Saturday May 19th & Sunday May 20th 2007
A safe and enjoyable event...
An eager 14 spearos rocked up to Long Bay, Malabar to contest the NSW State Championship. Looking through the sign on it was a small yet impressive list. Australian representatives Ian Puckeridge, Paul Roso and Peter Walsh, along with many time Kiwi Champion Shane Fitzmaurice, current NSW Junior Champion Matt Toohey from the Neptunes, Far South Coast Champ and multi National representative Gunther Pfrengle and hot shot Gold Coast pelagic hunter Daniel Mann fishing his first ever competition tuning up for his planned assault on the ‘08 National Titles.
Divers swam far and wide and ended up as far South as the ‘graveyard’ near Pussy cat Bay, La Perouse. Divers started to filter back from 12.15 unloaded their fish and jumped back into the bay endeavouring to locate a last minute Bream or Flathead. By 2pm all divers were safely back, fish were iced, bagged and tagged and then transported by trailer to the Dolphins Club house up the road. After some food and beverage the divers sparked up from the cold and the stories began to flow. The weigh in went at a cracking place and it was evident that Pucko was the man to beat with his sterling 17 species and 902pts, this is a rock hop guys 902 points wow! Paul Roso was close behind with 829 and on 92%, best placed of the visitors the improving Ryan Schulter on 64%. The second day was announced at the end of the weigh in to be Boat Harbour at Kurnell.
The field again split pretty evenly north and south, ‘Scuba’ Pete Walsh had cut a mad dash to head out along Merries widest reefs, while Pucko, Roso and Wooly headed north, Pucko eventually swimming beyond Tabbigai and back towing close to 40kg of fish along the way. Mr Roso was heard at sea loudly lamenting swimming over some of Merries finest weed gardens. Scuba had come back just in time sprinting the last couple of hundred metres along the beach to make the sign off, he too was visibly upset at having blown a small Jewie up in the white water of Cosy Corner. The weigh in was conducted right there at the beach, with the competitors fish once again being iced, bagged and tagged. Another efficient weigh in saw the presentation starting before 3.30pm!
Ian Puckeridge is a deserved State Champion, he competed fiercely both over the two days, collecting his sixth individual State Trophy, as well as the Teams Trophy, Most Species ( 21) and Convenors choice fish a Snapper of 1275gm. Paul Roso always consistent at this level again finished bridesmaid with a meritorious runner up finish, Ryan Schulter fishing very well in unknown locations to place third just edging out both Gunther and Scuba Pete by a few percent. Matt Toohey claimed the Fred Nann Junior Trophy for a successive year as well as claiming the C Grade Trophy and the real surprise packet was the Gold Coast Kid Daniel Mann who fished well above his weight having never speared south of Kingscliffe before taking out D Grade and whetting his appetite further for competition come Nationals time next January.
Special thanks to the volunteers, who without your assistance this comp wouldn’t have got off the ground. Thanks to Lee Dalli (Dragons), Peter Claxton(Whalers), Alex Taffs and J Lo (Sea Hawks), Dutchie Holland, Mark Barry, Matt Gibbons, Huffy Montes, Paul Roso (Dolphins), Matt and his dad Paul Cooper(Neptunes). Paul I really appreciated your efforts, you are welcome for a beer at my pub any day. Taffsy, Dutchie and Darky thank you so much for your generosity in making available your boats and Clacko, much appreciate your assistance out on the water looking out for the boys over the two days, Lee your organisational skills are second to none, cheers, lastly to the divers who showed up to compete, you blokes make the State Title what they are, a highly competitive, yet friendly, controversy free competition. I thank you all.
Simon Trippe
NSW Sports Secretary
USFA
Sign on fee: $30.00 — Juniors: $10.00
This is a two day Rock-hopping competition. Handspear division will also be contested.
| Saturday 19th May | Sunday 20th May | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Northern Carpark Long Bay, Malabar |
Announced after Saturday – by 4.30pm |
| Sign-on | 7am Sign on – 7.45am Roll call | |
| Start | 8am sharp | |
| Finish | 2pm Sign-off (There will not be a fish auction on either day) | |
Species are as per Sydney Metro Zone Alliman Shield.
Contact Simon Trippe sportsec@usfa.com.au
Note: Sub-Junior age divers must swim with an adult (over 18 years old) diver at all times; Divers are to be aware of the parking fees of both Long Reef ($15 for the day) and Kurnell ($18); Divers would need to bring coin to Long Reef for the meters. If Sunday is at Kurnell perhaps pool cars to save the coin.