National Spearfishing Title Wrap-up
The competition was wrapped up in perfect conditions with dead flat seas & visibility up to 25 meters. Water temp a lovely 22.5c.
Seals posed a real problem once again. Safety boat controller saw a pretty large GWS on the surface. Many swum really long distances as all the zones were larger than usual, between 8 and 12 Klms longshore with a daily central start position. Everyone seemed to be relieved the three days are over & the final overall positions are as below.
Juniors won by Brad Mc Kenzie of NSW. This was a great effort by Brad who just pipped his brother Jarrod. Both are surely future representative potential and the placed 7th and 10th respectively in the open.
The Ladies was hotly contested to the end but Lara Puckeridge of NSW is the new Australian champion with Georgia Pointer of south Coast finishing second. Lara also placed at 12th in the open.
Intermediates came in finally with Lachlan Green from the Neptunes NSW as Aussie champ with Connor McCook, same club second. Both these boys in the top 20, well done.
The old fellas really came down to the wire in a hotly contested group of 5. When all counting was over the new Australian Grand Master champion Bob Manning of Victoria very closely followed by a previous Australian Open champion Queenslander, Kevin Ranger.
As always these days there was a strong contingent of Masters doing battle. Australia's Master Champion Gunther Pfrengle of NSW added the title once again to a long list of successes. He was followed very closely by a well known Sydney diver Mal Murphy.
Veterans fielded 9 competitors with ex-multiple Australian Open winner Ian Puckeridge taking it out from South Coast regular Troy Lilliendal. Only one fish a day separated these two.
Seniors were really well contested with 9 competitors in a serious arm wrestle. Jack Lavender from South Coast took it out from another Southern NSW local legend Warren Carter. Interestingly only between one & three fish separating positions 2,3,4 & 5 in this division with Sam Dawson ex SA, Bryson Sheehy of Qld & Ryan Schulter of South Coast in 3rd 4th & 5th positions.
Lastly a huge Congratulations to Jack Lavender our new Australian Open Champion. Very well done Jack. You've now got some extremely proud parents and followers. Jack won clearly by almost 40% over the three days.
