Queenscliff Club Surfer Luke Cheadle smashes a backside hit during the Jim Beam Surftag Regional Qualifier Event at Cronulla in Sydney today.
QUEENSCLIFF WIN JIM BEAM SURFTAG REGIONAL QUALIFIER AT CRONULLA
An action packed day of surfing in the Sutherland Shire has seen Manly Club Queenscliff claim the Jim Beam Surftag NSW South Regional Title.
They out surfed 25 other clubs from around Sydney and as far south as Ulladulla over the two-day event to notch up their first ever regional NSW title.
In clean 1m waves at Wanda Beach, the young Queenscliff team of Luke Cheadle, Sam Page, Ben Hamilton, Nick Riley and Ryan Alagich used smart Surftag tactics to defeat Ulladulla, North Steyne and local favourites Cronulla in the final.
It was a tight tussle in the final, with only four points separating the top three clubs at the final siren.
“We had a plan to make sure we were the first team across the line with all of our five surfers and claim the four bonus points,” said Queenscliff team surfer Luke Cheadle. “In previous tag events our team have always struggled with finishing on time so we really focused on getting that right today.”
“It was so close in the end, if we hadn’t have got those bonus points we wouldn’t have won.”
The final scores had Queenscliff 73.30, Ulladulla 71.09, North Steyne 68.56 and Cronulla on 45.89.
The NSW South Regional Qualifying event was the final stop before the national final next weekend at Avalon Beach. Semi finalists from this weekend’s event are all eligible to take on the other clubs that have qualified from around the country.
The eight clubs that progressed from today’s event included Queenscliff, Ulladulla, North Steyne, Cronulla, Ulladulla B, Long Reef, Bronte and reigning national champions North Narrabeen.
They will face the who’s who of Australian club surfing in the National final with representatives coming from every state to compete. QLD clubs Kirra and Snapper Rocks boast an impressive line-up of current world tour surfers.
“I think we have an advantage that the national final is next week because we will be really on our game after winning today,” said Cheadle. “Surfing as a team will be more natural to us.”
“On paper, you would have to say North Narrabeen are the biggest threat for the national title next week, but anything can happen in a Surftag event.”
“I’m confident we can keep the form going.”
A full list of qualified clubs will be available in coming days following confirmation of attendance.
The 2011 Jim Beam Surftag is proudly supported by FCS, Sanyo and O’Neill. Media partners for the series are Swellnet and Tracks surfing magazine.
Jim Beam Surftag NSW South Regional Qualifier – Competing Clubs
Avalon
Newport
Mona Vale
North Narrabeen x 2
Long Reef x 2
Dee Why x 2
Curl Curl
Freshwater
Queenscliff x 2
North Steyne
Bondi
Bronte
Maroubra
Sth End Maroubra
Elouera
Cronulla
Garie
Scarborough
Sandon Point
Woonona
East Corrimal
Wollongong
Southbridge
Werri Beach
Jones Beach
Ulladulla x 2
2010/11 Jim Beam Surftag Dates And Locations
Oct 15 Industry Challenge (Curl Curl) - (Winner – Quiksilver)
Oct 16 Trade Off (Curl Curl) - (Winner – Bondi Life Guards)
Nov 13 Women’s Surftag (Dee Why) - (Winner – Norah Head Women In Waves)
Dec 11 NSW North Surftag (Newcastle) - (Winner – North Shelley)
Dec 18 Victoria Surftag (Jan Juc) - (Winner – Torquay)
Jan 8 West Australia Surftag (Gas Bay) (Winner – Yallingup Boardriders)
Jan 15 Queensland Surftag (Duranbah) - (Winner – Kirra)
Jan 29/30 NSW South Surftag (Cronulla) - (Winner – Queenscliff)
Feb 3/4/5 Surftag Australian Final (Northern Beaches, Sydney)