboarders
and 16 shortboard riders.
Many interested surfers were unavailable, however the Navy surfing
fraternity is well represented through their team.
They are: LCDRs Al Brown (OIC), Denes Illyes and Steve Penny,
APS Mr Mick McBay, LEUTs Aaron Burrows and Corrie Redman, WO McPherson
(Team Captain), PO Tye Cronin, LS Jamie Hagan and Nathan Softley,
AB Benn Dawson, Mick Dine, Paul Bishop, Nathan Adamson, Sean Bekkers,
Brent Cross, Arron Ibbett, Thomas Leworthy, Robert Paterson, Chantelle
Ryan and Matt Richards, SMN Adam Cross, Jordan Dank and Mathew
Withers.
Surfing within Navy has passed a most difficult path, not being
readily accepted in most quarters and often struggling to group
together more than half a dozen people at a time.
It’s hoped that the Interservice Championships will build
a more viable future for the sport.
