By
Andrew Stackpool
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SQNLDR
Stewart Seeney competes for a place in the Air Force surfing
team at Catherine Hill Bay.
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Photos
by LAC Euan Grant
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WGCDR
Steve Richards
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TWENTY-four
board riders and three reserves have been selected for the 2005
Air Force surf riders’ team.
Difficult surfing conditions with the waves closing out marred
the 2005 Air Force surfing trials, which were held at Catherine
Hill Bay, south of Newcastle on February 11.
The
trials were organised by the Williamtown Surf Riders Club in preparation
for the tri-Service surfing comp that will be held at Bendalong
Beach on the NSW south coast at the end of March.
Leading Aircraftman Euan Grant from RAAF Base Williamtown said
the conditions were disappointing.
“We had sunny weather, it was warm with a wave height of around
1 to 1.5 metres and offshore winds that held the face of the wave
up,” he said.
“It was not very good for the short boards, but almost impossible
for long boarders.”
Twenty-five hopeful surfers tried out for the short-board division.
Competition was tough, with only 16 spots up for grabs. Team captain
Corporal Grant Robinson, also from RAAF Base Williamtown, said
that originally 37 competitors nominated for the trials but some
members were unable to be released by their commanders.
“The team is looking very strong in the short board division,
but it’s lacking numbers and depth in the long boards,” he said.
“We have eight spots but only seven riders turned up for the trials.
The eighth, Group Captain Richard Owen, was unable to attend.
“Eight members from last year’s team are no longer with us, including
last year’s long board champion Corporal Murray Stabler.
“Of the new competitors, the most notable are Leading Aircraftman
Dan Hawthorne, Squadron Leader Matt Hetherington and Squadron
Leader Stu Seeney.
“I think Leading Aircraftman Scott MacCallum will be the main
hope to take out this year’s title along with last year’s finalist
Corporal Tim Galvin.”
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| Short
Board |
Long
Board |
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| CPL
Grant Robinson (captain) |
| GPCAPT
Richard Owen |
| WGCDR
Steve Richards |
| FLTLT
Cameron Douglas |
| SGT
David Turnbull |
| SGT
Mick Moore |
| CPL
Steve Pirotta |
| CPL
Stuart Wilson |
| LAC
Leigh Terwin |
| * |
| Reserves |
| * |
| LAC
Marcus Swan |
| LAC
Matt Long |
| LAC
Troy Stott |
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| CPL
Tim Galvin (vice captain) |
| SQNLDR
Stu Seeney |
| SQNLDR
Matt Hetherington |
| FLTLT
Ben Cole |
| FLTLT
Luke Brown |
| CPL
Andrew Hogg |
| CPL
Richard Goldshaft |
| CPL
Adam Watson |
| LAC
Euan Grant |
| LAC
Brad Spencer |
| LAC
Dan Hawthorne |
| LAC
Adam Rowlandson |
| LAC
Justin Davey |
| LAC
Luke Moore |
| LAC
Scott MacCallum |
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