Malibu surfers reach finals

Three surfers represented the Ocean Beach Malibu Club at the 2013 Noosa Festival of Surfing conducted at First Point, Noosa, from March 10 to 16 with all three reaching the finals of their respective events against long boarders from all over the world.

Kai Ellice-Flint won the Old Mal division against seasoned competitors and placed third in the U18s.

Tom Payne, 14, claimed fourth place in the under-15s final while newcomer to the OBMC, John Gill, placed third in the final of the over-40s despite recovering from a broken wrist.

In other events, the OBMC held its first point score contest for the year at Umina Beach on Sunday, February 24.

Wild seas and strong onshore winds in the days leading up to the contest had everyone assuming the competition would be postponed but a light NNE breeze cleaned up the water surface and the swell dropped to around head high.

John Gill, in his first contest with the OBMC, showed he was going to be in contention for the 2013 championship title, untroubled in winning both rounds from last year's champion Garry Halliday and Tom Payne in third place ahead of Chris Irwin, Craig Coulton and Brian Cook.

Marty Skewes, who returned to the club after a year's absence, claimed victory in the seconds while Matt Sing easily won the thirds.

Ben Scully-Hawkins made up for a disastrous first round heat by winning the fourths while another member surfing his first contest with the club, John Wilson, was successful in the fifths with Peter Wellington winning the sixths.

The full results for the contest were:

Round one, heat one: Garry Halliday, Martin Skewes, Matt Sing, Greg McKilliam, John O'Malley and Peter Wellington.

Heat two: Craig Coulton, Sean Cornwall Richie McClelland, Ben Scully-Hawkins, Tony Irwin and Daryl Anderson.

Heat three: John Gill, John Payne, Angus O'Malley, Hayden Wellington, Brent Olsson and Callum Baker.

Heat four: Kai Ellice-Flint, Matt Kirby, Ron Stockings, Angela Goodwin, John Wilson and Mark Shaw.

Heat five: Chris Irwin, Chris Taylor, Mick Day, Dave Wirth, Dave Moulton and Paul Viron.

Heat six: Tom Payne, Lachlan Mackay, Craig Palmer, Matt Cornwall and Wylie Gill.

Heat seven: Brian Cook, Mark Rylands and Bill Burke.

Round two, heat one: John Gill, Garry Halliday, Tom Payne, Chris Irwin, Craig Coulton and Brian Cook.

Heat two: Martin Skewes, Sean Cornwall, Mark Rylands, Chris Taylor, John Payne, Lachlan Mackay and Matt Kirby.

Heat three: Matt Sing, Ron Stockings, Angus O'Malley, Craig Palmer, Mick Day, Richie McClelland and Bill Burke.

Heat four: Ben Scully-Hawkins, Hayden Wellington, Matt Cornwall, Greg McKilliam, Dave Wirth and Angela Goodwin.

Heat five: John Wilson, John O'Malley, Tony Irwin, Wylie Gill, Brent Olsson and Dave Moulton.

Heat six: Peter Wellington, Callum Baker, Daryl Anderson, Mark Shaw and Paul Viron.

Media Release, 19 Mar 2013

Craig Coulton, Ocean Beach Malibu Club