2006 SLSNSW Media Guide - Hanson Sport Media

2006 NSW SURF LIFE SAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEDIA GUIDEcrown won by her older sister Courtney in 2005. Others to look out for are Kate Ebrill (Swansea Belmont),Hannah Walker (Wollongong City) and Rachel Crerar (Freshwater).Under-15 MaleMichael Booth of Redhead was a star at the Interstate carnival, winning the Ironman and looks a strongchance to do the same here. The Premiership winner will face tough competition from Queenscliff’s SaxonBird and Freshwater’s Luke Stirton, Terrigal’s Tim Schofield, Dean Mackay of Avoca Beach and JustinKing (North Wollongong).Under-15 FemaleLauren Davenport of Cronulla will have the luxury of defending her title on her home beach but facessome stiff competition. Kayla Russell (Sawtell) and Brooke Miller (Freshwater) are having strongseasons and will challenge closely, as will another Cronulla competitor, Jane Ware, and Laura Higgins(Redhead). Lauren Hall (MacMasters Beach) will lead the Central Coast challenge, while young EmilyChaffey won the Hunter Branch championship and could worry her older rivals.SURF RACEOpen MaleHome beach knowledge will be a big plus for Cronulla’s Nathan Smith, Chris Allum and Mark Simpsonand the rest of the field will keep a close eye on them from the first round. Allum won this crown last yearas an Under-19 competitor and probably starts as favourite after comfortably winning the NSW SurfPremiership and taking bronze behind Zane Holmes and Shannon Eckstein in the World ChampionshipSurf Race final, which saw clubmate Smith in fourth place. If the Surf Race crown is to leave the Shire,Ethan Whiteman (Manly) could be the man to take it after a series of consistent performances. Alwaysone of the most open carnival events, this title will also be a high priority for the likes of North Wollongong’sShane Barrie, Bronte veteran Mal Allen, Bulli’s Drew Cairncross and Matt Freeman, national Under-19champion Josh Minogue and Swansea Belmont’s Josh Blair.Open FemaleWorld Championship silver medallist from Lorne two weeks ago, Amanda White (Terrigal) and BrittanySharkey (Bulli) finished first and second in last year’s final and they are leading contenders yet again.Manly’s Naomi Flood will challenge strongly after splitting Sharkey and White at the Interbranch titles.Kristie Lee Ogilvie (North Bondi) showed last year she is still a force in these events. Others in this raceright up to their goggles are Terrigal’s Amanda Hey and Jessica Parr, Hayley Condran (NorthWollongong) and Emma Schneider (Manly), while Kimberley Tapley (Swansea Belmont) will lead thecharge of the younger competitors.BOARDOpen MaleDaniel Shade (Avoca Beach) got the better of Nathan Smith (Cronulla) last year and they probably arethe standouts in what should be hotly contested event, but if either slip up or get a bad break there areplenty of strong paddlers waiting to take advantage. Shade and Smith are among the form paddlers of theseason with the pair finishing second and third respectively to Shannon Eckstein at the WorldChampionship final in Lorne. Josh Blair (Swansea Belmont) has been a super consistent performer overmany years and will give himself every chance. Wollongong City youngster Dean Buttel broke the Bullistranglehold at the Illawarra Branch championships, edging out Drew Cairncross and Ben Allen. TimForan (Redhead) and Mark Bint (Swansea Belmont) will join Blair in a strong contingent from the HunterBranch, while Terrigal’s Schofield brothers, Brendan and Reid, have been strong all season. Cam