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‘Mono’ retains world adaptive surfing crown Crystal Cylinders
Byron Bay local Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart has successfully defended his World Title at the 2016 Stance International Surfing Association (ISA) World Adaptive Surfing Championship at San Diego in California over the weekend. Mono dominated the final with a 15.50 score including an excellent 8.00 ride, up against fellow adaptive surfers from Hawaii, Brazil and France. ‘Winning this time means the most to me compared to last year as there has been such a big progression of the sport in 2016,’ Mono said. ‘Thanks to David Parkes for my kneeboards, which we have worked on for many years; he is a master shaper, and without his skills and efforts to work with me on my boards I wouldn’t be in this position today. ‘It’s a unique design that works for me and we were
Rolled Gold: Mono on his way to winning his second world title. Photo Sean Evans/ISA
privileged to pass on that design knowledge to some of the other competitors from last year’s World Adaptive Surfing Championship and to see them benefit from that, this year, is awesome. ‘Thanks to the whole community back home at Byron Bay for their support; they really rallied behind me and raised money to help get me here. It means the world
Locals dominate the start of summer cycling in Byron Bay
Riders competing on the first race day of the BBCC’s Summer Criterium Series. Photo contributed Kumar Rajaratnam
Sixteen riders spread across three grades and eight clubs from the local region competed in the first race of the Summer Criterium series in Byron Bay on the weekend. Cyclists from the British Cycling Club and other groups based in Grafton, Gold Coast, Pottsville, Murwillumbah, Ballina, Byron and Mullumbimby were all represented on the day The B grade averaged a mid-40km/h throughout the race with all riders staying together and taking their fair share of being in front and taking turns. Andrew Blackmore of Byron Bay Cycle Club (BBCC) eventually won the grade. Nicole Moerig from British Cycling not only took second place but did a stellar job
of being the strongest rider of the bunch. She was the only female in the race. Nick Smith (BBCC) took third place. Riders Damian Chapelle, Jason Revell and Nick Ruane from Byron Bay were the place winners taking out the C Grade. Cameron Johnston from Lismore and Grame Way from Grafton were first and second place riders in D Grade and kept the pace with the C Grade riders most of the time. It was a great effort by both of them. D Grade caters for riders wanting to try out racing for the first time, or is for those who haven’t raced in many years. The BBCC Summer Criterium Series will run until April 2017.
78 December 14, 2016 The Byron Shire Echo
to me,’ Mark said. Seventy-seven adaptive surfers from 22 countries competed at the second year of the event. ‘The passion and energy of these surfers are second to none,’ according to ISA president Fernando Aguerre. ‘These surfers’ determination, dedication and passion for surfing is incredible. The sport of adaptive surfing has
taken a huge step forward and will continue to spread joy around the world.’ Ex-world-tour pro surfer Damien Hobgood went down to La Jolla Shores to show his support for the sport of adaptive surfing. ‘These athletes are fearless and full of courage. It’s inspirational for me and everyone here watching on the beach,’ he said.
The Bar wins AFL9s
Back-to-back winners The Bar are: Ric, Fiona, Gory, Darren, Mark (back), Kyla, Andy, Charlie, Tom (middle) and Lizzie (front). Sean and Brendon (absent). Photo contributed
Bangalow-based team The Bar has won the 2016 AFL9s spring social competition for the third year in a row. In the grand final played last week The Bar beat the team from the Byron Bay English Language School. This team is made up of foreigners who had never before played AFL. ‘They were quite unbelieveable, hats off to them,’ The Bar spokesman Andy Robinson said. The Bar includes several ex-AFL players. ‘We did alright,’ Andy said. ‘Kyla in particular had an outstanding series’. Six mixed teams competed across the seven-week competition with all games played at the Cavanbah Centre. AFL9s is the social, touch version of the game played on a modified field and promot-
ed as a game for everyone, according to competition coordinator Molly Kenwood. ‘The competition received overwhelming positive feedback with AFL9s providing huge indirect benefits to assist AFL growth on the northern rivers,’ Molly said. AFL9s competitions have also recently wrapped up in Lismore and Pottsville with a total of 19 teams participating across the three northern rivers venues. The Bar play the winners of the Lismore and Pottsville competitions in the first ever northern rivers cross competition All Stars game at the Cavanbah Centre on December 14, at 6pm. The crowned AFL9s Northern Rivers Champion will receive free entry into the October 2017 Byron 9s National Carnival.
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Lennox Head cricketers enjoy good form and aim for top four Alstonville, Byron Bay and Lennox Head are all hoping to press for a position in the top four of the 2016–2017 Coastal Cricket League after taking four wins each in the early part of the season. With three wins from their last three games, the Lennox Head team is heading into the back half of the year with some form momentum and a real chance of making the finals, according to captain Justin Hooper. On the weekend they beat Mullumbimby Brunswick who, after winning the toss and batting, were limited to a total of 87 from 30 overs. Mark Duncan starred with the ball for Lennox taking 3/11 off three overs, with Joel Rudgely (2/12 off seven overs) and John Coppock (2/17 off five overs) also coming away with good figures. In reply Lennox were 2/23 when they lost their second opener Zac Fren, but Luke Grainger was able to adapt to the conditions and put on 51 runs not out. They won with 4/98 after 21 overs. The week before they took seven competition points off Tintenbar East Ballina, who are currently sitting in second place in the league. The game was called off early owing to lightning strikes but not before Lennox Head was able to score 164 all out after 37 overs. Grainger was again the mainstay of the innings, scoring 61, backed up by Adrian Simpson (30) and Toby deJong (15).
But Lennox really did the damage with the ball by reducing Tintenbar East Ballina to 7/97 of 20 overs, when the game was called off. John Coppock (3/14 off five overs) and Mark Duncan (3/22 off six overs) once again got results with accurate and consistent bowling. ‘Our bowlers have done a really good job and were bowling really well, and getting sides out cheaply. Our batters are now starting to chase down those scores,’ Justin said. Lennox sits in seventh place with four wins and six losses. Byron Bay is in sixth place also with four wins, but only five losses. Byron Bay had a chance to play themselves into the top four on the weekend when they took on Alstonville, and kept the side to 9/138 off 40 overs after winning the toss and sending them into bat. Chris Zygmunt picked up the openers in his 2/27 off eight overs, and was backed up by Oliver Cronin 3/29 (eight overs) and Matt Irwin 2/17 (eight overs). But the Byron batsmen couldn’t settle against a strong attack and lost wickets early and regularly before being all out for 109 in the 35th over. Alstonville’s R Pearce led with the ball taking 4/26 off eight overs. Alstonville is in fifth place on the table with a game in hand and four wins. Terranora has a firm grip on first place in the competition with seven wins and two losses.
Swimmers face final 2,000km
Eric and Hunter swim across Lake Hume. Photo contributed
Father and son Eric and Hunter Helmick have swum 600 kilometres down the Murray River as they try to set a record and inspire youth. The team spent the months before the big swim training in and around Byron Bay. Earlier this week the team was leaving Barmah on the way to Echuca near the Victorian border. ‘Everybody is good, really healthy and swimming hard’,
Eric said. ‘We are putting in much longer days as the water warms up. ‘Delays have occurred but they not been completely unexpected and the team can make up the lost time, and is still in with a chance to break the distance record in Australia,’ he said. The team aims to swim more than 2,500km down the Murray River by the end of January.
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