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    Australian Bluewater Freediving Classic Results

    July 02, 2014 5 min read

    Australian Bluewater Freediving Classic Results

    Adreno was proud to sponsor the Australian Bluewater Classic once again this year, with over $2,000 in prizes. Here is a report from David Welch on how the spearfishing competition went.

    On the last weekend of March 2014 the Australian Bluewater Freediving Classic was successfully held for the 20th year. After a few recent years of poor diving conditions reflected by relatively poor attendances at the event, organisers this year were relieved to see some of the better conditions experienced for many years. The fishing also was some of the best for several years, with reports of Spanish mackerel so commonplace leading up to the Classic that some diehard locals were getting “bored” with spearing them!

    Fourty one divers competed including a contingent from New Zealand with Dwane attempting to defend the title he won in 2013, and two of Brazil’s best spearfishers were making the arduous trek (55 hours travel time) to Coffs Harbour to dive the event. Also present were several of Australia’s top divers.

    Catches comprised of the usual species with kingfish and Spanish mackerel very common. After Day 1 there was a clear leader. Kiwi Shane Fitzmaurice presented 6 species at the weigh-in, a catch that would normally be the leading score in a single day. However, Dwane Herbert produced a phenomenal haul of 9 species! This had only been achieved once before in 20 years of the event, and gave Dwane a strong lead with a day to go.

    Junior diver Aaron Puckeridge came second overall!

    The second day conditions were spectacular and divers again made the most of it with some even better catches. The top divers for the day caught 6 and 7 species, which once again was exceptional. Those who did well were Steve Wayne, who presented 7 species and the Puckeridge family with both Ian and junior Aaron bringing in 6 species each. Dwane top scored for the day again also with 7 species giving a total of 16 species over two days – a first for the Australian Bluewater Freediving Classic.

    Dwane's catch was:

    Day 1 - amberjack, Spanish mackerel, cobia, kingfish, tailor, big eye trevally, pennant fish, mack tuna and a mulloway.

    Day 2 - amberjack, high fin amberjack, Spanish mackerel, samson fish, kingfish, tailor, and a mulloway.

     

    Dwane weighs in a Kingfish.

     

    A great evening was had by all at the presentation dinner on the Sunday night at the Woolgoolga RSL with everyone dressing up and most spearos becoming unrecognizable in their semi-formal attire. Dwane Herbert was a deserved winner successfully defending his title. Ian Puckeridge was runner-up with Steve Wayne coming in third. Full results and winners are given below.

    The organisers acknowledge the fantastic support of the boaties and divers attending the Classic this year, especially those who travelled a long way including the Kiwis and the Brazilians. The Brazilians also pledged they would return next year to get their name on the trophy! Once again, the support from generous sponsors was outstanding. Thanks again to Adreno for their ongoing support.

    Beuchat sponsored diver, Dwane Herbert, took out the competition with a new record of 16 species!

    Next year will of course will be the 21st year of the Classic and once we have dusted ourselves off we will begin preparations. Stay tuned via facebook! Finally, the organisers always strive to hold a competition that is fair, fun and affordable and each year we do what we can to make the next event even better. To help us achieve this we welcome constructive feedback from all divers.

    Shane accepting his new Beucht reversible wetsuit sponsored by us.

    FINAL SCORES:

    Placing

    Competitor Name

    Age

    Division

    Total Bonus Points

    Total Species

    Total Weight

    GRAND TOTAL

    1

    HERBERT, Dwane (NZ)

    25

    SEN

    200

    16

    87.15

    2671.5

    2

    PUCKERIDGE, Ian

    48

    VET

    150

    10

    53.5

    1685

    3

    WAYNE, Steve

    44

    SEN

    150

    9

    61.8

    1668

    4

    FITZMAURICE, Shane (NZ)

    46

    VET

    50

    10

    50.6

    1556

    5

    PUCKERIDGE, Aaron

    17

    JNR

    0

    10

    36.3

    1363

    6

    HERBERT, Herb (NZ)

    58

    MST

    50

    9

    39.25

    1342.5

    7

    LEWIS, Alex

    40

    SEN

    50

    8

    34.1

    1191

    8

    KALLMAN, Mark

    48

    VET

    0

    8

    29.3

    1093

    9

    HERBERT, Toby (NZ)

