Sport
Send us your sport stories and photos: sport@echo.net.au
Silver for ‘Mono’ in California
Northern NSW surf athletes shine at state championships
Crystal Cylinders Byron Bay’s Mark ‘Mono’ Stewart has claimed a silver medal at the 2020 AMPSURF ISA World PARA surfing championship, held in La Jolla California. Finals day featured tiny, weak waves that didn’t suit Stewart, or his finely tuned kneeboard, but he managed to adapt to the conditions and get the second highest scoring wave of the final. There were 21 countries represented, and the competition had divisions for both men and women and for stand, prone, kneel, visually impaired, and wave
‘Mono’ working hard at La Jolla. Photo Sean Evans/ISA ski surfers. The team world championship was won by Spain.
Pro results Lennox Head’s Nyxie Ryan had a good result down in Sydney with a semi-final finish in the Sydney Surf Pro Junior that was held in
decent surf. Our local male pro surfers didn’t fare so well at Manly in the Sydney Surf Pro with Soli Bailey, Kyuss King, Stuart Kennedy, Owen Wright and Matt Wilkinson all tumbling out of the draw in their first round heats, held in small inconsistent conditions.
Rams win but are not yet in the mØ ! !Ɩż Ǖ ŕëō Christian Layland The Byron Bay Services Club Rams got the result they needed, but have to wait on another key fixture before their spot in the ANZAC Cup final is confirmed. Needing a big win against Lismore Thistles to put pressure on Alstonville, the Rams did the job with a 4–1 victory thanks to strikes by Diego Vasquez, Lisandro Luaces, and Yusmel Mustelier. With top spot in group A earning a place in the cup final, Byron now sit three points above Alstonville, and have a three-goal lead in goal difference. Villa though are yet to play their final match against Richmond Rovers. No date for the catch-up game has been set, which gives the Rams a nervous wait. But Alstonville need a four-goal victory to overtake Byron. Last Friday night’s match
The Surf Life Saving NSW 2020 State Championships wrapped-up on Sunday March 7, at Swansea Belmont, Lake Macquarie, with northern NSW surf sports athletes from Cudgen Headland, and Lennox Head performing strongly. Lily O’Sullivan, from Cudgen Headland, claimed gold in the U/17 female board rescue, the U/17 surf race, silver in the tube rescue, and she took home two bronze medals in the U/17 board relay and U/17 board race. It was one of the strongest individual performances in the competition and helped steer her club to claim a haul of sixteen medals. Lennox Head SLSC also performed strongly, bagging two gold and three silver
Lennox Head SLS, Jackson Bond, and Oliver Sharp enjoyed the carnival at Lake Macquarie. Photo suplied medals. Jackson Bond and Oliver Sharp were the standout performers. They worked well together to win the U/15
male board rescue, then backed up that performance to take the bronze in the U/15 board relay.
Ocean Shores 18 qualify for state ƆĈIJşşō ƆƱĶŔŔĶŕī Ǖ ŕëōƆ
Rams’ Lisandro Luaces on the charge. Photo Dogwhistle did not start well for the Rams with the Thistles taking the lead within five minutes. The equaliser came from a cross from Diego Vasquez that forced an own goal. It was a different story in the second half when a resurgent Byron Bay took control. Vasquez got the ball rolling, slamming a half-volley into the net after Lisandro Luaces beat three defenders
on the left side before passing to the striker. Despite the dominance, Rams had to thank their keeper Pierce Essery for keeping them in the lead when he made some very smart saves from Thistle counter-attacks. The big win was sealed when Yusmel Mustelier headed in and Luaces finished a one-on-one opportunity.
S O M E RV I L L E L AU N D RY L O M A X S O L I C I TO R S www.echo.net.au/byron-echo Byron Shire Echo archives
Eighteen swimmers from the Ocean Shores Aquatics swim team have secured berths to the NSW state finals in Sydney in coming weeks. They will be representing their schools and racing will be in late March or early April depending on the school. ‘The recipe for their success consists of three main ingredients: persistence, passion and committing to the program,’ coach Adrian Filipič said. ‘They are a strong-willed bunch, and let nothing stand in the way of what they are setting out to achieve. ‘Good luck also to all the team swimmers competing in relays, I really am so proud of you all,’ he said.
The Oceans 18: (L-R front row) Meg Porter, Charlotte Archibald, Sashi Wills (regional age winner), Jamillah Bikoumou (zone age winner), (middle row) Mollie Cheek (zone age winner), Eve Porter (zone age winner), Tiggi Groves, Montannah Archibald (zone age champ), Cedar Eastwell, Maddison Oliss and Macy Eastwell; (back row) Jack Safraneck,Tom Cheek (regional age winner), Miloš Safranek (regional age winner), Tom Pockley, Jack Matkevich (district age winner). Not pictured Zara Morris, Roka Stewart. Photo supplied
89 Jonson Street, Byron Bay • 6680 8525 • sll.com.au •
@sllsolicitors
lëſĈIJ Ǩǯǽ ǩǧǩǧ The Byron Shire Echo 47