    23

    INTER

    50

    7

    33.2

    1082

    10

    LEESON, Evan

    26

    SEN

    0

    8

    27.6

    1076

    11

    LOFFREDI, Francisco (Brazil)

    41

    SEN

    0

    7

    36.3

    1063

    12

    McKENZIE, Scott

    47

    VET

    100

    6

    34.9

    1049

    13

    WARD, Justin

    33

    SEN

    100

    5

    44.45

    1044.5

    14

    SANTIAGO, Diego (Brazil)

    32

    SEN

    50

    6

    38.4

    1034

    15

    ARMOUR, Neil

    44

    SEN

    0

    7

    28.1

    981

    16

    HARRISON, Steven

    40

    SEN

    0

    7

    25.1

    951

    17

    RITCHIE, Alex

    33

    SEN

    100

    4

    44.85

    948.5

    18

    ERIKSSON, Allan

    62

    MST

    0

    6

    18.85

    788.5

    19

    GEORGE, Alan

    73

    GMAST

    50

    4

    30.1

    751

    20

    PAYNE, Tony

    43

    SEN

    50

    4

    29.9

    749

    21

    FEATHERSTONE, Michael

    44

    SEN

    50

    4

    24.25

    692.5

    22

    HACKETT, Brian

    60

    MST

    0

    4

    20.8

    608

    23

    WRIGHT, Darcy

    73

    GMAST

    0

    4

    19.4

    594

    24

    FORBES, Allan

    41

    SEN

    0

    4

    15.7

    557

    25

    HICKS, Rod

    41

    SEN

    50

    3

    19.9

    549

    26

    FARMER, Chris

    31

    SEN

    0

    4

    13.55

    535.5

    27

    DAVISON, Michael

    57

    MST

    50

    2

    19.2

    442

    28

    BRAY, Troy

    41

    SEN

    0

    3

    8.15

    381.5

    29

    DORFSTATTER, Paul

    53

    VET

    50

    1

    12.15

    271.5

    30

    JHUREEA, Daniel

    21

    INTER

    0

    1

    8.1

    181

    31

    ROBERTS, Grant

    44

    SEN

    0

    1

    3.75

    137.5

    32

    BRAZ, Shane

    40

    SEN

    0

    1

    2.5

    125

    33

    JACKSON, Toby

    28

    SEN

    0

    1

    2.2

    122

    34

    HARRIS, Gordon

    38

    SEN

    0

    1

    2.15

    121.5

    35

    McKENZIE, Jarrod

    13

    JNR

    0

    1

    1.65

    116.5

    36

    WELCH, David

    47

    VET

    0

    1

    1.5

    115

    37

    WISTAFF, Trevor

    30

    SEN

    0

    1

    1.35

    113.5

    38

    HARPER, Joseph

    30

    SEN

    0

    0

    0

    0

    39

    JONES, Paul

    74

    GMAST

    0

    0

    0

    0

    40

    MAY, Austin

    28

    SEN

    0

    0

    0

    0

    41

    MAY, Domonic

    19

    INTER

    0

    0

    0

    0

     

    MAJOR AWARDS

    Largest cobia: Allan Forbes, 6.1kg

    Largest mackerel: Alex Ritchie, 18.2kg

    Largest wahoo: Steve Wayne, 11.7kg

    Largest jewfish: Dwane Herbert, 12.2kg

    Largest tuna: Allan Forbes, 6.1kg

    Largest kingfish: Dwane Herbert, 16.05kg

    Largest samsonfish: Grant Roberts, 3.75kg

    Largest fish award: Alex Ritchie, Spanish mackerel, 18.6kg

    Committee’s Choice award: Steve Wayne, Yellowfin tuna, 3.55kg

     

    Pairs

    Dwane Herbert & Toby Herbert

    Juniors

    1st Aaron Puckeridge

    2nd Jarrod McKenzie

    Intermediate

    1st Toby Herbert

    2nd Daniel Jhureea

    Seniors

    1st Dwane Herbert

    2nd Steve Wayne

    3rd Alex Lewis

    Veterans

    1st Ian Puckeridge

    2nd Shane Fitzmaurice

    Masters

    1st Herb Herbert

    2nd Alan Eriksson

    Grand Masters

    1st Alan George

    2nd Darcy Wright